Nova Scotia Road Signs and What They Mean
All the sign drawings from our Nova Scotia Class 7 questions on one page: regulatory, warning, guide, work zone and railway signs, each with its meaning.
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Nova Scotia's handbook sorts signs into three jobs: regulatory signs that state the law, warning signs that tell you about conditions ahead, and guidance signs that give directions, route numbers and distances. Work zones and railway crossings get sections of their own. This chart gathers every sign drawing from our Class 7 question bank under those headings, each with its meaning and the explanation from the practice question it belongs to.
It is built for the Road Sign Recognition Test, the part of the knowledge test where you need 16 of 20 correct however well you do on the rules part. Read a group, then follow its practice link and test yourself without the chart. Our drawings are simplified originals rather than official artwork, so concentrate on shape, colour and symbol: those are what the handbook says let you recognise a sign from a distance.
Regulatory signs
Practise: Regulatory signs
Stop completely and go only when the way is clear
A stop sign requires a full stop every time. You may go only after making sure the way is clear.
Slow down and give way, stopping if needed
A yield sign means you reduce speed and let traffic in or close to the intersection go first. You stop only if you have to.
30 km/h
When children are present in a school zone, the limit drops to 30 km/h where the approaching limit is 50 km/h.
Do not pass
Two cars inside a red circle with a slash mean passing is not allowed. The same cars in a green circle would mean passing is permitted.
Do not drive into that street
This is the do not enter sign. Vehicles may not enter the road or lane where it is posted.
You may not turn to go back the way you came
A U-shaped arrow in a red circle and slash means no U-turn: do not turn to travel in the opposite direction.
Traffic may travel only in the arrow's direction
The one-way sign shows the only direction traffic is allowed to travel on that street.
Keep to the right of the island
The keep right sign directs you to pass to the right of the traffic island or obstruction it is mounted on.
Slower than 50 km/h, to suit conditions
A maximum speed sign shows the top speed for ideal conditions. Fog and darkness call for a lower speed.
Left turns are not allowed
A left-bending arrow crossed by a red circle and slash means no left turn is permitted at that spot.
Warning and guide signs
Practise: Warning and guide signs
A stop sign is ahead
This warning sign gives advance notice of a stop sign, so start slowing down and be ready to stop.
Trucks entering the road ahead
The truck entering sign warns that trucks may pull onto the road ahead, often slowly.
It is slippery when wet
The car with wavy tire marks means the surface can become slippery when wet, so slow down in rain.
Traffic signal lights
The traffic light symbol warns that signal lights are ahead, so be ready for the light to change.
The road narrows ahead
This sign warns that the road narrows. Hazard markers are often posted with it to show which side to keep to.
Slow down for a bump or rough road
The bump sign warns of a bump or rough road ahead. Slowing down protects your vehicle and keeps you in control.
The divided highway ends; two-way traffic ahead
Two lines coming together after an island mean the median ends and traffic beyond travels in both directions on the same road.
A divided highway begins ahead
Lines splitting around an island mark the change from an undivided road to a divided highway.
The safe speed for that curve
The speed on the tab under a curve sign is the safe speed for taking that turn.
A narrow structure such as a bridge is ahead
The narrow structure sign warns of a bridge, culvert, underpass or overpass that is narrower than the road leading to it.
The right lane ends
This sign warns that the right lane is ending, so plan to move left when it is safe.
A sharp turn; slow down and follow the arrow
The checkerboard design warns you to slow down for a sharp turn or bend, and the arrow shows which way the road goes.
To guide you around a sharp curve
Chevron signs are placed in groups to guide drivers around sharp curves in the road.
Drivers in both lanes equally
The handbook says drivers approaching from both lanes share responsibility for merging smoothly, so be ready to yield.
You may need to use a lower gear
The steep decline sign warns of a steep hill going down. A lower gear helps control your speed.
Normal two-way road rules now apply
The two-way traffic sign means the road you are on carries traffic in both directions, so the normal two-way rules apply.
Only by vehicles turning left
A two-way left turn lane is reserved for vehicles making left turns from either direction.
Large animals may cross the road
Animal crossing signs mark places where moose, deer or other large animals are known to step onto the road.
Work zone signs
Practise: Work zone signs
Prepare for road work and changing conditions
Orange signs warn of construction or maintenance ahead. Slow to the posted speed and follow the signs through the zone.
Only while workers are on the site
Signs showing a person are human activity signs. They are used only when people are working and at risk of being struck.
A traffic control person is ahead
This sign means a traffic control person is managing traffic past the work site with a STOP/SLOW paddle. Follow their directions.
A lane is closed; move into the open lane
Specific signs warn that a manoeuvre will be needed. Act promptly and change lanes before you reach the closure.
Only on the left side
When a flashing light unit shows one arrowhead, it is safe to pass only on the side the arrow points to.
Railway crossings
Practise: Railway crossings
A railway crossing is ahead, at the angle shown
This advance warning sign means railway tracks cross the road ahead, and the drawing shows the angle at which they cross.
Your vehicle: inspection, equipment, registration and insurance
Practise: Your vehicle: inspection, equipment, registration and insurance
Those that cannot keep a speed over 40 km/h
Farm tractors, their loads and any vehicle unable to exceed 40 km/h under normal conditions must show the sign at the rear. Slow down when you see one.
