Québec Road Signs and Their Meanings
Every sign drawing from our SAAQ question bank on one page with its meaning: regulatory, warning, school zone, road work and information signs for Class 5.
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This chart puts every sign drawing from our SAAQ practice questions on one page, in the order of our sign topics: regulatory signs first, then warning signs, then road work, information and cyclist signs, followed by the few signs that appear in rules questions. Next to each drawing you get its meaning and the explanation from the question it comes from, written from the road signs chapter of the SAAQ Driver's Handbook.
The handbook sorts Québec signs into four families: regulatory, warning, information and road work. Small tabs under a sign narrow its message, for example the all-way tab under a stop sign, whose shape shows the layout of the intersection, or the tab under a warning sign giving the times and months a school zone speed applies. Information signs use colour to tell you what kind of destination they point to: blue for autoroutes and tourist services, green for other roads, brown for public tourist attractions, red for emergency facilities and yellow only for autoroute exits. Our drawings are simplified originals, not SAAQ artwork, and some carry English wording; on Québec roads the word ARRÊT appears on many stop-related signs, sometimes replaced by STOP. Use the chart as a revision sheet, then test yourself on the signs section.
Traffic lights and signal lights
Practise: Traffic lights and signal lights
Move to the lane on the side the arrow points
A signal arrow on a vehicle means a lane is blocked; the arrow's direction shows which open lane to use.
Pavement markings
Practise: Pavement markings
Crossing the solid line to pass it, when safe
The solid line may be crossed to pass farm machinery, animal-drawn vehicles, bicycles or vehicles bearing the slow-moving vehicle triangle.
Regulatory signs
Practise: Regulatory signs
Come to a full stop before entering
This eight-sided sign requires a complete stop at the intersection, even when no other traffic is in sight.
Yield to traffic on that road
A yield sign means vehicles already on the road you are entering go first; you stop only if you cannot merge safely.
No vehicle may enter this road or lane
Entry is forbidden for every type of vehicle because going in could lead to a head-on collision.
Traffic may move only in the arrow's direction
A one-way sign means traffic on that street is allowed in only the direction shown by the arrow.
One-way traffic ends and two-way begins
This regulatory sign marks the point where the one-way section ends, so expect oncoming traffic from here on.
Pass the obstacle on its right side
Obstruction signs show which side to use; here the arrow goes around the obstacle on the right, so you keep right of it.
You must go straight; nothing else is allowed
At these intersections a green circle makes the move inside it compulsory, and no other manoeuvre is permitted.
Bicycles are not allowed on this road
A red circle with a diagonal bar forbids whatever is shown inside it, so cyclists may not use this road.
You may not make a U-turn here
The red circle and bar over a U-shaped arrow forbid U-turns at that intersection or median.
A no-passing zone begins here
This sign marks the start of a stretch where passing is forbidden; a tab under the same sign can mark where that zone ends.
Left turns by traffic from either direction
The centre lane is reserved for drivers turning left, whichever direction they are travelling in.
Warning signs
Practise: Warning signs
A stop sign further ahead
This advance sign warns that a stop sign is coming up, so you can slow down in time to stop.
Traffic lights ahead
This advance warning sign tells you there are traffic lights ahead, so be ready to stop if the light changes.
Keep to the right of the median ahead
It warns that a divided roadway is coming up, and you must enter it only on the right side.
Three or more curves within 150 m of each other
A winding road sign means at least three curves in a row, each within 150 metres of the next; a tab gives the total distance if it exceeds 1 km.
A curve of more than 90° to the right
This sign warns of a very sharp turn, tighter than a right angle, so slow down well before you reach it.
The recommended speed for the curve
The tab shows a recommended speed chosen so that you can get around the curve or hazard safely.
The beginning of a school zone
The fluorescent yellow-green pentagon is reserved for the start of a school zone, a stretch of road next to an elementary or secondary school.
Yield, then move into the remaining lane
Lane-ending signs require drivers in the lane that ends to change lanes after giving the right of way to vehicles in the lane that continues.
No special move, just extra alertness
A roadway-narrows sign means the road gets narrower but keeps the same number of lanes, so you stay alert rather than change lanes.
6% or more
Steep grade signs are used when a slope is at least 6%, a drop of 6 metres over 100 metres; the higher the number, the steeper the hill.
Railway tracks crossing the road ahead
This sign warns of a level crossing ahead, and the drawing shows the angle at which the tracks cross the road.
An obstacle on or beside the roadway
Hazard markers flag obstacles such as boulders or bridge railings; the diagonal bands point to the side you must use to get by.
Road work, information and cyclist signs
Practise: Road work, information and cyclist signs
Road work is under way ahead
Orange advance road work signs warn of a work site ahead and the type of work being done, so slow down and watch for workers.
A flagperson is directing traffic ahead
This sign warns of a flagperson ahead; traffic may be slowed, detoured or stopped, and the flagperson's orders must be obeyed.
Move into the lane that remains open
A lane merge sign means one lane is temporarily closed and drivers must use the lane that stays open.
Follow the marked route around the work
A detour sign shows the route to follow to get around a road work site.
How far away the work site is
This sign announces the distance to a road construction site; separate signs show the length and the end of the work site.
Your lane must take the exit
On an exit lane only sign, traffic travelling in the marked lane must take the exit, so change lanes early if you are not exiting.
Distances to the places listed
A distance reminder sign shows how far you must travel to reach each of the destinations listed.
