B.C. Road Signs and What They Mean
Every road sign drawn in our ICBC practice bank on one page, from stop and yield to work-zone and railway signs, with what each one means and what to do.
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This page lays out every sign drawing used in our ICBC knowledge test questions, in three groups that follow chapter 3 of Learn to Drive Smart. Regulatory signs state driving laws, and ignoring one is an offence under the B.C. Motor Vehicle Act. Warning signs flag hazards such as winding roads, merges, steep hills, deer and falling rock. Construction and railway signs cover traffic-control persons, crews at work, lighted arrow boards, detours and railway crossings. Beside each sign is its meaning and, where it matters, what you have to do.
Some meanings depend on ICBC's exact wording. The one-way sign shows which way traffic moves on the cross street you are about to enter, the two-way traffic sign tells you to keep right unless you are passing, and a no-stopping sign applies until the next no-stopping sign. Destination signs give distances in kilometres, and at every railway crossing you must yield to trains. Read the chart once, then try the ICBC signs test linked below, which pulls 50 questions from the same sign topics. Our drawings are simplified originals, so study the shape, colour and symbol rather than the artwork.
Regulatory signs
Practise: Regulatory signs
Stop completely, then go when it is safe
A stop sign requires a full stop every time; you continue only once it is safe to do so.
Give way to other vehicles and crossing pedestrians
A yield sign means other vehicles and people crossing have the right-of-way; stop if needed to let them go first.
When the road is bare and dry and visibility is good
The posted maximum is the legal limit for good conditions, so it is an upper limit, not a target in rain, snow or fog.
Do not enter
This sign tells you that you may not drive into the road or ramp it faces.
Traffic on the cross street flows only in the arrow's direction
A one-way sign shows the direction of traffic on the cross street, so turn only in that direction.
Keep to the right of the divider
The arrow curving around the object shows you must pass on the right side of the divider or island.
No stopping until the next no-stopping sign
A no-stopping zone runs from this sign to the next no-stopping sign; you may not stop anywhere in between.
No bicycle riding beyond this point
The red circle and slash over a bicycle means cyclists may not ride past the sign.
Do not pass
The red circle and slash over two vehicles means passing is not allowed while this sign applies.
Keep right unless you are passing
This sign shows two-way traffic, so keep to the right and use the left side only to pass.
Reduce speed when children are present
A school zone sign warns that children may be near the road, so slow down whenever they are present.
Go straight through or turn left
In a designated lane you must follow its arrows; the middle lane here shows straight-ahead and left-turn arrows.
Vehicles from both directions must turn left; no through traffic
This sign marks a lane shared by both directions for left turns only; you may not use it to drive straight through.
Go straight only; no turns
A turn control sign with a straight arrow means you must go straight through; turning is not allowed.
Left turn only
This turn control sign means the only movement allowed is a left turn in the direction of the arrow.
No right turns during the posted times
With a time tab, the right-turn ban applies only during the hours shown on the sign.
Do not park here
A red circle and slash over the letter P means parking is not allowed where the sign applies.
A reserved lane for certain vehicles
A white diamond marks a reserved lane; signs say which vehicles, such as buses or HOVs, may use it.
Warning signs and object markers
Practise: Warning signs and object markers
A winding road ahead
The snake-like arrow shows a series of curves; slow down and be ready to steer through them.
Slow to the advisory speed for the sharp curve
A sharp curve sign with a speed tab means slow to the advisory speed shown before entering the curve.
Merging traffic ahead
The sign shows another lane of traffic joining your road, so watch for vehicles merging.
The right lane ends ahead
The right-hand line bends in to meet the left, showing the right lane is ending; merge left when safe.
Keep right; the divided highway ends ahead
This sign warns that the divided highway ends ahead, and you must keep to the right.
The road may be slippery ahead
The skidding car and wavy tracks warn that the road surface ahead may be slippery, so drive with extra care.
Slow down; a steep hill is ahead
This sign warns of a steep grade ahead, so slow down and keep control of your speed.
A stop sign ahead
The red octagon symbol above the arrow warns of a stop sign ahead; be ready to stop.
A roundabout ahead
The circular arrows warn that a roundabout is ahead, so be ready to adjust your speed for it.
On obstructions
Object markers are placed on obstructions in or near the road; pay special attention to them.
A pedestrian crosswalk ahead
This warning sign shows a person walking, warning of a pedestrian crosswalk ahead.
Watch for deer ahead
This sign warns that deer may be on or near the road, so be alert and ready to slow down.
Rocks on the road ahead
This sign warns that rocks may have fallen onto the road, so watch the road surface ahead.
Construction, guide and railway signs
Practise: Construction, guide and railway signs
A traffic-control person ahead
This sign warns of a traffic-control person ahead; obey their directions.
Obey the posted speed; a crew is working
A crew working sign means people are working on or near the road; obey the posted speed limit.
Follow the direction of the lighted arrow
A lighted arrow board shows which way to move around the work area; follow the arrow.
A detour is ahead
This sign warns that you will be directed off your usual route by a detour ahead.
