Category: Canada

Photo: waferboard, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Can you turn left on a red light in Saskatchewan? Only from a one-way street onto another one-way street, and only after a full stop and yielding to pedestrians and traffic. Right turns on red are allowed at most intersections after the same stop and yield. A sign can ban either turn, and a U-turn at any intersection with traffic lights is not allowed unless a sign permits it.

Everything below comes from the Traffic signals section of SGI’s Saskatchewan Driver’s Handbook, with penalty points from SGI’s demerit tables. Signal questions show up on the SGI written test, and examiners watch your stops and turns on the SGI road test.

Saskatchewan traffic lights at a glance

You see	What you do in Saskatchewan
Steady green	Go straight, turn left or turn right, unless a sign bans that movement, once the intersection is clear and it’s safe. Left turns yield to oncoming traffic and pedestrians.
Steady amber	Stop before the crosswalk. If you’re already in the intersection or can’t stop safely, proceed with caution. Yield to pedestrians in the crosswalk or pedestrian corridor.
Steady red	Stop and stay stopped until the light changes. Turns on red are allowed only as described below.
Red with a solid green arrow	Go only in the arrow’s direction, after yielding to other vehicles and pedestrians.
Flashing green left arrow (with a red or green light)	You may turn in the direction of the arrow.
Amber arrow after a left arrow	The arrow phase is ending: the green is about to come on for traffic in both directions.
Flashing amber	Proceed with caution.
Flashing red	Stop, then go when it’s safe.
Alternating flashing amber lights	A warning that the traffic lights ahead are red or about to turn red.

Turning right on a red light in Saskatchewan

A right turn on red is legal where no sign prohibits it. The order matters:

1. Come to a complete stop at the correct stopping position.
2. Yield to pedestrians crossing in front of you.
3. Yield to every vehicle travelling through the intersection on the green.
4. Turn only when there is a safe gap. If your view is blocked, wait for the green.

A driver honking behind you does not change any of this. Turning on red is permitted, never required.

Double right-turn lanes

Where two lanes turn right, the driver in the outside (left) lane of the pair may also turn right on red after stopping and yielding to pedestrians and vehicles. SGI calls this an uncommon manoeuvre and asks for extra caution. Stay in your own lane through the turn and don’t follow the car beside you without checking the crosswalk yourself.

Can you turn left on red in Saskatchewan?

Yes, but only at the intersection of two one-way streets: you must be turning left from a one-way street onto another one-way street. The same rule applies as for a right turn on red: stop, yield to pedestrians and vehicles, then turn when safe.

Turn on red	Allowed in Saskatchewan?
Right turn, single right lane	Yes, after a full stop and yield, unless a sign prohibits it
Right turn from the outside (left) lane of a double right-turn lane	Yes, after a full stop and yield, with extra caution
Left turn, one-way street onto one-way street	Yes, after a full stop and yield, unless a sign prohibits it
Left turn involving a two-way street	Not covered by the exception: stay stopped until the light changes
U-turn at any intersection with traffic lights	No, unless a sign permits U-turns

Look for a “no turn on red” sign every time. Some intersections have one, and it overrides the general rule.

What to do at an amber light

A steady amber means stop before you enter the crosswalk. The two exceptions are when you have already entered the intersection, or when you can’t stop safely; in either case, carry on with caution.

You can usually see amber coming. SGI suggests noting how long the light has already been green and watching the pedestrian “don’t walk” signal, especially when it is flashing. A light that has been green for a while is a cue to ease off and be ready to stop, so you are not left choosing between braking hard and speeding up.

Scenario: you’re already waiting to turn left

You enter the intersection on a green to turn left, but oncoming traffic never leaves a gap. The light turns amber, then red. The handbook recognises that heavy traffic may force you to finish your left turn on amber or red. Before you go, check that oncoming cars are actually stopping and that no pedestrian is still in the crosswalk you are turning across. This only covers a driver who entered on the green; it is not permission to enter late.

Green arrows and flashing green arrows

• Solid green arrow with a red light: move only in the arrow’s direction, and only after yielding to other vehicles and pedestrians. If you want to go straight, the arrow does not apply to you; wait for a green light.
• Flashing green left arrow: it can appear with a red or a green light, and it means you may turn left in that direction. Still check the crosswalk before you turn.
• Amber arrow: after the left arrow, an amber arrow may show. It means the green light is about to appear for traffic in both directions, so the left-turn phase is ending. On the plain green that follows, a left turn has to yield to oncoming traffic and pedestrians again.