Seat belts, lane use and speed limits
Practise: Seat belts, lane use and speed limits
60 km/h
Québec highways have a 60 km/h minimum and a 100 km/h maximum unless signs say otherwise.
Passing, turning and traffic circles
Practise: Passing, turning and traffic circles
Vehicles already in the circle
This sign warns of a traffic circle ahead; before entering, you must yield to drivers already travelling in the circle.
Accidents, insurance and fines
Practise: Accidents, insurance and fines
$90
At 25 km/h over, the fine is $15 plus $15 for each 5 km/h over: $15 + 5 x $15 = $90 (fees are extra).
FAQ
Québec road signs chart: common questions
What do the colours of Québec road signs mean?
In general, black and white signs are regulatory, yellow signs warn of danger, orange signs mark road work, and green, blue or brown signs give information. The handbook says the colour scheme follows North American practice, so most signs look familiar if you have driven elsewhere in Canada.
Which sign shapes are reserved in Québec?
The octagon is used only for stop signs and the pentagon only for school zones. The handbook also reserves the red-and-white triangle for yield signs and the black horizontal rectangle for one-way signs, while the diamond is used for danger and work-site signs.
Does this chart show every sign on the SAAQ test?
No one outside the SAAQ can promise that, because the real questions are not published. The chart covers every sign used in our question bank, all taken from the handbook's road signs chapter. Read that chapter for the signs we have not drawn yet.
Keep practising
- SAAQ road signs testPractise the signs section of the SAAQ Class 5 knowledge test: 60 questions on Québec road signs, pavement markings and traffic lights, with explanations.
- SAAQ knowledge test PDF100 original SAAQ Class 5 practice questions from all three sections of the knowledge test, with the answer key on separate pages. Print or save as a PDF.
- How to get a Quebec driver's licence
- SAAQ Class 5 study guide
- SAAQ road test guide
- SAAQ Class 5 Mock Exam 1 – 30 QuestionsUntimed practice · answers explained
- SAAQ Class 5 Mock Exam 2 – 30 QuestionsUntimed practice · answers explained
- SAAQ Class 5 Practice Test 130 questions with explanations
- SAAQ Class 5 Practice Test 230 questions with explanations
- SAAQ Class 5 Practice Test 330 questions with explanations
Practice by topic
- Traffic lights and signal lightsRed, yellow and green lights, arrows, flashing lights, dark signals, pedestrian countdown lights, cyclist lights, lane-use lights, railway signals, work-site lights and bus priority lights.
- Pavement markingsYellow and white lines, broken, solid, double and combined lines, reversible and two-way left-turn lanes, reserved lanes, stop lines, crosswalks, parking markings and pavement symbols.
- Regulatory signsSign colours and shapes, stop, all-way stop and yield signs, speed limits, one-way and lane direction signs, green-circle and red-circle signs, no passing, parking, stopping and reserved-lane signs.
- Warning signsYellow diamond signs for stops and lights ahead, curves, intersections, lane endings, narrowing roads, steep grades, school zones, crossings, slippery or icy surfaces, hazard markers and chevrons.
- Road work, information and cyclist signsOrange work-site signs, flagperson signals, work-zone speed limits, detours and lane merges, green and blue guide and service signs, exit signs, and signs for cyclists.
- Getting your Class 5 licenceMinimum age, the mandatory driving course, the learner's licence and its rules, when you can take the knowledge and road tests, the probationary licence and passenger limits for young drivers.
- Licence conditions and driver obligationsHealth declarations and licence conditions, documents you must carry, change of address, renewal, new residents and non-residents driving in Québec.
- Demerit points and licence revocationDemerit point brackets by licence and age, revocation periods, how long points stay on your record, restricted licences, and the points for common offences.
- Alcohol, drugs and impaired drivingBlood alcohol limits, the zero-alcohol rule for new and young drivers, drug limits, care or control of a vehicle, roadside suspensions, vehicle impoundment and the cost of a first offence.
- Vision, fatigue, distraction and attitudeHow vision, physical problems, fatigue and emotions affect driving, the ban on hand-held electronic devices and its penalties, observation, and keeping your judgment in traffic.
- Your vehicle: registration, equipment and winter tiresVehicle registration and insurance, required lights, brakes, mirrors and windows, studded and winter tire dates, clearing snow, mechanical inspection and doing your own checks.
- Seat belts, lane use and speed limitsSeat belts and child car seats, air bags and headrests, which lane to use, centre left-turn lanes, Québec's default speed limits and safe following distance.
- Passing, turning and traffic circlesWhen passing is allowed or banned, passing cyclists and pedestrians, right and left turns, right turns on red and the Montréal exception, traffic circles, signals and headlight use.
- Right of way, emergency vehicles and school busesYielding to pedestrians and cyclists, stop signs and all-way stops, entering highways and driveways, emergency vehicles, the Move-Over law, city buses, school buses, level crossings and heavy vehicles.
- Work zones, stopping, parking and unlawful practicesDriving near work sites, parking and stopping distances, disabled parking permits, driving on the shoulder, passengers and seat belts, car surfing and street racing.
- Pedestrians, cyclists and motorcyclesRules for pedestrians, cyclists and power-assisted bicycles, foot scooters, motorcycles, mopeds and scooters, and what drivers must do around them.
- Accidents, insurance and finesQuébec's public no-fault insurance, mandatory liability insurance, what to do at the scene of an accident, and fines for common offences, speeding and work-zone speeding.