Construction is ahead
This sign warns of construction work ahead; be ready to slow down and follow instructions.
Kilometres
Distances on destination signs are given in kilometres to each place listed.
A railway crossing
The crossbuck marks a railway crossing; slow down, look for trains and always yield to them.
Be prepared to stop; a railway crossing is ahead
This warning sign tells you a railway crossing is ahead, so slow down and be ready to stop.
FAQ
B.C. road signs chart: common questions
How are B.C. road signs grouped?
Learn to Drive Smart shows regulatory, warning, construction, railway, school and playground, and information and destination signs. This chart groups the drawings in our bank into regulatory, warning, and construction and railway signs; traffic lights and road markings have their own topic tests.
Do I need to know every sign for the ICBC test?
About one question in five is about signs, so you cannot skip them. You do not need the guide's exact wording, but you should know each sign's type from its shape and colour and know what the common regulatory and warning signs require.
Are these the official ICBC sign images?
No. They are our own simplified drawings with meanings in our own words. The official versions are in chapter 3 of Learn to Drive Smart, free on icbc.com, and every question links to the guide page it comes from.
Keep practising
- ICBC signs test50 B.C. road sign, traffic light and road marking questions for the ICBC knowledge test, each explained with the Learn to Drive Smart page behind it.
- BC Class 7 questions and answers (printable)50 original BC Class 7 practice questions on one printable sheet, with a separate answer key, an explanation and the handbook chapter for every answer. Print it or save it as a PDF. Free; not the official test.
- BC Class 7 study guide
- How to get a learner's licence in B.C.
- ICBC road test guide
- BC Class 7 Mock Exam 1 – 50 QuestionsTimed practice · 45 minutes · answers explained
- BC Class 7 Mock Exam 2 – 50 QuestionsTimed practice · 45 minutes · answers explained
- BC Class 7 Practice Test 150 questions with explanations
- BC Class 7 Practice Test 250 questions with explanations
- BC Class 7 Practice Test 350 questions with explanations
Practice by topic
- Regulatory signsStop, yield and speed signs, school and playground zone signs, crosswalk signs, lane use and turn control signs, parking signs and reserved lane signs.
- Warning signs and object markersYellow diamond warning signs for curves, hills, merges, lane endings, crossings, wildlife and road hazards, plus object markers on obstructions.
- Construction, guide and railway signsOrange construction and work zone signs, information and destination signs, and railway crossing signs.
- Traffic lights and lane control signalsSteady and flashing lights, green and yellow arrows, transit priority signals and overhead lane control signals.
- Road markingsYellow and white lines, passing rules by line type, crosswalk and stop lines, reserved lane and bicycle lane markings, and painted islands.
- Your vehicle and safety equipmentSeat and head restraint adjustment, seatbelts, child car seat stages, airbags, mirrors, controls, lights, anti-lock brakes, pre-trip checks, tires and winter preparation.
- Intersections and right-of-waySignalling, controlled and uncontrolled intersections, where to stop, right-of-way at lights, stop signs and yield signs, traffic circles, roundabouts and entering a roadway.
- Lanes, turns and passingChoosing a lane, turning right and left, multiple and two-way left-turn lanes, U-turns, HOV, bus and bicycle lanes, passing, merging, freeway entrances and exits, and turning around.
- Parking rulesWhere parking is illegal, required distances from hydrants, crosswalks, stop signs and railway crossings, curb distance and hill parking.
- Observation and hazard perceptionScanning ahead, behind and at intersections, mirror and shoulder checks, blind spots, hazard perception, assessing risk and choosing a solution.
- Speed, space and communicationSpeed limits and appropriate speeds, curves, steering, stopping distance, the two-second rule, space behind and beside, safe gaps, signals, lights and the horn.
- Pedestrians, cyclists and motorcyclesYielding to pedestrians, passing distance and rules for cyclists, and sharing the road with motorcycle riders and other passenger vehicles.
- Large vehicles, buses, emergency vehicles and trainsLarge vehicle blind spots, school buses, transit buses, emergency vehicles, stopped vehicles with flashing lights, construction zones, railway crossings and horses.
- Fitness to drive, distraction and attitudeVision, health and fatigue, cellphones and other devices, dangerous emotions, risk taking, peer pressure, unsafe passengers and aggression on the road.
- Alcohol, drugs and impairmentHow alcohol and drugs affect driving, blood alcohol facts, medications, illegal drugs, cannabis and combining drugs with alcohol.
- Emergency driving strategiesEmergency braking, anti-lock brakes, skid recovery, tire blowouts, brake failure and other breakdowns, animals on the road, collision avoidance and what to do at a crash.
- Weather, visibility and night drivingLoss of visibility, glare, rain, hydroplaning, deep water, ice and snow, being stranded, wind and turbulence, headlight use and overdriving your headlights.
- Graduated licensing and penaltiesLearner (L) and novice (N) stage restrictions, supervisor and passenger rules, GLP penalties, fines and penalty points, impaired driving penalties and vehicle impoundment.