Category: Prince Edward Island

Photo: Robert Linsdell, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Chapter 3 of Prince Edward Island’s Driver’s Handbook covers signs, pavement markings and work zones, and it feeds directly into the sign questions on the PEI knowledge test. This study guide goes through it in order: traffic lights, school signal lights, railway crossings, crosswalks, pavement markings, sign shapes, and construction signs with the work zone speed rules from Chapter 4. It is for anyone preparing for the Class 7 instruction permit test in PEI.

Key facts

• A green light is only permission to proceed with care. You must still yield to vehicles in the intersection and pedestrians in the crosswalk.
• Entering an intersection on amber is a Highway Traffic Act violation unless you cannot stop safely.
• Right turn on red: allowed after a complete stop, unless a sign prohibits it.
• Stop lines, crosswalk lines and intersection arrows are always white.
• Construction zone speed limits apply even when no one is working. The basic limit in a construction zone is 60 km/h.
• School zones: 60 km/h unless a lower limit is posted, 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., Monday to Friday, September to June. Speeding fines there are doubled.

Is the February 2022 PEI handbook still current?

The most recent English handbook PDF is the February 2022 edition. The Government of PEI’s publication page says the handbook is being updated. Study the 2022 edition, but check the publication page before your test in case a new edition has been released, and confirm any rule that looks out of date with Access PEI.

Traffic lights in PEI

Signal	What the PEI handbook says
Green	Qualified permission to proceed carefully in the direction allowed. Yield to vehicles lawfully in the intersection and pedestrians in the crosswalk. When turning, yield to pedestrians in your half of the road or close enough to be in danger. Do not enter unless you can clear the intersection before the lights change.
Green arrow with a red light	Go only in the direction of the arrow, and still yield to traffic already in the intersection and pedestrians in an adjacent crosswalk.
Amber	Lets traffic already in the intersection clear it. Entering on amber is a violation unless you cannot stop safely.
Red	Stop at the stop line; if there is none, at the crosswalk; if none, before the intersection.
Right turn on red	Allowed after a complete stop unless a sign prohibits it, yielding to pedestrians and traffic. Do not hold up traffic behind you once the way is clear.
Flashing red	Complete stop, then go only when safe. It may be overhead, a standard signal, or a beacon above a stop sign. After stopping, the Highway Traffic Act requires you to yield to traffic in the intersection and pedestrians in an adjacent crosswalk.
Flashing amber	Caution. Slow down and be prepared to stop. You may enter the intersection only with caution, yielding to all traffic in it and to pedestrians in an adjacent crosswalk.

Watch lights a block ahead. A light that has been green for a while may change before you get there, so never speed up toward an intersection.

School signal lights

Where traffic is heavy, PEI has signal lights at and between intersections to help children cross. They operate when children are going to or from school, and there may be advance warning signs before them. Treat them like any traffic signal.

On the regulatory sign pages, PEI also shows school bus signs: amber lights mean slow down and be prepared to stop; flashing red lights mean all traffic must stop. A “school bus stop ahead” sign warns of a stop you may not see in time.

Railway crossings (for driving off the Island)

The handbook points out that PEI has no railways, but you still need these rules when driving elsewhere in Canada.

• Signal device warning of a train, or a flag person signalling: stop not less than 5 metres from the nearest rail.
• Stop sign at the crossing: stop no closer than 5 metres and no further than 15 metres from the nearest rail.
• Flashing lights and bell: stop at the stop line, or at least 5 metres from the rail. Wait until the lights and bell stop and the train has passed.
• More than one track: a sign under the crossbuck shows how many. Make sure all tracks are clear.
• Advance warning signs may carry an advisory speed tab and show the angle of the tracks. An X or STOP line may be painted on the approach.

More detail in railway crossings in Canada.

Crosswalks

Type	What you must do
Crosswalk at an intersection without signals	Stop when a pedestrian enters the crosswalk on or close to your side of the road
School crosswalk with a crossing guard	Stop when the guard signals, and stay stopped until the crosswalk is clear and the guard has left it
Special crosswalk (overhead signs, flashing amber beacons)	Stop before the crosswalk when the beacons are flashing
Crosswalk with traffic signals	Obey the signals

Pavement markings

Yellow lines

• Separate traffic going in opposite directions. Keep the yellow line on your left, except when passing.
• Also mark the left shoulder on ramps and multi-lane highways.
• Solid yellow: passing is not safe. Broken yellow: passing permitted if there is no opposing traffic.

