Theory Mastery

Shark's teeth: give way, not a stop requirement

What the exam asks here: Shark's teeth and the octagonal STOP sign (B7) often appear at the same kind of junctions, so learners glue 'triangles' and 'stop' together.

14 minutes · 7 sections · 12 questions

The trap

Many learners think: Shark's teeth require a full stop, just like sign B7.

The rule is: Shark's teeth mean: give way, not a stop requirement. A full stop is only mandatory where sign B7 explicitly requires it, at the stop line

Challenge

Shark's teeth and the octagonal STOP sign (B7) often appear at the same kind of junctions, so learners glue 'triangles' and 'stop' together. The CBR exam designer tests exactly that: shark's teeth say 'pay attention, give way' — only B7 says 'come to a full stop'.

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The model

Shark's teeth mean: give way to drivers on the crossing road — not a stop requirement. They are themselves a binding traffic sign, even without a sign next to them. Sign B6 means the same thing; sign B7 adds an actual stop requirement.

Read this section on its own page: The model: Shark's teeth: give way, not a stop requirement

Core

'Giving way' means: slow down, look carefully, and only stop if that is genuinely needed to let a crossing driver go first. If the road is clear, you do not need to come to a standstill. A full stop is only mandatory where the law explicitly requires it — at sign B7: there you always stop at the stop line, even if the road looks empty. B6 and shark's teeth share the same, milder meaning; B7 is the stricter variant with an extra stop duty on top. Shark's teeth do not need a sign next to them to apply: the marking itself is a traffic sign you are required to follow. And where there are no shark's teeth and no sign, you fall back on the right-hand rule: priority to drivers from the right.

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Why it matters

Stopping unnecessarily at shark's teeth on an empty road near Hilversum surprises the driver behind you and can cause a rear-end collision; driving through without looking at B7 because 'it's just like shark's teeth anyway' can send you straight into crossing traffic. The difference between 'pay attention' and 'come to a standstill' is exactly what keeps these two signs apart.

Read this section on its own page: Why it matters: Shark's teeth: give way, not a stop requirement

Active recall

Back at the junction in Roosendaal: shark's teeth, no sign, no one approaching. What is correct?

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Teach back

Explain: what do shark's teeth mean, when must you actually come to a full stop, and what applies when a junction has no sign at all?

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Memory hook

Shark's teeth = give way, not stop. B6 = same meaning. B7 = stop + give way, at the stop line. No sign? Right-hand rule.

Read this section on its own page: Memory hook: Shark's teeth: give way, not a stop requirement

Source: RVV 1990 art. 15 · RVV 1990 art. 62 · RVV 1990 art. 79 · RVV 1990 art. 80 · checked 2026-10-22

The picture

Shark's teeth/B6 versus B7 (RVV art. 79-80, appendix 1)Shark's teeth / sign B6Sign B7Meaninggive way to crossing trafficstop; give way to crossing trafficFull stop required?no — only slow down and give way if necessaryyes — always stop at the stop line (art. 79)Binding without a sign?yes — the marking is itself a traffic sign (art. 62 jo. art. 80)n/a — B7 is itself the sign
What to look at: Shark's teeth and sign B6: give way, no stop requirement. Sign B7: stop plus give way.

Signs and law

Test yourself

At a junction in Roosendaal you see white triangles on the road, no sign otherwise. No one is approaching from the crossing road. Must you still come to a full stop before continuing?

Show the answer

Shark's teeth mean: give way to drivers on the crossing road — not a stop requirement. They are themselves a binding traffic sign, even without a sign next to them. Sign B6 means the same thing; sign B7 adds an actual stop requirement.

Exam questions on this topic

About Shark's teeth: give way, not a stop requirement: which statement is WRONG?

  1. Shark's teeth are themselves a traffic sign and are binding, even without a sign next to them.
  2. Without shark's teeth or priority signs the main rule applies at junctions: priority to drivers from the right.
  3. Shark's teeth mean: give way, not a stop requirement.
  4. If a junction has neither shark's teeth nor a sign, no right-of-way rule applies at all.
Show the answer

Correct answer: If a junction has neither shark's teeth nor a sign, no right-of-way rule applies at all.

If shark's teeth and signs are absent, the main rule automatically applies: priority to drivers from the right. No sign never means 'no rule'

Why learners get this wrong: Shark's teeth only apply if a sign B6 also stands next to them; without a sign the marking is not binding.

Open this question

If shark's teeth and signs are absent, the main rule automatically applies: priority to drivers from the right.

  1. False
  2. True
Show the answer

Correct answer: True

If shark's teeth and signs are absent, the main rule automatically applies: priority to drivers from the right. No sign never means 'no rule'

Why learners get this wrong: If a junction has neither shark's teeth nor a sign, no right-of-way rule applies at all.

Open this question

About Shark's teeth: give way, not a stop requirement: which statement is correct?

  1. At a junction without shark's teeth or priority signs, the driver on the wider or busier road has priority.
  2. Sign B6 and sign B7 mean exactly the same thing: both 'give way'.
  3. Shark's teeth require a full stop, just like sign B7.
  4. Shark's teeth are themselves a traffic sign and are binding, even without a sign next to them.
Show the answer

Correct answer: Shark's teeth are themselves a traffic sign and are binding, even without a sign next to them.

Shark's teeth are themselves a traffic sign and are binding, even without a sign next to them. The legal duty is directly in the marking

Why learners get this wrong: At a junction without shark's teeth or priority signs, the driver on the wider or busier road has priority.

