Ontario Road Signs and Their Meanings

Every road sign in our G1 question bank on one page: regulatory, warning, construction and guide signs, each with what it means and what to do.

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This chart puts every sign drawing from our G1 question bank on one page, grouped the same way the Official MTO Driver's Handbook groups them: regulatory signs that you must obey, yellow warning signs, orange temporary-condition signs for work zones, and green information and direction signs. Next to each sign is what it means and, where it matters, what you must do.

Read the chart once, then test yourself with the road signs practice test linked under each group. Recognising a sign by its shape and colour before you can read it is the skill the signs part of the G1 test checks. Our drawings are simplified originals, so focus on the shape, colour and symbol rather than the exact artwork.

Regulatory signs

Practise: Regulatory signs

Stop fully, then go when it is clear
This is a stop sign. You must come to a full stop and wait until the way is clear before entering the intersection.
Let traffic at the intersection go first
A yield sign means traffic in the intersection or close to it goes first. Stop if necessary and go only when it is clear.
A school zone is ahead
The five-sided fluorescent yellow-green sign warns of a school zone: slow down and watch for children.
Railway tracks cross the road here
The X-shaped railway crossing sign marks where railway tracks cross the road. Slow down and look both ways.
The action shown is allowed or required
A green circle on a regulatory sign means you may, or must, do the activity shown inside the ring.
This road is an official bicycle route
This regulatory sign marks an official bicycle route. Watch for cyclists and be ready to share the road with them.
Snowmobiles may use this road
The green ring means the activity shown is permitted, so snowmobiles are allowed to use this road.
Do not enter this road
The red circle with a white bar means do not enter this road.
Nothing; you may not stop here at all
Between no-stopping signs you may not stop your vehicle, even for a moment, so you cannot drop anyone off there.
Only while loading or unloading passengers
No standing means you may not stop in the area except while picking up or dropping off passengers.
Loading or unloading passengers or goods
Under a no-parking rule you may stop only to load or unload passengers or merchandise, not to leave the vehicle parked.
Do not turn left
A red circle and slash over a left-turn arrow means left turns are not allowed at this intersection.
Do not go straight
The red circle and slash over a straight-ahead arrow means you may not drive straight through the intersection.
No U-turns allowed
The U-shaped arrow inside a red circle and slash means U-turns are not allowed.
No bicycles allowed on this road
A red circle and slash over a bicycle means bicycles are not permitted on this road.
No pedestrians allowed on this road
A red circle and slash over a walking figure means pedestrians are not allowed on this road.
Keep to the right of the island
This sign directs you to pass on the right side of the traffic island.
Do not pass on this road
Two vehicles inside a red circle and slash means passing is not allowed on this stretch of road.
Traffic offences here carry higher fines
In a community safety zone, traffic offences are subject to increased fines because of a special risk to pedestrians.
Turn left or go straight
Lane-use signs show the direction each lane must travel. Here the middle lane's arrows allow a left turn or straight ahead.
Traffic moves one way only
The one-way sign means all traffic on that road moves only in the direction of the arrow.
Stop and yield to pedestrians
This is a pedestrian crossover sign. Be prepared to stop and give pedestrians the right-of-way.
Left turns by traffic from both directions
The two-way left-turn sign means the lane may be used only for left turns, by drivers travelling in either direction.
A bus or an ordinary car meeting the occupancy requirement
Buses and ordinary cars meeting the posted occupancy requirement may use HOV lanes. This is not an exhaustive list: Ontario also permits specified exempt vehicles, including motorcycles, licensed taxis and vehicles with Ontario green licence plates.