White lines

• Separate lanes going the same way, and mark the right shoulder.
• Solid white: do not change lanes. Broken white: you may change lanes with care.
• Wider, shorter white lines with short gaps near intersections warn that vehicles will be merging, changing lanes, speeding up and braking.

Other markings

• Diagonal markings or crosshatches: before islands, merges, lane shifts or medians. Not a traffic lane. Keep to the correct side.
• Stop lines: stop so the front of your vehicle does not go past the line. A stop sign itself does not show where to stop.
• Crosswalk lines: with no stop line, stop before any part of your vehicle enters the crosswalk.
• Intersection arrows: show which lane you need for each movement.

Stop lines, crosswalk lines and intersection arrows are always white.

Sign shapes and their meanings

PEI’s handbook notes that all Canadian provinces and territories use uniform traffic signs, mostly the same as those in the United States. Each shape has its own meaning, so you can identify a sign even if darkness, rain or snow hides the words.

Shape	Meaning
Octagon (white letters on red)	Stop. Make a complete stop at the stop line, before the crosswalk, or before the intersection, then yield
Triangle (red on white)	Yield. Slow down, yield to traffic and pedestrians, stop if necessary
Vertical rectangle (white, black or coloured letters)	Regulatory: speed limits, parking, turning and passing
Diamond	Warning
Pentagon	School zone
Slow-moving vehicle sign	A slow-moving vehicle is ahead

Colour also helps: red marks prohibited movements and green marks permitted ones. Speed limit signs are always vertical rectangles.

Signs worth extra study

Regulatory

• One way; keep right of the traffic island; WRONG WAY (white on red) on ramps entered the wrong way
• No left turn, no U-turn, no turns, no right on red, do not enter
• No stopping, no parking in either direction, passing permitted
• Maximum speed limit ahead, truck route, school zone
• Dangerous goods route and dangerous goods prohibited
• Snowmobile route and snowmobile restricted
• Cycling prohibited, pedestrians prohibited, reserved bicycle lane, littering prohibited

Warning

• Playground: reduce speed and be ready for an emergency stop, as children may run onto the road
• Hidden intersection, merge, narrow bridge, low clearance, underpass
• Divided highway ahead and divided highway ends, right lane ends, road narrows
• Bridge opening ahead, bridge freezes, snowmobile entrance, fire truck entrance, school bus entrance
• Curve with an advisory speed: the posted speed is the safe speed for the turn

Lane control lights

Overhead change lane destination lights include a steady green arrow (use this lane), a flashing green arrow, a steady amber arrow, and a flashing or steady red X. The handbook also shows a transit priority signal.

Work zones and construction signs

Construction signs warn that you can expect delays from construction or repair work. The handbook’s rules:

• Obey the flagperson. A traffic control person ahead sign warns you one is coming up.
• Speed limits in construction zones apply at all times, even when no workers or equipment are working. Bumps, detours, fresh oil and loose gravel may still be there.
• The basic limit in a construction zone is 60 km/h unless a sign says otherwise (Chapter 4).

Construction signs in the handbook include: construction ahead, road work ahead, survey crew ahead, detour ahead, lane ends and lane ends ahead, bump or rough road, uneven lanes, low shoulder and high shoulder ahead (a drop in level caused by construction), tar construction ahead, and traffic control person ahead.

Driving through a PEI work zone

1. Before you set off, check the province’s current road construction information for your route, and allow extra time. Follow detour signs and the flagperson over your usual route or a navigation app.
2. Slow down at the first orange sign, not when you see workers.
3. Watch for a flagperson and the sign they show.
4. Merge early when you see lane ends signs, and leave more room ahead for sudden stops.
5. Watch your wheels at low or high shoulder signs: dropping a tire off an edge can pull the car.
6. Keep the reduced speed until the zone is clearly over.

For moving over for stopped workers and emergency vehicles, see slow down, move over.

Common questions

Can I go through an amber light in PEI?

Only if you cannot stop safely. The handbook says entering an intersection on amber is otherwise a Highway Traffic Act violation.

Where do I stop at a red light with no stop line?

At the nearest crosswalk. If there is no crosswalk either, stop before entering the intersection.

What is the speed limit in a PEI school zone?

60 km/h unless a lower limit is posted, between 8 a.m. and 4 p.m., Monday to Friday, September to June, in a signed school zone. Speeding fines there are doubled.

Does the construction speed limit apply on weekends when no one is working?

