Ontario Road Signs Explained: What Shapes and Colours Mean

Every Ontario road sign tells you something by its shape and colour. This guide explains each type of sign, with examples from the Official MTO Driver's Handbook.

Ontario road signs use shape and colour so you can understand them quickly, even before you can read the words. The Official MTO Driver's Handbook groups signs into four main types: regulatory, warning, temporary condition and information and direction. Learn these groups and you can understand most signs you see.

Quick guide: shapes and colours

• Eight-sided, red with white letters: stop sign.
• Triangle, white with a red border: yield sign.
• Five-sided, fluorescent yellow/green with black symbols: school zone sign.
• X-shaped, white with a red outline: railway crossing sign.
• Rectangle or square, usually white or black: regulatory sign (a rule you must obey).
• Diamond, yellow with black letters or symbols: warning sign.
• Diamond, orange with black letters or symbols: temporary condition sign (construction, detours).
• Rectangle, green with white letters: information and direction sign.
• Orange triangle with a red border: slow-moving vehicle sign (on vehicles that travel 40 km/h or less, such as farm tractors).

Stop sign

A stop sign means you must come to a complete stop. The handbook tells you where to stop:

1. Stop at the painted stop line, if there is one.
2. If there is no stop line, stop at the crosswalk (marked or not).
3. If there is no crosswalk, stop at the edge of the sidewalk.
4. If there is no sidewalk, stop at the edge of the intersection.
5. Wait until the way is clear before you enter the intersection.

Yield sign

A yield sign means you must let traffic in the intersection, or close to it, go first. Slow down and stop if you need to. Go only when the way is clear.

School zone signs

The five-sided fluorescent yellow/green sign warns that you are coming to a school zone. Slow down, drive with extra care and watch for children.

• A school zone speed limit sign means the speed limit is lower during school hours. Obey the speed shown when the yellow lights are flashing.
• A school crossing sign means you must follow the directions of the crossing guard or school safety patroller.
• When a crossing guard shows a red and white stop sign, you must stop before the crossing. Stay stopped until everyone, including the guard, has cleared the whole road.
• A hidden school bus stop sign warns you to watch for a school bus with flashing red lights.

Railway crossing signs

The white X-shaped sign with a red outline means railway tracks cross the road. A yellow diamond railway crossing ahead warning sign may come first. It also shows the angle at which the tracks cross the road.

• Slow down, listen and look both ways. Be ready to stop.
• If a train is coming, stop at least 5 metres from the nearest rail or gate.
• If lights are flashing, wait until they stop. If there is a gate, wait until it rises fully.
• Never drive around, under or through a gate that is down, lowering or rising.
• At a crossing with a stop sign, you must stop unless a flagman directs you otherwise.
• A train can need up to 2 kilometres to stop, even with full emergency braking.

Failing to stop at a railway crossing can mean a $110 fine ($150 in a community safety zone) and 3 demerit points.

Regulatory signs

Regulatory signs give a direction you must obey. They are usually rectangular or square, with a white or black background.

• A green circle means you may or must do the activity shown inside it.
• A red circle with a line through it means the activity is not allowed.

Examples from the handbook:

• No left turn, no U-turn, or no right turn on a red light (some only at the times shown).
• Speed limit signs, no passing signs and "slow traffic keep right" on multi-lane roads.
• Parking, no stopping and no standing signs, often used in pairs or groups.
• One-way signs, and pedestrian crossover signs (stop and yield to pedestrians).
• Lane signs for buses, taxis, bicycles or high occupancy vehicles (HOV).
• Community safety zone signs. These mark areas with a special risk to pedestrians. Traffic offences in these zones have increased fines.

Warning signs

Warning signs tell you about dangerous or unusual conditions ahead. They are usually yellow diamonds with black letters or symbols. Examples:

• Curves, sharp turns, winding roads and chevron signs on sharp curves. A plate under a curve sign may show the maximum safe speed.
• Roundabout ahead, traffic lights ahead, stop sign ahead, and lanes merging.
• Slippery when wet, pavement ends, bumps and steep hill (use a lower gear).
• Deer crossing, snowmobile crossing and bicycle crossing.
• Share the road signs, which remind you to leave safe space for cyclists.
• Signs with a checkerboard border, which warn of a sharp turn or bend and danger.

Temporary condition (construction) signs

These signs warn of temporary conditions such as road work, detours, lane closures or traffic control people. They are usually orange diamonds with black letters or symbols. Examples:

• Construction ahead, road work, survey crew and "traffic control person ahead" (drive slowly and watch for instructions).
• Entering a construction zone, where the speed limit may be lower.
• Lane closed, detour and flashing arrow signs showing which way to go.
• Milled or grooved pavement, which can reduce stopping ability and motorcycle traction.
• Pilot or pace vehicle signs: do not pass a vehicle with this sign.

In a designated construction zone, speeding fines under the Highway Traffic Act are doubled when workers are present.

Information and direction signs

These signs tell you about distances and destinations. They are usually green rectangles with white letters. Signs in other colours guide you to facilities, services and attractions, such as hospitals, airports and carpool lots.

• Distance signs show kilometres to towns and cities ahead.
• Freeway signs help you choose a lane. A yellow box with the word "exit" marks lanes that leave the freeway.
• Interchange numbers show kilometres from the start of the freeway. For example, interchange 204 on Highway 401 is 204 km from Windsor.
• "VIA" tells you which roads to follow to reach a destination.

In designated bilingual areas, signs may show English and French. Read the message in the language you understand best.

Signs on your knowledge test

DriveTest knowledge tests check that you know the rules of the road and traffic signs. Tests usually have one section on signs and one on rules. Questions come from the official handbook for your licence class. Practise with our free G1 practice test. If you are getting a motorcycle licence, try the M1 practice test.