Warning signs

Practise: Warning signs

A narrow bridge ahead
The road edges pinching in and flaring out at both ends show a narrow bridge ahead.
A road branches off ahead
This warning sign shows a side road branching off the road you are on.
Which traffic has the right-of-way
On this sign the arrow shows which direction of traffic has the right-of-way at the intersection ahead.
Reduce speed for a roundabout ahead
This sign warns of a roundabout ahead; reduce your speed as you approach.
The pavement narrows ahead
Both road edges stepping inward show that the paved road becomes narrower ahead.
A slight bend in the road
A gently curved arrow warns of a slight bend or curve in the road ahead.
The maximum safe speed for the curve
A speed tab posted under a curve warning shows the maximum safe speed for taking that curve.
A sharp bend or turn ahead
The arrow bending at a right angle warns of a sharp bend or turn in the road ahead.
Guiding you around a sharp curve
Chevron (arrowhead) signs are put up in groups to guide drivers around sharp curves.
A winding road ahead
The snake-shaped arrow warns that the road ahead has a series of bends.
A bicycle crossing ahead
A yellow diamond with a bicycle is a warning that cyclists may be crossing the road ahead.
Slow down; a stop sign is ahead
This warning sign tells you a stop sign is ahead, so slow down and get ready to stop.
Two-way traffic ahead
Two arrows pointing in opposite directions warn that you will share the road with oncoming traffic.
Slow down; slippery when wet
This sign warns that pavement is slippery when wet. Slow down and drive with caution.
The right side
On a hazard marker the downward-sloping lines point to the side on which you can safely pass. Here they slope down to the right.
A divided highway begins; keep right
This sign shows traffic splitting onto separated roads ahead. Keep to the right-hand road.
The divided highway ends ahead
Divided highway ends: traffic in both directions will be on the same road. Keep to the right-hand road.
Merge safely into the lane on your left
The right lane ends ahead. If you are in it, you must merge safely with traffic in the lane to the left.
Traffic lights ahead
This sign warns of traffic signals ahead. Slow down and be ready to stop.
Shift to a lower gear
This sign warns of a steep hill ahead, where you may need to use a lower gear.
Drivers on both roads
Where two roads going the same direction join, drivers on both roads are equally responsible for merging safely.
Snowmobiles cross this road
This yellow diamond warns that snowmobiles cross the road ahead, so watch for them.
A bump or uneven road
This sign warns of a bump or uneven road. Slow down and keep control of your vehicle.
The angle at which the tracks cross
This railway-crossing-ahead sign also shows the angle at which the tracks cross the road. Be alert for trains.
A dangerous sharp turn; slow down
This sign shows a sharp turn in the direction of the arrow; the checkerboard border warns of danger.
Deer regularly cross this road
This sign warns that deer often cross the road here, so stay alert for animals.
On the right side of the road
On the truck entrance sign, the truck is drawn on the side where the entrance is. Here it is on the right.
Watch for pedestrians and share the road
This yellow diamond warns you to watch for pedestrians and be prepared to share the road with them.
Rocks may have fallen on the road
This sign warns of fallen rock. Watch for it and be ready to avoid a collision.
It travels at 40 km/h or less
The slow-moving vehicle sign means the vehicle will be going 40 km/h or slower; reduce your speed as needed.
It is a long double-trailer vehicle
This placard marks a long commercial vehicle (LCV), a truck pulling two trailers.

Construction, information and direction signs

Practise: Construction, information and direction signs

Road work ahead
An orange diamond showing a worker with a shovel warns that road work is ahead.
Construction work is one kilometre ahead
This temporary sign tells you that construction work begins one kilometre ahead, so get ready to slow down.
Drive slowly and watch for instructions
This sign warns of a traffic control person ahead. Drive slowly and be ready to follow their directions.
A temporary detour from the usual route
An orange detour sign means traffic is being sent on a temporary route away from the normal one.
The direction to follow
Flashing lights on the arrows show the direction drivers should follow through the work zone.
Obey the speed limit and merge into the open lane
This sign warns that a lane ahead is closed for roadwork. Keep to the speed limit, adjust your speed and merge into the open lane.
Speeding while workers are present
This sign enforces doubled Highway Traffic Act fines for speeding in a designated construction zone when workers are present.
Directions to nearby towns and cities
This direction sign uses arrows to show which way to go to reach nearby towns and cities.
Distances in kilometres to each place
This information sign lists towns and cities on the road ahead with their distances in kilometres.
Its distance from the freeway's start
Freeway interchange numbers correspond to the distance in kilometres from where the freeway begins.
That lane leads off the freeway
On advance exit signs, arrows for lanes that lead off the freeway are shown in a yellow box with the word exit under them.
When police detour traffic off a closed highway
EDR markers are used when the OPP detour all traffic off a provincial highway during an unscheduled closure; they lead you around it and back on.

FAQ

Ontario road signs chart: common questions

How many road signs do I need to know for the G1?

The handbook shows well over 100 signs across four groups. You don't need to memorise every one word for word, but you should recognise each group by shape and colour and know the common regulatory and warning signs on sight.

What do the colours of Ontario road signs mean?

Red means stop, yield or a prohibition; white rectangles are regulatory; yellow diamonds warn of hazards ahead; orange means a temporary or construction condition; green gives directions and distances; blue shows services; brown shows recreation and tourism.

Is this chart the same as the handbook?

It covers the same signs and meanings in our own words, with our own simplified drawings. The official handbook chapter on signs is free on ontario.ca and is linked from every question.