Yes. PEI says construction zone speed limits must be obeyed at all times, even when workers and equipment are not working.

Do I need to study railway signs if PEI has no trains?

Yes. They are in Chapter 3 and you will need them as soon as you drive off the Island.

What colour are stop lines?

Always white, as are crosswalk lines and intersection arrows.

Related: learning to drive in PEI (full guide), PEI knowledge test and vision test, PEI rules of the road, PEI Stage 1 and Stage 2 rules, Canadian road signs compared.

Sources

• Government of Prince Edward Island, “Driver’s Handbook”, February 2022, Chapter 3: Signs, Pavement Markings and Work Zones, and Chapter 4: Speed Limits (princeedwardisland.ca)
• Government of Prince Edward Island, “Driver’s Handbook” publication page (princeedwardisland.ca)
• Government of Prince Edward Island, “Highway Traffic Act”, section 167, consolidated to May 29, 2026 (princeedwardisland.ca)

Photo: Robert Linsdell, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons

In Prince Edward Island, every driver under 22 must have zero alcohol and zero drugs in their system when driving, even after leaving the GDL program. The same applies to any driver still in GDL, whatever their age. GDL drivers also cannot use any hand-held device. This guide explains PEI’s zero tolerance rule, the penalties, the cellphone law and the courses Highway Safety runs for drivers who get into trouble.

Key facts

• Zero blood alcohol and blood drug concentration: all GDL drivers, and all drivers under 22.
• Any alcohol at all: 24-hour roadside suspension plus 90-day administrative prohibition.
• Driving with a blood alcohol concentration above 0 carries 12 demerit points, according to the GDL booklet’s demerit table.
• No hand-held phones, headphones or other hand-held devices for any GDL driver. Hands-free is allowed.
• A criminal impaired driving conviction cancels your licence: 1 year for a first offence, 3 years for a second, 5 years for a third or later.

PEI zero tolerance: is it under 19 or under 22?

Under 22. Older PEI documents give different ages, so here is how they fit together:

Official document	What it says
GDL booklet (Dec 2022, updated Aug 2023)	Zero tolerance for drugs and alcohol covers all drivers under 22, even if they left GDL before turning 22.
Co-pilot guide for parents	Zero BAC for new drivers under 19, for anyone in GDL regardless of age, and for all drivers under 22 who got their licence after September 16, 2017.
Driver’s Handbook, Chapter 7	Zero BAC for new drivers under 22, or licensed less than three years regardless of age.
Driver’s Handbook, Chapter 4 heading	“Under the age of 19”. This is older wording, replaced by the newer rules above.

In practice: if you are under 22, or in any GDL stage, do not drive after any alcohol or cannabis. GDL drivers must also keep their blood drug concentration at zero.

Penalties for alcohol or drugs in PEI

Situation	Penalty
Zero-tolerance driver with any alcohol	24-hour roadside suspension and 90-day administrative prohibition; 12 demerit points on conviction
Any driver with BAC over 0.05 but not over 0.08	Suspension of 24 hours (first), 30 days (second within 24 months), 90 days (third or later within 24 months)
Roadside screening shows “WARN” or “FAIL”	Licence surrendered, 24-hour suspension
Impaired driving charge	90-day Administrative Driving Prohibition, effective seven days after the charge
Criminal Code conviction (over 0.08, impaired by a drug or by drugs and alcohol, refusing a breath or blood sample)	Licence cancelled: 1 year first offence, 3 years second, 5 years third or later
Driving while disqualified	A further six-month cancellation, added after the existing one

After an impaired driving conviction

• Driver Rehabilitation Course: required before reinstatement for anyone convicted of impaired driving, refusing roadside screening or a breathalyzer reading over 0.08. It is held in Charlottetown, Summerside and Montague.
• Habitual offenders: two or more impaired convictions mean an alcohol and drug assessment, and possibly treatment, before reinstatement.
• Ignition Interlock Program: eligible drivers may get early reinstatement with a restricted licence. They can drive only a vehicle fitted with a breath-testing device, serviced at least every 60 days.

For the federal Criminal Code limits that apply across the country, see impaired driving penalties in Canada for new drivers.