Flashing amber, flashing red and advance warning flashers

Flashing amber: proceed with caution. Slow enough to react to cross traffic and pedestrians.

Flashing red: stop completely, then go only when it’s safe.

Alternating flashing amber lights: these warn that the traffic lights ahead are red or about to turn red. They are a warning, not a signal at the intersection itself. Ease off early and look ahead to the actual light.

Pedestrian signals and countdowns

Under SGI’s rules, pedestrians may not start crossing when they face a red light, an amber light, or a “don’t walk” light or symbol. A flashing “don’t walk” means people who have already started should finish crossing. Some signals show a countdown of the seconds left before it is unsafe to cross.

For drivers, that means:

• A flashing “don’t walk” or low countdown is a strong hint that your green is about to end.
• People may still be finishing their crossing when your light changes. Let them clear before you move or turn.
• A countdown is not a timer to race.

More on crosswalks, cyclists and other road users is in Sharing Saskatchewan Roads.

Where to stop at a red light in Saskatchewan

The road markings decide your stopping position:

• At a clearly marked stop line, stop at the line.
• At a crosswalk, marked or unmarked, stop at the nearest crosswalk.
• Where a clearly marked X is painted, stop behind the X.
• With no stop line, sidewalk or crosswalk: within 3 metres of the intersection in a town, city, village or hamlet, and within 10 metres in a rural area.

The full table, with lanes, signalling distances and parking, is in the Saskatchewan rules of the road study guide.

Demerit points for traffic light offences in Saskatchewan

SGI’s demerit table assigns these points under the Driver Improvement Program and the Safe Driver Recognition program (section numbers refer to The Traffic Safety Act):

Offence	Points
Failing to stop at a red light at an intersection	4
Failing to stop at an intersection of two one-way streets	4
Failing to obey a flashing red light (including stopping in the wrong place)	4
Failing to stop at a crosswalk against an amber light	3
Failing to yield to a pedestrian at a marked crosswalk showing only an amber light	3
Right or left turn on red where a sign prohibits it	3
Going in a direction not shown by a green arrow, or failing to yield on a red with a green arrow	3
Failing to proceed cautiously at a flashing amber light	3
U-turn at an intersection with a traffic light	1 under the Driver Improvement Program (the Safe Driver Recognition column is blank)

The points above match SGI’s published demerit table; most rows carry the same points under both programs. The table shows no effective date and SGI can change it, so check SGI’s current schedule before relying on a figure. A blank column does not mean zero points.

Check the current fine with SGI or the ticket itself. Points matter more for new drivers: see how they affect you in SGI’s GDL Improvement program and Safe Driver Recognition and Saskatchewan speeding, stunting and distracted driving penalties.

Common questions

Is turning right on red the same in Saskatchewan as in Quebec?

No. Each province sets its own rule, and Montreal has its own exception. See right turn on red in Quebec. In Saskatchewan, follow the SGI rules above.

Do roundabouts follow the same rules?

Roundabouts and newer interchange designs have their own yield rules. See Saskatchewan roundabouts, diverging diamonds and RCUT interchanges.

Starting out? The full licensing path is in Learning to drive in Saskatchewan.

Sources

• SGI, “Traffic signals”, Saskatchewan Driver’s Handbook (sgi.sk.ca)
• SGI, “Stopping positions”, Saskatchewan Driver’s Handbook (sgi.sk.ca)
• SGI, “Driver Improvement Program (Driver Licensing and Suspension Regulations)” demerit points table (sgi.sk.ca)
• SGI, “All Traffic Offences with Demerit Points” (sgi.sk.ca)

Photo: waferboard, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons

In Saskatchewan you must yield to any pedestrian, wheelchair or medical scooter user crossing at an intersection, pass cyclists the way you would pass a car with plenty of room, never move into a lane beside a motorcycle, and expect e-scooters only in communities whose bylaws allow them. This guide sets out SGI’s rules for sharing the road with the most vulnerable road users, from the 2026-27 Saskatchewan Driver’s Handbook.

