Reading signs by shape and colour

By the ChowChow Labs editorial team · Updated November 13, 2026 · How we check our content

Short answer: Sign shape and colour tell you what kind of message is coming before you can read it. Regulatory signs give orders, warning signs describe what's ahead, and temporary orange signs mark work zones.

Key points

• Octagon: always a full stop.
• Downward-pointing triangle: yield the right-of-way.
• Yellow diamond: warning about the road ahead.
• Orange: temporary conditions such as construction.
• Red circle with a slash: that movement is not allowed. A green circle means it is allowed.

Law or advice?

Obeying regulatory signs is the law. Slowing to an advisory speed on a yellow tab is advice for good conditions; the posted maximum is the legal limit.

Example

You see a yellow diamond with a curved arrow and a 40 tab on an 80 km/h road. The legal limit is still 80, but 40 is the suggested speed for the curve, and less if it's icy.

The signs in our questions

• 
  Stop

  Come to a full stop, then go only when the way is clear.

• 
  Yield

  Slow down and give the right-of-way. Stop only if you need to.

• 
  Do not enter

  No entry from your direction.

• 
  Wrong way

  You are heading into oncoming traffic. Stop safely and turn around.

• 
  Maximum speed

  The legal limit in good conditions. Go slower when conditions are poor.

• 
  No parking

  Don’t park in the area the sign controls.

• 
  No U-turn

  U-turns are not allowed here.

• 
  No left turn

  Left turns are not allowed here.

• 
  No right turn

  Right turns are not allowed here.

• 
  One way

  All traffic moves in the direction of the arrow.

• 
  Keep right

  Pass to the right of the median or obstruction.

• 
  Two-way traffic

  Expect vehicles coming toward you.

• 
  School area

  Children may be near. On its own it doesn’t lower the limit.

• 
  School zone

  With a speed tab: 30 km/h during school-zone hours on school days.

• 
  Playground area

  Children may be playing. On its own it doesn’t lower the limit.

• 
  Playground zone

  With a speed tab: 30 km/h every day during playground-zone hours.

• 
  Road work

  Orange means temporary conditions: expect workers, equipment and lane changes.

• 
  Railway crossing ahead

  A railway crossing is coming. Be ready to stop.

• 
  Slippery when wet

  The surface can lose grip in rain, ice or frost.

• 
  Merge

  Traffic from another lane will join your road ahead.

• 
  Lane ends

  One lane is ending. Be ready to merge.

• 
  Curve

  Slow down before the curve.

• 
  Stop ahead

  A stop sign is coming up, often where it’s hard to see.

• 
  Pedestrian crossing

  Be ready to slow down or stop for people crossing.

• 
  Bicycles

  Cyclists may be on the road. Give them room.

• 
  Advisory speed tab

  A suggested speed for the hazard, not the legal limit.

• 
  No passing

  Stay in your lane until the restriction ends.

• 
  Right turn permitted

  A green circle shows a movement you may make.

• 
  Slow-moving vehicle

  Marks slow vehicles such as farm equipment.

• 
  Reserved lane

  The diamond marks a reserved lane; this one is for buses.

Checked against the Government of Alberta Driver’s Guide (Spring 2026), used under the Open Government Licence – Alberta. Laws change, so check alberta.ca for the current rules before you rely on a number. Sources: Alberta Driver’s Guide, page 26: Traffic control signs.

Check yourself

Try these 6 questions from our free mock exams, then tap Show answer. For more, take the road signs practice test.

1. Question 1 · Signs and Signals

   

   You reach this sign at a quiet neighbourhood intersection. What must you do?

   1. A. Stop only when pedestrians are in the crosswalk
   2. B. Slow to a crawl and continue if nothing is coming
   3. C. Come to a full stop, then go only when the way is clear
   4. D. Stop only if another vehicle is already waiting

   Show answer

   Answer: C. Come to a full stop, then go only when the way is clear

   This sign always requires a complete stop. After stopping, yield to pedestrians and traffic before moving on.

   Source: Alberta Driver’s Guide (Spring 2026), page 26: Stop controlReviewed October 2026Report an error

2. Question 2 · Signs and Signals

   

   What does this sign require you to do?

   1. A. Always come to a full stop, even when the road is clear
   2. B. Slow down only when a vehicle is directly beside you
   3. C. Merge at your current speed; other traffic must make room
   4. D. Let traffic and pedestrians go first, stopping if needed

   Show answer

   Answer: D. Let traffic and pedestrians go first, stopping if needed

   This sign means yield. Slow down and give the right of way. Stop only if traffic or pedestrians make it necessary.

   Source: Alberta Driver’s Guide (Spring 2026), page 26: Yield controlReviewed October 2026Report an error

3. Question 3 · Signs and Signals

   

   You are about to turn into a street with this sign facing you. What does it tell you?

   1. A. Stop before entering and yield to cross traffic
   2. B. Only local traffic may enter the road here
   3. C. Do not enter the road from this direction
   4. D. Enter slowly because the road narrows ahead

   Show answer

   Answer: C. Do not enter the road from this direction

   This sign prohibits entry from your direction, usually because traffic on that road flows toward you.

   Source: Alberta Driver’s Guide (Spring 2026), page 26: Prohibited entryReviewed October 2026Report an error

4. Question 4 · Signs and Signals

   

   You turn onto a ramp and see this sign. What does it mean?

   1. A. You are driving against traffic and must correct it now
   2. B. The ramp ahead is temporarily closed to all traffic
   3. C. Traffic ahead is moving slowly, so expect delays
   4. D. You have taken the wrong exit and should keep going

   Show answer

   Answer: A. You are driving against traffic and must correct it now

   This sign warns that you are travelling the wrong way, into oncoming traffic. Stop safely and get out of that path.

   Source: Alberta Driver’s Guide (Spring 2026), page 26: Wrong directionReviewed October 2026Report an error

5. Question 5 · Signs and Signals

   

   What does this sign tell you?

   1. A. You may pass on either side of the vehicle ahead
   2. B. The road divides into two separate roadways
   3. C. Two lanes ahead travel the same direction as you
   4. D. Traffic travels in both directions on this road

   Show answer

   Answer: D. Traffic travels in both directions on this road

   The opposing arrows show two-way traffic. Expect vehicles coming toward you.

   Source: Alberta Driver’s Guide (Spring 2026), page 27: Opposing traffic warningReviewed October 2026Report an error

6. Question 6 · Signs and Signals

   

   What does this sign warn you about?

   1. A. A stop sign is ahead
   2. B. The road ahead is closed
   3. C. You must stop right here at this sign
   4. D. A traffic light is ahead

   Show answer

   Answer: A. A stop sign is ahead

   This sign warns of a stop sign ahead, often where it is hard to see. Get ready to stop.

   Source: Alberta Driver’s Guide (Spring 2026), page 33: Upcoming stop controlReviewed October 2026Report an error

Next: Traffic lights and turns on red. Signals control who may enter an intersection. Alberta allows some turns on red after a full stop, and a flashing green has a specific meaning here.