How alcohol affects your driving

• Reaction time: the average reaction is about three-quarters of a second. At 50 km/h a car travels about 10.5 metres in that time. The handbook says a driver who is impaired but not drunk reacts about 20% slower.
• Vision: alcohol works like grey glass in front of your eyes. You need more light to see, and you recover from glare more slowly.
• Mixing: the handbook says two drinks plus one normal dose of a common tranquilizer can equal the impairment of six drinks.
• Medication: some prescription drugs, including antidepressants, are mood-altering. Ask your pharmacist or doctor before driving.

PEI cellphone law and distracted driving

All drivers

• No texting, dialling, chatting, emailing or searching on a hand-held device while driving.
• Devices covered include phones, GPS units and laptops.
• Allowed: hands-free technology activated with a single touch, or pulling over and stopping to use the phone.
• Calls to 911 are exempt, as are drivers of ambulances, fire vehicles and police vehicles.
• The handbook lists fines of $250 to $400 and three demerit points. Fines are set in law and change, so check the current amount with Highway Safety.

GDL drivers

Stage 1, 2 and 3 drivers cannot use a hand-held phone, headphones or any other hand-held electronic device while driving or in care and control of a vehicle. A hands-free phone is permitted.

Other distractions the handbook warns about

• Learn your car and phone controls before you drive, especially in a new or rental vehicle.
• Pull over to eat, read a map, write notes or pick up something you dropped.
• Avoid emotional conversations, whether with passengers or on the phone.
• Do not start a trip tired. At 90 km/h, dozing for three seconds covers the length of a football field.
• Keep children buckled and occupied.

PEI highway safety programs and demerit points

Program	Who it is for	Format
Novice Driver Course	Class 7 holders not enrolled in a certified driver education program, before the Class 5 road test	About 4 hours, sometimes split over two evenings
Defensive Driving Course	Any driver; those with up to 11 demerit points can earn 3 merit points on passing	Six one-hour sessions
Driver Improvement Course	Drivers suspended under the demerit system, within six months of reinstatement	Four two-hour sessions and a test
Driver Rehabilitation Course	Drivers convicted of impaired driving	Films, lectures and assignments

Demerit thresholds

Driver	Warning	Suspension
Stage 2	3 to 5 points	1 month at 6 points
Stage 3	5 to 8 points	1 month at 9 points
Experienced driver (licensed over two years, not in GDL)	Letter at 6 to 8; interview at 9 to 11	3 months at 12 points within two years

Examples from the official tables: speeding 80 km/h or more over the limit and failing to stop for a school bus are 12 points each, racing is 9, speeding 30 km/h to under 60 km/h over the limit is 6, and failing to yield, improper passing, speeding under 30 km/h over, not wearing a seatbelt or failing to report an accident is 3.

Common questions

Can I have one drink and drive at 20 in PEI?

No. Drivers under 22 must have zero alcohol and zero drugs.

I am 25 and in Stage 2. Does zero tolerance apply to me?

Yes. Zero BAC and drugs apply to every GDL driver regardless of age.

Does zero tolerance cover cannabis in PEI?

Yes. The rule covers drugs as well as alcohol, and GDL drivers must keep their blood drug concentration at zero.

Can a GDL driver use a phone mounted on the dash?

Not hand-held. GDL drivers may use a hands-free phone. Do not hold, tap through or pick up the device while driving.

Can my supervisor drink before supervising me?

Your Stage 1 supervisor must have a blood alcohol concentration under 0.05.

How long is a licence cancelled for a first impaired conviction in PEI?

One year, and you must complete the Driver Rehabilitation Course before reinstatement.

Related PEI guides: learning to drive in PEI, PEI Stage 1 and Stage 2 rules, PEI knowledge test and Novice Driver Course.

Sources

• Government of Prince Edward Island, Highway Safety Division, “Graduated Driver’s Licensing Program (GDL)” booklet, December 2022 and August 2023 editions (princeedwardisland.ca)
• Government of Prince Edward Island, Highway Safety Division, “Co-pilot: A Guide for Parents and Guardians of New Drivers” (princeedwardisland.ca)
• Government of Prince Edward Island, Highway Safety, “Prince Edward Island Driver’s Handbook” (princeedwardisland.ca)
• Government of Prince Edward Island, “Novice Driver Course (NDC)” (princeedwardisland.ca)

Photo: Doug Kerr, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons

At a Prince Edward Island roundabout, you yield to traffic already inside and to pedestrians, travel counterclockwise, and signal right before you exit. In a dual-lane roundabout, you pick your lane before entering and stay in it. This guide covers those rules plus PEI right of way, speed limits, following distance, school buses and the heavy vehicle No-Zones, all from the PEI Driver’s Handbook. These rules come up on the knowledge test and the road test.