Pedestrians: who has the right of way?

• At an intersection, you must yield the right of way to any pedestrian crossing the street.
• Stop before the crosswalk. It is either painted on the road or an imaginary extension of the sidewalk.
• If the light changes while a pedestrian is still in the crosswalk, the pedestrian has the right of way.
• Stop when a school crossing guard directs you to.
• You may not pass a vehicle that has stopped at an intersection to let pedestrians cross.
• Pedestrians must give drivers a chance to stop before stepping out, and when walking along a road they should use the left shoulder, facing traffic. Expect people on the shoulder on rural roads.

Jaywalkers

Jaywalking is crossing outside a marked or unmarked crosswalk. Always be ready to stop for someone about to step out in front of you, but do not stop and wave a jaywalker across. The driver behind may not expect you to stop, and drivers in other lanes may not see the pedestrian walking out in front of your car.

Crossing urban streets

You may drive across a street only at an intersection, lane or alley. Some cities ban crossing at a lane or alley by bylaw, so check local rules.

Wheelchairs and medical scooters

SGI counts people using a wheelchair, motorized wheelchair or medical scooter as pedestrians. The same rules apply:

• Yield to anyone crossing in a wheelchair or medical scooter at an intersection, and stop before the crosswalk.
• On a wide street, this does not apply if the person is a safe distance from your side of the street.
• Do not pass a vehicle stopped to let them cross.
• Where there is no sidewalk, they should travel on the left shoulder facing traffic, and they may use the first driveway to get onto the sidewalk if there is no accessible curb. They should also have a brightly coloured flag to make them easier to see. Watch for it, especially near driveways.

How much room should you give a cyclist in Saskatchewan?

SGI’s rule is to pass a cyclist as you would any other vehicle: give them room and do not pass too closely. Check your city’s bylaws for any set distance. When overtaking a bicycle or motorcycle in your lane, you must pass in the same manner as you would pass a car, which can mean changing lanes.

The rest of SGI’s cyclist checklist:

• Turning left: stop and wait for oncoming bicycles to pass.
• Turning right: watch for cyclists pulling up beside you, check your blind spot, and never pull alongside a cyclist and then turn across them.
• Intersections: scan for cyclists waiting to turn left. They are allowed to turn left the same way drivers do and need extra room on multi-lane roads.
• Following: keep a safe following distance. Bicycles have no brake lights.
• Speed: cyclists can travel faster than you think, up to 50 km/h going downhill.
• Swerving: expect them to move out around drainage grates, potholes, gravel, sand, wet surfaces, ruts and even dogs.
• Pulling out and opening doors: check for cyclists every time you leave the curb and before you open your door.
• Horn: do not use it unnecessarily when passing. It can startle a cyclist into your path.
• Hand signals: a cyclist may signal a right turn by holding out the right arm. Make eye contact where you can.

E-bikes (power-assisted bicycles), including models that look like scooters with pedals, are treated the same as any other cyclist.

Bike lanes and sharrows

Bike lanes are reserved for cyclists. You may enter or cross one only to turn right, reach a parking space or enter a lane or driveway, and only after checking it is safe. A sharrow (bicycle symbol with chevrons) means the lane is shared; it does not mean you can pass a cyclist within the lane. The full lane rules are in the Saskatchewan rules of the road study guide.

Motorcycles: check twice

When a motorcycle and a car collide, the rider is at high risk of death or serious injury. Motorcycles are agile, so their moves are harder to predict, and their size makes them hard to see. SGI’s rules for drivers:

Situation	What SGI says
Lane change or turn in riding season	Check twice: once for cars and trucks, once for motorcycles and bikes
Turning left	Failing to see an oncoming motorcycle when turning left is a significant factor in motorcycle collisions. Look for it before you go
Following	Give the same three-second following distance as for any vehicle, and more on wet or slippery roads
Passing	Pass as you would a car, and leave plenty of room ahead of the motorcycle before pulling back in
Sharing a lane	Never move into a lane beside a motorcycle, even if the lane is wide and the rider is to one side. It is illegal and extremely hazardous
Lane position	A skilled rider keeps changing position within the lane to see, be seen and avoid objects. This is normal, not a sign they are about to turn
Headlights	Most motorcycles have headlights on at all times. Be alert for ones that do not

New riders in Saskatchewan display a Motorcycle Graduated Driver Licensing placard on their licence plate: a red “L” for learners and a green “N” for novices. Give them extra space when passing or following. Riders and passengers must wear an approved motorcycle helmet, and eye protection if the bike has no windshield deflecting the air from their face. Two motorcycles may ride in the same lane, but a motorcycle may not ride beside any other type of vehicle in the same lane.

Are e-scooters legal in Saskatchewan?

Only in communities that have passed e-scooter bylaws. SGI classes e-scooters (electric kick scooters) as limited speed motor vehicles. Where they are allowed:

• they do not need to be registered, and riders do not need a driver’s licence;
• riders must be at least 16 and wear an approved helmet;
• riders must follow municipal bylaws and provincial law.

Rules vary between communities, so check with the municipality you are driving in. For example, the City of Regina allows shared and personal e-scooters on park and multi-use pathways, bike lanes and roads with a speed limit of 50 km/h or less, but not on sidewalks, with a top speed of 24 km/h on roadways and 15 km/h on pathways. Saskatoon also runs a shared e-scooter program; check saskatoon.ca for its current season and rules.

As a driver, treat an e-scooter much like a cyclist: expect it in bike lanes and on the right of the road, give it room when passing, and check for it before turning right.

Large trucks and buses

• A truck can carry 50 or more times the weight of a car and takes longer to stop. Avoid forcing a driver to slow down, and don’t cut in front right after passing.
• Trucks slow going uphill and pick up speed going down. Plan your pass around that.
• Avoid the “no-zone”, the large blind spots on both sides, in front and deep behind. If you can’t see the truck’s mirrors, the driver can’t see you. Keep your headlights on.
• Before pulling back in front of a truck, make sure you can see the entire cab in your rear-view mirror.
• A large truck or bus has trouble with sharp corners, especially right turns. Give it room: oncoming drivers should expect it to enter their half of the road, and drivers on its right should stay well back so they aren’t caught against the curb.
• Wind from a passing truck can push your car around. Look where you want to go and steer there.

Emergency vehicles

• Lights flashing or siren on: drive as close as you can to the right edge and don’t enter the next intersection until it has passed. On a one-way street, go to the nearest curb. A peace officer’s directions override this.
• At an intersection, stop and let it through.
• Give the same room to one with lights flashing and no siren.
• Passing one stopped on the highway with lights on: 60 km/h maximum. This covers oncoming traffic on an undivided highway, but not the opposite side of a divided highway.
• Never follow an emergency vehicle going to or coming from an emergency.

Other road users in the same handbook section

• School buses: see school bus stopping rules across Canada.
• Emergency vehicles and tow trucks with lights flashing (slow to 60 km/h): see slow down, move over.
• Farm equipment, snowmobiles and ATVs: see Saskatchewan rural and gravel road driving.
• Funeral processions: do not interfere with or interrupt them. They must still obey traffic signs and signals, unless all drivers with the right of way stop to let the procession through.

Common questions

Do I have to stop for a pedestrian waiting at a crosswalk in Saskatchewan?

You must yield to pedestrians who are crossing at an intersection and stop before the crosswalk. Pedestrians in turn must not step out until drivers have had a chance to stop.

Is it legal to pass a cyclist on a solid line?

SGI’s handbook says not to cross solid or double solid yellow lines to pass, and makes no exception for cyclists. Wait behind until it is legal and safe to pass with room.

Will sharing the road be on the SGI written test?

It is part of the handbook’s rules of the road chapter. See SGI written test.

Back to learning to drive in Saskatchewan.

Sources

• SGI, “Saskatchewan Driver’s Handbook: A guide to safe driving 2026-27”, chapter 3, sections 3.4 Sharing the road, 3.15 Turning, 3.21 Pedestrians, 3.22 Crossing urban streets, 3.23 Wheelchairs and medical scooters and 3.24 Motorcycles (sgi.sk.ca)
• City of Regina, “E-Scooters” (beheard.regina.ca)

Photo: waferboard, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons

This study guide covers the “rules of the road” chapter of SGI’s Saskatchewan Driver’s Handbook (2026-27 edition) that learners most often skim: the six basic driving conditions, dividing lines, lane position and selection, signalling distances, changing lanes, passing, bus and bike lanes, turning, medians, stopping and parking, curves, mountains, highways and freeways, seatbelts and the rules related to vehicles. The two numbers to learn first: SGI recommends signalling at least 30 m before a turn under 60 km/h and at least 150 m at higher speeds, and on a rural road you stop at least 30 m from any vehicle stopped on the other side. Whatever the distance, you must signal in advance of every turn or lane change.

The six basic driving conditions

SGI asks you to adjust your driving to six conditions. Driver condition comes first because a driver in good shape can adjust to all the others.

Condition	What SGI means
Driver	Your physical, mental and emotional fitness to drive. The most important of the six
Vehicle	Whether the car lets you control it, see and be seen, and communicate. Only you can spot defects and get them fixed
Light	Too little or too much light. SGI says the night-time fatal collision rate is more than double the daytime rate
Weather	Rain, snow and ice reduce traction; fog, spray and steamed-up glass reduce vision; high winds push the car sideways
Road	The type and surface of the road, which can change many times on one trip
Traffic	How many vehicles and pedestrians share the road, which changes with the time of day, day of the week and nearby places like schools or arenas

Dividing lines: yellow, white and solid

• Yellow lines separate traffic going in opposite directions.
• White lines separate traffic going the same direction.
• Double wide lines mark a lane that is ending, on freeways and some city streets. Be ready to exit, turn at the next intersection or merge.
• Solid lines: you may not cross a solid line between lanes. The exceptions are a double centre line where the line nearest you is broken, and centre turning lanes.
• Do not cross solid or double solid yellow lines to pass.

Lane position and lane selection

Where to sit in your lane

• On roads with marked lanes, drive entirely within one lane. With no markings, drive as if there were.
• On highways and rural roads, keep to the right of your lane. In urban areas you will usually drive in the middle.
• To turn left, move to the left side of the lane. To turn right, move to the right side, leaving room to pass parked vehicles.
• Where signs or signals allow two or more lanes to turn, finish the turn in the same relative lane you started in.

Which lane to pick

Choose the lane with the best view that keeps the most “gates” (escape spaces around your car) open. SGI also says:

• on slippery roads, use the part of the lane with the most traction;
• on a divided highway, use the left lane to approach a left turn off the highway;
• on a multi-lane divided highway, the left lane is for passing slower vehicles and for emergency vehicles;
• the shoulder, to the right of the solid white line, is not a driving lane. It is for stopped vehicles, emergency manoeuvres, two-point turns and preparing to turn right off a highway. Rumble strips warn you when you drift.

How far before a turn should you signal in Saskatchewan?

Your speed	SGI recommends signalling at least
Under 60 km/h	30 m before the turn
Higher speeds	150 m before the corner

The rule is that you must signal in advance of your turn or lane change. SGI calls 30 m a good rule at lower speeds.

The order SGI teaches for any turn or lane change:

1. Know which gates are open and be in position, then signal.
2. Check your mirror.
3. Shoulder check the blind spot for the gate you are moving into.
4. Start the turn or lane change.
5. Cancel the signal.

Do not change lanes in an intersection. Either finish the lane change and cancel the signal before you enter, or wait until you are through. If your signal or brake lights fail, you must use hand signals for left turn, right turn and stopping or slowing.

Changing lanes step by step

1. Decide well in advance, and know the condition of your gates.
2. Signal.
3. Check your mirrors to make sure the gate is open and no one else is moving into it.
4. Shoulder check your blind spot.
5. Look where you want to go and steer there, accelerating gently.
6. When you are almost in the new lane, look ahead to where you intend to drive.
7. Cancel the signal, check your new gates and adjust your speed.

Crossing more than one lane? Do it as one continuous move with one signal, but shoulder check for every lane.

Blind spots

A blind spot is the area beside your car that no mirror shows. A quick look over your shoulder toward the gate you are driving into shows it. If something is there, don’t move into that space.

• Motorcycles and bicycles are easy to miss, especially at dusk, at dawn and in bad weather.
• Don’t sit in another driver’s blind spot. Move forward or drop back as soon as you notice.
• Well-adjusted mirrors shrink your blind spot significantly.

Passing on Saskatchewan roads

• Pass only when it is legal, safe and necessary. No passing on a hill crest, before a curve, at intersections or wherever your sight distance is limited.
• Keep at least three seconds behind before you pull out, then accelerate throughout the pass. It is still illegal to speed while passing.
• Return only when you can see the passed vehicle in your inside mirror, after signalling, mirror and shoulder checks.
• Pass on the left, except where there are two or more lanes your way, or when the vehicle ahead is turning left and you can pass on the right without using the shoulder.
• Never pass a vehicle stopped at an intersection to let pedestrians cross.
• Being passed: stay right in your lane and keep your speed. Do not speed up.
• Passing lanes: slower traffic moves right and keeps its speed; the left lane is only for passing. Signs warn you one is coming, so wait for it rather than using the oncoming lane.
• If the driver passing you has misjudged, slow down and let them back in.
• Judging a pass: on a clear stretch, time how long a pass takes you, usually 10 to 40 seconds, and add at least five seconds as a safety margin. That total is your safe passing time and the shortest sight distance you need, even with nothing coming. An oncoming car closes the gap about twice as fast as a fixed object. Practise by saying “safe” or “unsafe” and counting, without actually passing, and leave extra room when passing a motorcycle.

Bus lanes and bike lanes

Major centres have reserved lanes. The rules SGI sets out:

• Bus lanes are marked by a sign with a diamond and a bus symbol showing the days and times. Some have diamond markings on the pavement. While the hours are in effect, only buses and emergency vehicles may drive in the curb lane, except to make a right turn onto or off the block.
• Only buses, emergency vehicles, or accessible taxis loading or unloading passengers who cannot walk may stop in a bus lane.
• Bicycle-only lanes: other vehicles may enter only to turn right, reach a parking space or enter a lane or driveway. Check for cyclists before you enter.
• Sharrows (a bicycle symbol with chevrons) mean cyclists and drivers share the lane. A sharrow is not a bike lane and does not mean you can squeeze past within the lane. You may need to change lanes to pass a cyclist safely.

Pavement markings vary between communities, so watch the signs in Regina, Saskatoon and other centres.

Turning

Right turns

1. Plan well ahead. Signal, check your rear gate and blind spot, and when safe move as close to the right as you can.
2. Sweep left, straight ahead, right and left again for traffic and pedestrians.
3. Slow down, and in a manual shift to a lower gear. Check again.
4. Turn into the first available driving lane.

If a vehicle is parked in the curb lane near the intersection, move into that lane at the first opportunity before turning. You may not turn from the main driving lane.

Left turns

1. Decide early, signal, check your rear gate and blind spot, and move to the left side of the left lane.
2. Sweep for traffic and pedestrians, slow down and check again. Watch for oncoming motorcycles.
3. Yield to oncoming vehicles that your turn would interfere with.
4. If you must wait in the intersection, keep the car parallel to the lane with your front wheels straight, so a hit from behind won’t push you into oncoming traffic.
5. Turn into the first available driving lane.

Left turn from	Start	Finish
One-way street to a two-way street	As close as possible to the left edge	The lane immediately right of the centre line
One-way street to a one-way street	The left edge of the road	The left-most driving lane
Two-way street to a one-way street	The lane next to the centre line	The left-most driving lane

On a one-way street, if a vehicle is parked in the left curb lane near the intersection, move into that lane at the first opportunity, after making sure that driver isn’t pulling over to park. For two-way left-turn lanes, see two-way left-turn lanes.

Medians and crossing urban streets

• Where a median, boulevard or ditch divides a road, do not drive on the left side of it.
• Cross a median, boulevard or ditch only at an intersection or a marked cross-over.
• On divided highways, drive in the right lane and use the left only for passing, turning left or emergencies.
• On freeways and controlled access highways, enter and leave only at the ramps provided.

Stopping and parking rules

Stopping on the road

• Move as far right as possible when you stop on a road.
• On a rural road or highway, stop at least 30 m (98 ft.) from any vehicle stopped on the opposite side.
• A vehicle stopped on a rural road or highway at night must be marked with flares, hazard lights or reflectors.
• In heavy traffic, stop behind the crosswalk and before the intersection or railway crossing so you do not block anyone.
• Come to a complete stop at all stop signs and at railway crossings where signals or gates are activated. Stop when a police officer or flagperson signals you to.
• Do not tamper with devices marking a stopped vehicle.

Where to stop at a stop sign or light

Markings	Stop
Stop line	At the stop line
Crosswalk, marked or not	At the nearest crosswalk
Marked X	Behind the X
No line, sidewalk or crosswalk, in a town, city, village or hamlet	Within 3 m of the intersection
No line, sidewalk or crosswalk, in a rural area	Within 10 m of the intersection

Parking

• Obey painted curbs and no-parking signs. For distances from hydrants or crosswalks, check your city’s parking bylaw.
• Parallel parking: look for a space at least 2 m longer than your vehicle.
• Right-angle stalls: SGI recommends backing in, unless it is prohibited, for a better view when you leave.
• Hills: turn your front wheels so the car would roll into the curb, or off the road if there is no curb, and set the parking brake.
• Parking lots: speed, signs, following distance, turns, signalling and backing rules still apply. Where aisles meet without signs, yield to the vehicle on your right. Parking aisles yield to thoroughfares.

The two-point turn is covered with the road test manoeuvres in SGI road test.

Curves and corners

1. Slow down before the curve, braking in a straight line if needed.
2. In a manual, shift to a lower gear before the curve.
3. Look through the curve to where you want to go.
4. Use the accelerator gently to the mid-point. More power pushes the car to the outside; easing off lets it tuck in.
5. From the mid-point, unwind the steering and accelerate out.

Make every speed or steering change in a curve gradual.

Driving in mountains

This advice matters most on trips into the Rockies, but it also applies to long hills. Sight distances are shorter, so look up, reference down and keep your speed low enough to see at least 12 seconds ahead. Going down, shift to a lower gear and brake lightly and continuously, which is least likely to overheat the brakes.

Highways and freeways

• When meeting other vehicles, keep right of the centre line. On two-way roads, go left of centre only when it is safe and no traffic is approaching. Never travel the wrong way on a one-way highway.
• Stopping takes longer from higher speeds, and at speed you steer less and sooner, with no sudden moves. Drivers on the road for hours can develop “highway hypnosis”, so make your moves obvious.
• It is safest to match other traffic if it is at a sensible speed and within the limit.
• Cruise control suits long trips, but not urban areas, wet or slippery roads, traffic of varying speed or restricted vision.
• Entering a freeway: choose your merge spot from the ramp, build speed in the acceleration lane, signal, shoulder check and match freeway speed. Regina’s Ring Road and Saskatoon’s Circle Drive are examples.
• On the freeway: the right lane is for normal travel and the left for passing, though you may move over temporarily so others can merge. Keep three seconds and two open gates.
• Leaving: signal, move into the deceleration lane and slow down there, not on the freeway. You will likely underestimate your speed.
• Missed your exit? Don’t stop or back up. Go on to the next interchange.
• Trouble: at the first sign, check mirrors, signal, shoulder check and pull onto the shoulder as far right as you can, with hazard lights on. Never stop on the travelled part. Stay with the car if you can, raise the hood or use four-way flashers to ask for help, and if needed get out on the side away from traffic.

Seatbelts, car seats and airbags

• Everyone in the vehicle must wear a seatbelt where one is provided, properly adjusted and securely fastened. Wearing one can cut your chance of being killed or seriously injured by as much as 50%.
• Keep the lap belt low over your pelvis and snug. The shoulder belt goes over your chest, never behind your back or under your arm.
• Drivers are legally responsible for passengers under 16. Passengers 16 and over are responsible for themselves.
• Children under seven must be in an approved, correctly installed car seat or booster, in the back seat. See child car seat and booster rules.
• Airbags work with seatbelts, not instead of them. Never put a child in the front seat of a car with a passenger airbag: the force can critically injure or kill an infant or small child.

Rules related to vehicles

SGI lists these as offences or prohibited acts:

• Tampering with, climbing on or throwing objects at a vehicle without the owner’s permission.
• Watching a TV, video or computer screen while driving, unless it only helps you operate the vehicle.
• Carrying a load that is not secured or tied down. You may have to pay for any damage from these first few infractions.
• Holding on to a moving vehicle you are not riding in, riding in a trailer, or riding on the outside of a vehicle where there is no passenger space (construction, maintenance, firefighting, police and parade vehicles excepted).
• A passenger sitting between the driver and the driver’s door, or crowding the driver.
• Aftermarket tint on the windshield or front side windows. You must have a clear view to the front, sides and rear.
• Any stunt or activity likely to distract, startle or interfere with other road users.
• Dropping burning material, or anything that could damage tires, onto the road.
• A rear licence plate that is missing, loose, altered or covered so it cannot be read or photographed. Every vehicle must also be registered for its purpose and show the right plate.
• Using a hand-held cellphone while driving.