FAQ
Nova Scotia road signs chart: common questions
How do I tell Nova Scotia sign types apart?
By shape and colour. The red octagon is used only for stop, the red and white triangle means yield, the five-sided fluorescent yellow-green sign marks a school zone, yellow diamonds warn, orange signs mark work zones and green rectangles guide you.
What is the school zone speed limit in Nova Scotia?
When children are present, at any time of day, it is 30 km/h where the limit before the zone is 50 km/h, and 50 km/h where the limit before the zone is higher than 50 km/h.
Is this chart the official sign list?
No. It is our own study aid with simplified drawings, written from Chapter 3 of the Nova Scotia Driver's Handbook. The handbook chapters are free PDFs on novascotia.ca and show the official signs.
Keep practising
- Nova Scotia road sign test60 practice questions for the Road Sign Recognition part of the Nova Scotia Class 7 test: regulatory, warning, work zone, railway, signal and marking questions.
- Nova Scotia practice test (printable PDF)100 Nova Scotia Class 7 practice questions from both parts of the test, with the answer key on separate pages. Print it or save it as a PDF. Free.
- How to get a learner's licence in Nova Scotia
- Nova Scotia Class 7 study guide
- Nova Scotia Class 7 Mock Exam 1 – 40 QuestionsUntimed practice · answers explained
- Nova Scotia Class 7 Mock Exam 2 – 40 QuestionsUntimed practice · answers explained
- Nova Scotia Class 7 Practice Test 140 questions with explanations
- Nova Scotia Class 7 Practice Test 240 questions with explanations
- Nova Scotia Class 7 Practice Test 340 questions with explanations
Practice by topic
- Regulatory signsStop, yield and school zone signs, green-circle and red-slash signs, turn, passing, parking and stopping restrictions, one-way, keep-right, speed limit and accessible parking signs.
- Warning and guide signsYellow diamond warning signs for curves, narrowing roads, merges, lane endings, divided highways, bumps and hidden hazards, chevrons and checkerboards, lane-use arrows and green guide signs.
- Work zone signsOrange work zone signs, general, arrow, specific and human activity signs, traffic control persons, flashing arrow boards, lane closures and the main causes of work zone collisions.
- Railway crossingsThe crossbuck and advance railway warning sign, flashing lights and gates, vehicles that must stop at crossings, what to do if you are stuck on the tracks, and parking near a crossing.
- Traffic signals and crossing guardsGreen, yellow and red lights, right and left turns on red, arrow signals, flashing red, yellow and green signals, lane-control signals, dark signals, pedestrian Walk signals and crossing guards.
- Pavement markings and special lanesYellow and white lines, broken, solid and double solid centre lines, edge lines on divided highways, climbing lanes, continuity lines and two-way-left-turn lanes.
- Graduated licensing: Class 7, 5N and restricted stageApplying for a Class 7 learner's licence, the knowledge and vision tests, learner and newly licensed restrictions, curfew, waiting periods, driver training, the restricted individual stage, visitors and new residents, and licence classes.
- Demerit points and losing your licenceDemerit point values for common offences, warning, interview and suspension thresholds for learners, newly licensed and other drivers, probationary and conditional licences, revocation and suspension.
- Right of way, pedestrians and emergency vehiclesIntersection right-of-way rules, marked and unmarked crosswalks, pedestrians at signals, driveways, emergency vehicles, the slow down and move over rule and yielding to transit buses.
- Speed, stopping distance and followingDefault speed limits, 50 km/h situations, school zone limits, stopping distances, driving too slowly, keeping right, the two-second rule, safety scans, blind spots and curves.
- Signals, turning, lane changes and passingSignal lights, hand signals and the horn, right and left turns, turning lanes, lane changes, overtaking and passing, places where passing is unsafe, being passed and backing up.
- Parking, roundabouts and drivewaysWhere you may not stop or park and the distances involved, parallel and angle parking, parking on a hill, roundabouts and rotaries, and entering or leaving driveways.
- Highways, school buses and sharing the road100-series controlled-access highways and interchanges, large commercial vehicles and truck blind spots, school bus lights, motorcycles and bicycles.
- Your vehicle: inspection, equipment, registration and insuranceAnnual safety inspection, tires and studded tire dates, maintenance checks, lighting and horn rules, special flashing lights, loads and trailers, vehicle permits and plates, and mandatory liability insurance.
- Seat belts, child seats and safe driving habitsSeat belt law, child restraints and booster seats, airbags, carrying passengers, driving position, steering, braking and ABS, defensive driving and highway hypnosis.
- Night driving and bad weatherHeadlight timing and dimming distances, glare, rain, fog and snow, hydroplaning, wet brakes, ice and black ice stopping distances, gravel roads, four-wheel drive and winter driving.
- Emergencies and collisionsBreakdowns, brake failure, blowouts, power and headlight failure, a stuck gas pedal, fires, skids, wheels off the pavement, animals, water, downed wires, snow plows and collision reporting duties.
- Impaired driving and fitness to driveBlood alcohol limits, standard drinks, roadside screening results and suspensions, the administrative licence suspension, penalties by offence, drug impairment, emotions, vision standards and fatigue.