Priority narrowing

Priority narrowing is a traffic-calming measure which involves the deliberate obstruction of a carriageway in order to force vehicles temporarily onto the wrong side of the road. Vehicles are obliged to give way to vehicles approaching by signs indicating "Give priority to vehicles from opposite direction". This may be achieved by using footpath build-outs or the installation of traffic islands.

Typically such narrowing will be used in gateway locations to villages or other built-up areas to try to reduce speed on entry to the location. There is often another such narrowing at the other end of the village with opposite priority. Like pinch points, these rely on the presence of oncoming traffic to be effective.