Open this question

About Shark's teeth: give way, not a stop requirement: which statement is WRONG?

  1. Shark's teeth only apply if a sign B6 also stands next to them; without a sign the marking is not binding.
  2. If shark's teeth and signs are absent, the main rule automatically applies: priority to drivers from the right.
  3. Shark's teeth mean: give way, not a stop requirement.
  4. B6 means 'give way', just like shark's teeth.
Show the answer

Correct answer: Shark's teeth only apply if a sign B6 also stands next to them; without a sign the marking is not binding.

Shark's teeth are themselves a traffic sign and are binding, even without a sign next to them. The legal duty is directly in the marking

Why learners get this wrong: If a junction has neither shark's teeth nor a sign, no right-of-way rule applies at all.

Open this question

Back at the junction in Roosendaal: shark's teeth, no sign, no one approaching. What is correct?

  1. You must always come to a full stop at shark's teeth, just like at B7
  2. You do not need to come to a full stop — slowing down and looking is enough
Show the answer

Correct answer: You do not need to come to a full stop — slowing down and looking is enough

Shark's teeth mean give way, not a stop requirement; that only applies at B7.

Why learners get this wrong: Shark's teeth require a full stop, just like sign B7.

Open this question

Shark's teeth require a full stop, just like sign B7.

  1. False
  2. True
Show the answer

Correct answer: False

Shark's teeth mean: give way, not a stop requirement. A full stop is only mandatory where sign B7 explicitly requires it, at the stop line

Why learners get this wrong: Shark's teeth require a full stop, just like sign B7.

Open this question

At a junction in Roosendaal you see white triangles on the road, with no sign next to them. On the crossing road a cyclist approaches from the left. What do you do?

  1. You drive on, because without a sign next to them the triangles are not binding
  2. You come to a full stop at the triangles, as at a stop sign, and then look
  3. You slow down and let the cyclist go first; you stop if that is needed
Show the answer

Correct answer: You slow down and let the cyclist go first; you stop if that is needed

False — you think the marking needs a sign. Shark's teeth are a traffic sign in themselves: even without a sign you must give way to traffic on the crossing road, so to this cyclist too.

Why learners get this wrong: Shark's teeth only apply if a sign B6 also stands next to them; without a sign the marking is not binding.

Open this question

Near Vlissingen you approach a junction. There are shark's teeth on your road, but there is no sign nearby. Is it correct that the shark's teeth then do not apply here?

  1. True
  2. False
Show the answer

Correct answer: False

False — you see the shark's teeth as a picture belonging to a sign. Shark's teeth are a traffic sign in themselves and apply without a sign too: you give way to traffic on the crossing road.

Why learners get this wrong: Shark's teeth only apply if a sign B6 also stands next to them; without a sign the marking is not binding.

Open this question

Near Heerlen you approach a junction with a stop sign and a stop line. From far away you see that the crossing road is completely empty. What do you do?

  1. You slow down and drive on, this sign only asks you to give way
  2. You stop completely at the stop line and then drive on
  3. You only stop if traffic is coming along the crossing road
Show the answer

Correct answer: You stop completely at the stop line and then drive on

False — you read the stop sign as an ordinary give-way sign. A stop sign asks more than giving way: you must first stop completely at the stop line, even when the road is empty.

Why learners get this wrong: Sign B6 and sign B7 mean exactly the same thing: both 'give way'.

Open this question

In Gouda you drive along a street with two junctions. At the first there are shark's teeth on your road, without a sign. At the second there are no shark's teeth and no signs; the crossing road there is wider than yours. What is correct? (More than one answer possible.)

  1. At the second junction traffic on the wider road goes first
  2. At the first junction you must first stop completely
  3. At the second junction you let traffic from the right go first
  4. At the first junction you give way, even without a sign
Show the answer

Correct answer: At the second junction you let traffic from the right go first; At the first junction you give way, even without a sign

False — you read the width of the road as a priority sign. Without shark's teeth or signs the main rule applies: traffic from the right goes first, however wide or busy the roads are.

Why learners get this wrong: At a junction without shark's teeth or priority signs, the driver on the wider or busier road has priority.

Open this question

All practice questions of this topic

Frequently asked questions

‘Shark's teeth require a full stop, just like sign B7’ – is that true?

No. Shark's teeth mean: give way, not a stop requirement. A full stop is only mandatory where sign B7 explicitly requires it, at the stop line

‘Shark's teeth only apply if a sign B6 also stands next to them; without a sign the marking is not binding’ – is that true?

No. Shark's teeth are themselves a traffic sign and are binding, even without a sign next to them. The legal duty is directly in the marking

‘Sign B6 and sign B7 mean exactly the same thing: both 'give way'’ – is that true?

No. B6 means 'give way', just like shark's teeth. B7 adds an explicit stop requirement on top: 'stop; give way'. B7 is therefore stricter than B6

‘If a junction has neither shark's teeth nor a sign, no right-of-way rule applies at all’ – is that true?

No. If shark's teeth and signs are absent, the main rule automatically applies: priority to drivers from the right. No sign never means 'no rule'

‘At a junction without shark's teeth or priority signs, the driver on the wider or busier road has priority’ – is that true?

No. Without shark's teeth or priority signs the main rule applies at junctions: priority to drivers from the right. The width or busyness of the road does not regulate priority

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