Signals & Signs

Signals and signs are among the most frequently tested topics — and they follow a clear system.

  • Red: come to a complete stop; a right turn needs a full stop + no "no right turn" sign + it being safe
  • Steady yellow: stop before the intersection if you can do so safely; otherwise proceed cautiously.
  • Green: proceed, but a left turn yields to oncoming through-traffic and pedestrians in the crosswalk
  • Green arrow + red light: proceed only in the arrow's direction, no stop needed; green arrow + green light: proceed as arrowed, or elsewhere if safe and legal
  • Flashing red means stop, then proceed when safe; flashing yellow means proceed cautiously. At a flashing green traffic signal, opposing traffic faces red, but still yield to lawful users in the intersection.
  • The one legal case for turning left on red: from a one-way street onto another one-way street, after a full stop and confirming it's safe (unless a sign prohibits it)
  • Sign shapes sort by category: octagon = stop, inverted triangle = yield, pentagon = school, diamond = warning (yellow) / construction (orange), rounded rectangle = distance info (green)
  • "Permitted/prohibited" signs are actually square or rectangular boards — the green circle or red slash-circle is just the icon printed on the board, not the sign's own shape
  • A single solid yellow line: passing is allowed within an urban area; outside urban areas, or with a double solid yellow line, passing is never allowed; where a broken line runs beside a solid one, only the broken-line side may pass
Octagon = Stop
Inverted triangle = Yield
Diamond = Warning
Pentagon = School
Square (green ring) = Permitted
Square (red slash) = Prohibited
Rounded rect = Guide info

The sign system at a glance: shape sets the category, colour adds detail.

All four directions flashing red at once = treat it exactly like a 4-way stop, not just "slow down and go."

Knowledge points and examples

Recognition and meaning of warning, regulatory, service, direction, and vehicle signs

What shape is a regulatory sign (e.g., speed limit)?

Regulatory signs are typically rectangular or square with a white background.

What shape is a warning sign?

Warning signs are diamond-shaped with a yellow or orange background.

Practise this topic · Traffic controls, signs, signals and road markings

Traffic-light indications, arrows, lane-control lights, failures, and signal precedence

When facing a green right-turn arrow alongside a red light, a driver:

A green arrow with a red light means you may proceed only in the direction of the arrow when safe.

A steady yellow traffic light means:

A steady yellow means stop unless you cannot do so safely.

Practise this topic · Traffic controls, signs, signals and road markings

Line, symbol, arrow, lane-reservation, and pavement marking rules

A single solid white line between driving lanes in an urban area means:

A solid white line between lanes means lane changing is not permitted in that area.

A 'parking lane' as defined in the Handbook is:

A parking lane is the portion of a primary highway between the right edge and the nearest solid white line (not centre line).

Practise this topic · Traffic controls, signs, signals and road markings

Check your understanding

Choose an answer to see feedback. These short checks are separate from your practice statistics.

A traffic light is completely dark (no power) at an intersection. What should you do?
Turning left on red from a one-way street onto another one-way street — is it allowed?
What shape are "permitted / prohibited" signs, as a physical sign board?
What three conditions must all be met to turn right on red?
Can you pass across a single solid yellow line within an urban area?

Sources and updates

Adapted from the AB Driver’s Guide study project, with illustrations and checks. The French translation is a study aid. Refer to Alberta’s official guide and current topic pages for the rules; local signs can set different requirements.

Integration and linked-source review: