Signs, signals and markings in Newfoundland and Labrador

By the end of this topic you can

• You can identify a sign's type from its shape and colour.
• You can explain what each traffic light and arrow means.
• You can read yellow and white lane lines and know when passing is allowed.
• You can respond correctly to construction, moose and weather warning signs.

What you need to know and understand

• An octagon always means stop, and an upside-down triangle always means yield.
• A five-sided (pentagon) sign warns of a school zone; some versions are fluorescent yellow.
• Yellow diamonds warn of hazards; orange signs mark construction and maintenance.
• White rectangles are regulatory; green signs give directions; brown signs show tourist services.
• A green circle on a sign means the action is allowed; a red circle with a slash means it is not.
• Yellow lines separate traffic going in opposite directions; white lines separate traffic going the same way.
• A flashing red light means stop fully; a flashing amber light means slow down and proceed with caution.

Shapes and colours at a glance

• Octagon, red: stop at the stop line, crosswalk or corner, and go only when clear.
• Inverted triangle, red border: yield; slow down and be ready to stop.
• Crossbuck (X shape): railway crossing.
• Pentagon: school zone ahead or school crossing.
• Diamond, yellow: warning of a hazard, such as a curve, a merge or a moose crossing.
• Orange diamond or rectangle: construction zone, where speeding fines are doubled.
• Square or vertical rectangle, white: a rule you must obey, such as a speed limit or no U-turn.

Signals: lights and arrows

Green means go if the way is clear; left-turners still yield. Amber means stop if you can do so safely. Red means stop, though you may turn right after a full stop unless a sign forbids it. A green arrow with a red light lets you go only in the arrow's direction, after yielding. A flashing amber means caution; a flashing red means a full stop.

Pedestrians already crossing when the don't-walk signal appears still have the right of way, so wait for them to finish.

Lines on the road

A broken yellow line on your side means you may pass when it is clear; a solid line on your side means do not pass. Painted islands, two solid yellow lines enclosing diagonal stripes, guide you away from obstacles and must not be driven over. Arrows in a lane near an intersection show the direction that lane must take.

A shared centre left-turn lane has a solid and a broken yellow line on each side. You may cross into it only to turn.

Signs you will meet in this province

Moose warning signs mark stretches where moose cross often; slow down, especially from dusk to dawn. Weather hazard signs, such as wind warnings in the Wreckhouse area, give advice or closures you must obey. Zipper-merge signs ask you to use both lanes up to the merge point and then take turns. Our rules and signs study guide has more practice.

Common mistakes

• Stopping beyond the stop line or in the crosswalk.
• Treating amber as speed up. Stop if you can do so safely.
• Passing over a solid line because the road looks clear.
• Ignoring construction signs when no workers are in sight.

Test yourself: Signs, signals and markings in Newfoundland and Labrador

Answer each question, then read the explanation. Questions come in a random order each time.

Go deeper

• Newfoundland Novice Rules
• Newfoundland and Labrador written test study guide
• How to Get a Driver’s Licence in Newfoundland and Labrador