Manitoba Road Signs and Their Meanings

Every sign drawing from our MPI Class 5 practice questions on one page: sign shapes, regulatory, warning, construction and cycling signs with their meanings.

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Chapter 4 of the MPI Driver's Handbook, Signs and Signals, points out that shapes let you identify a sign in darkness, fading light, fog, rain or snow, before you can read it. This chart puts every sign drawing from our Class 5 question bank on one page, grouped by topic: sign shapes and regulatory signs, warning, construction and guide signs, and the signs for pedestrians and cyclists. Each one shows its meaning and the explanation from the question it comes from.

Some Manitoba signs carry details that are easy to miss. Times on signs use the 24-hour clock, so 13:00 means 1 p.m.; a triangle with its tips cut off marks a slow-moving vehicle; and speed fines are doubled in a designated construction zone. Read a group, then use its practice link to check yourself. Our drawings are simplified originals, so learn the shape, colour and symbol rather than the exact artwork.

Sign shapes and regulatory signs

Practise: Sign shapes and regulatory signs

Come to a complete stop
The eight-sided sign is used only for stop signs, and it always requires a full stop before you continue.
Slow down, and stop if needed to let others go
A downward-pointing triangle means yield: check for pedestrians and traffic, and stop if you must give them the right-of-way.
You are in a school area
The fluorescent yellow-green five-sided shape marks a school area, so drive cautiously and watch for children.
The vehicle is slow-moving
This triangular emblem identifies a slow-moving vehicle, so expect to close on it quickly and be ready to slow down.
Slow down, look both ways and yield to trains
The crossbuck marks the railway crossing itself. Trains always have the right-of-way, so look both ways before crossing.
Do not enter
A red circle with a white bar means you may not drive into that road or lane from where you are.
Traffic goes only the way the arrow points
This is a one-way sign: you may travel on that street only in the direction the arrow points.
No left turn
The red circle and slash over a left-turn arrow means left turns are not allowed at this location.
No U-turn allowed
A U-shaped arrow crossed by a red circle and slash tells you that turning around here is prohibited.
Do not turn right here
The slash through the right-turn arrow prohibits right turns at this intersection, so continue to another street.
Keep to the right of the sign
This regulatory sign tells you to keep to its right-hand side, so pass the sign and what it marks on the right.
All traffic must turn left
A sign with only a left-turn arrow means every vehicle facing it must turn left at that intersection.
Do not pass
The slash through two vehicles side by side means passing is not allowed on this stretch of road.
The highest speed allowed is 50 km/h
A white rectangular maximum speed sign is a regulatory limit; driving faster than the number shown is an offence.
Two-way traffic
The arrows pointing in opposite directions tell you that traffic on this road moves both ways.
Parking is prohibited
The red circle and slash over the letter P means you may not park in the area the sign covers.

Warning, construction and guide signs

Practise: Warning, construction and guide signs

A curve to the right ahead
The bent arrow shows the road itself curves right, so slow down before you reach the curve.
A very sharp right turn ahead
The right-angle arrow means the road turns sharply, so you need to slow down more than for an ordinary curve.
A winding road ahead
The wavy arrow shows a series of curves; reduce speed and stay in your lane through them.
Stop at a stop sign ahead
This advance warning sign tells you a stop sign is coming up, often where it is hard to see.
Traffic signals ahead
The symbol of a signal head warns that there are traffic lights ahead, so be ready for a red light.
A pedestrian crosswalk ahead
The walking figure on a diamond warns that a crosswalk is coming, so watch for people crossing.
Merging roadways ahead
Two roadways come together ahead; adjust your speed and watch for traffic joining your road.
The right lane ends ahead
Drivers in the right lane will have to move left; signal, check and merge in good time.
A divided highway begins ahead
The lines spreading around a median mean the road becomes divided, with traffic separated by a median.
A divided highway ends ahead
The median shape ends and the lines come together, so traffic going both ways will soon share the road.
A steep hill ahead
The truck on a slope warns of a steep grade, so control your speed and use a lower gear going down.
The road is slippery when wet
The car with wavy marks warns that the surface loses grip when wet, so slow down and avoid sudden moves.
A bump in the road ahead
The humped shape warns of a bump in the road surface; slow down before it so you keep full control.
Two-way traffic ahead
Opposing arrows on a diamond warn that the road ahead carries traffic in both directions, so expect oncoming vehicles.
A narrow bridge ahead
The lines pinching in show a bridge narrower than the road; slow down and watch for oncoming vehicles.
A roundabout ahead
The circle of arrows warns of a roundabout, where you will need to slow down and yield to traffic already in it.
A deer crossing area ahead
Deer often cross in this area; slow down, scan the road from side to side and be ready to brake.
An obstruction near the road
A hazard marker is placed on or next to an obstruction so that drivers can see and avoid it.
The angle at which the tracks cross the road
The advance railway sign shows the track position so you know which way to look along the rails.
The maximum recommended speed for the curve
A speed tab under a curve sign shows the advised top speed for taking that curve safely.
Road work ahead
The worker with a shovel warns of road work, so slow down and watch for workers and equipment.
A flagperson ahead
A flagperson will be directing traffic ahead, and you must follow their instructions to slow down or stop.
A detour is ahead
A detour sign warns that you will be redirected off your usual route around a work area.
They are doubled
In a designated construction zone, set speeding fines are doubled throughout the zone.

Pedestrians and cyclists

Practise: Pedestrians and cyclists

Do not cross here
This is the Pedestrian Prohibited sign; pedestrians should not cross where it is posted.
Cycling is prohibited
Cyclists must not ride where this Cycling Prohibited sign is posted.

FAQ

Manitoba road signs chart: common questions

What sign shapes do I need to know for the MPI test?

The octagon is used only for stop signs, a triangle pointing down means yield, a diamond warns of danger, the yellow-green pentagon marks a school area, the crossbuck is a railway crossing, a triangle with the tips cut off is a slow-moving vehicle, and squares and rectangles regulate and direct traffic.

How do I read times on Manitoba signs?

They use the 24-hour clock. 0:00 is midnight, 13:00 is 1 p.m. and 23:00 is 11 p.m.; the hours from 1 a.m. to noon look the same as on a 12-hour clock.

Does MPI have its own sign practice?

MPI offers free official Driving Quizzes on its website, and the handbook is free online in English and French. This chart is our own study aid built from the handbook, with simplified drawings.