Road sign R-6: Priority over oncoming traffic

What it means

«Indica a los conductores que, en un próximo paso estrecho, tienen prioridad con relación a los vehículos que circulen en sentido contrario.» RD 465/2025, Annex I of the RGC (BOE-A-2025-12199), Spanish original.

The sign indicates that, at an upcoming narrow passage, you have priority over vehicles travelling in the opposite direction. It is the opposite of R-5, which takes that priority away.

Where you meet it

It appears before a narrow passage, such as a bridge, at the end with priority. With it, priority is fixed by the sign, not by order of arrival.

What you must do

Go first relative to oncoming traffic at that narrow passage. If an oncoming vehicle had already entered from the other end, the sign decides: whoever entered from the end without priority must reverse, even though they arrived first (RGC art. 61.2).

Details that count

When no sign decides and there is doubt, priority belongs to whoever has the greater difficulty manoeuvring, according to a list in the Regulation (RGC arts. 60 and 62). With R-6 you do not need that list: the sign has already given you priority at that narrow passage. The R-5 and R-6 pair merely changes sign, and even the official name says so: «Priority for oncoming traffic» is theirs, «Priority over oncoming traffic» is yours (RGC art. 145.2.a; RD 465/2025 catalogue).

What it is confused with

It is confused with R-5, «Priority for oncoming traffic»: they are twin and opposite signs, R-5 takes priority from you and R-6 gives it to you at the same type of narrow passage. A narrowing is one of the few places where order of arrival decides, but only when no sign shares out the right of way (RGC arts. 60.1 and 62).

Related signs

• R-5: Priority for oncoming traffic
• R-3: Priority road
• R-4: End of priority

Studied in topic 27: Priority and roundabouts.

Source: RGC arts. 60.1, 61.2, 62, 145.2.a; RGC Annex I, sign R-6 (RD 465/2025).