Penalties for phones, speeding and stunting are covered in Saskatchewan speeding, stunting and distracted driving.

After a collision in Saskatchewan

• Stop, protect the scene, check for injuries and call 9-1-1 if anyone is hurt. Move an injured person only if they are in danger, for example from fire or water.
• Protecting the scene: turn off ignitions and put out cigarettes if gasoline has spilled, warn traffic with flares or people at each end, and turn on hazard lights. Take extra care if a truck shows a dangerous goods placard.
• Give first aid in order of priority if you can. Do not move someone pinned in a car, but keep the head and spine supported, and stay with the injured person until help comes.
• Report to police immediately if anyone is injured or killed, it is a hit and run, a driver seems impaired, an out-of-province vehicle is involved or a vehicle has to be towed from the scene.
• Whatever the damage, give every other person involved your name, address, driver’s licence number and plate number. If a non-Saskatchewan vehicle is involved, or the crash is outside Saskatchewan, also give your insurer’s details.
• Note witnesses and take photos. Don’t admit fault or offer to pay before speaking to your adjuster. If asked, you must give police a statement as a driver, passenger or witness.
• If your vehicle touches a power line, stay inside and call SaskPower at 306-310-2220, or 9-1-1 in an emergency. Leave only if the vehicle is on fire: jump clear with feet together without touching the vehicle, then hop at least 10 metres away.
• Seen a crash involving a power pole, fallen line or transformer? Park at least 10 metres away, touch nothing, call 9-1-1 and keep others back.
• Report the claim to SGI online, at a claims centre or at 1-844-855-2744.

Every province’s reporting rules: collision reporting rules by province.

Why collisions happen, and what else impairs you

Two-thirds of the time, the cause relates to driver condition or improper action. Common factors are inattention, failing to yield, speed for the conditions, alcohol or drugs, ignoring traffic controls, inexperience, following too closely, unsafe backing and improper lane changes or passing. Collisions peak in late afternoon and early evening, and in November and December. About 90% of collisions in rural Saskatchewan involve a single vehicle.

• Stress and illness: worry, grief, anger, even a toothache can distract you from the thinking part of driving. If you know you are under stress, get someone else to drive.
• Aggressive driving: don’t take traffic personally, avoid eye contact with an aggressive driver, don’t make gestures or tailgate, use your horn sparingly, and don’t block the passing or right turn lane. If someone is driving aggressively, pull over and let them pass.
• Smoking: it is illegal to smoke with children in the vehicle. Smoke also leaves a film on the inside of your windows.
• Tiredness: see drowsy driving in Canada. Fog and rain: see driving in rain, fog and floods.

Common questions

Is this chapter on the SGI written test?

Yes. SGI’s handbook is the study book for the written test, and lane, signalling and stopping rules are core material. See SGI written test.

Where are the roundabout rules?

In the same chapter, under interchanges. See Saskatchewan roundabouts, diverging diamonds and RCUT interchanges.

What are “gates”?

SGI’s name for the four spaces in front, behind and on each side of your car. Try to keep at least two open at all times. The hazard-spotting side of this is in IPDE and eye lead time.

Back to learning to drive in Saskatchewan. Related: sharing Saskatchewan roads.

Sources

• SGI, “Saskatchewan Driver’s Handbook: A guide to safe driving 2026-27”, chapter 3 Basic information and rules of the road, section 5.5 and chapter 6 Advanced driving skills, including sections 6.3, 6.4, 6.11, 6.12 and 6.13 What to do if you’re in a collision (sgi.sk.ca)
• SGI, “Saskatchewan Driver’s Handbook” online edition, Introduction, Rev: 2026 (sgi.sk.ca)
• SGI, “Saskatchewan Driver’s Handbook” online edition, Signalling (sgi.sk.ca)