PEI roundabout rules

Rules for every roundabout

• Yield to traffic already in the roundabout and to pedestrians.
• Travel counterclockwise.

Single-lane roundabouts: signals

Where you are going	Signal on entry	Signal on exit
Left turn or U-turn	Left	Right, before exiting
Straight ahead	None	Right, before exiting
Right turn	Right, kept on until you have exited	Right (same signal)

Dual-lane roundabouts: lanes and signals

Where you are going	Lane	Signals
Left turn or U-turn	Left-hand lane	Left on entry, right before exit
Straight ahead	Left or right lane	None on entry, right before exit
Right turn	Right-hand lane	Right, kept on until you have exited

Also in dual-lane roundabouts:

• Do not enter alongside a vehicle already in the roundabout.
• Stay in your lane until you exit. Do not change lanes inside.

Pedestrians and cyclists at roundabouts

Crosswalks at modern roundabouts have two sections, and some have two lanes at each section. Pedestrians cross to the splitter island, stop, check that traffic is yielding, then cross the second section. Cyclists can ride through in the centre of the lane like a vehicle, or get off and cross as pedestrians.

Right of way in PEI

Situation	Who goes first
Three-way or four-way stop, vehicles arrive at about the same time	The vehicle on the left yields to the vehicle on the right. Entering first does not automatically give you the right of way.
Turning left	You yield to any vehicle or pedestrian in or close to the intersection. Be in the proper lane and signal.
Leaving a driveway, lane or private road	Stop and yield to traffic on the road. In a city or town, also stop before the sidewalk crossing and yield to pedestrians.
Yield sign	Slow down, and stop if needed, for pedestrians and vehicles
Emergency vehicle with siren or lights	Clear the intersection, pull to the right edge (left or right on a one-way street), and stop until it passes. At night, switch from headlights to parking lights while you are stopped, and turn the headlights back on before you move off.
Funeral procession	Approaching vehicles slow to half the posted limit and must not pass through the procession from behind. PEI funeral vehicles use purple flashing lights.
Pedestrian in a crosswalk, walk signal or green	The pedestrian. A pedestrian who started crossing before the orange hand appeared keeps the right of way until they reach the other side.
Pedestrian at a stop sign, yield sign or open intersection	The pedestrian, in marked or unmarked crosswalks

How to stop at a PEI stop sign

• In a city or town: stop before the crosswalk, at the stop line, or where pedestrians would normally cross.
• In rural areas: stop before the edge of the road you are entering. Look twice in both directions, starting with the left, and leave a bigger gap if the road is slippery.
• Rolling through a stop sign is illegal.

Vehicles stopped for pedestrians

Never pass a vehicle that has stopped for a pedestrian. If you are approaching from behind, you must not pass. Take extra care beside a larger stopped vehicle, which can hide a pedestrian.

Even where a pedestrian should yield, such as when crossing outside a crosswalk, the Highway Traffic Act still requires you to take due care to avoid hitting them, sound the horn when needed, and take extra precautions around children and anyone who seems confused or incapacitated.

Signals, turns and U-turns

• Right on red: allowed unless a sign forbids it. Come to a complete stop, yield to vehicles and pedestrians, then go if it is clear.
• Signal early: when you are about to turn or stop, start signalling at least 30 metres before, and keep signalling until you enter the turn or just before you stop (unless it is a sudden emergency stop). Signal before pulling away from or into the curb, too. On highways, the handbook says to signal at least 150 metres before you turn or stop.
• Flashing red: full stop, then yield to traffic in the intersection and pedestrians in an adjacent crosswalk, then go with caution.
• Flashing amber: enter with caution and yield to all traffic in the intersection and to pedestrians in an adjacent crosswalk.
• U-turns are allowed between intersections in a municipality if a bylaw permits, and on a highway if traffic from both directions can see you within 150 metres.
• U-turns are not allowed at a traffic-light intersection in a municipality, where a sign prohibits them, or on a curve, near the crest of a hill or anywhere they interfere with traffic.

Changing lanes, left turns and passing

• Changing lanes: check you are not following too closely, then check your rear-view and side mirrors, signal, and look over your shoulder. Every vehicle has a blind spot at its rear corners that the mirrors miss.
• Waiting to turn left: keep your wheels straight until you can go. If you are hit from behind with the wheels turned, you can be pushed into oncoming traffic. Oncoming vehicles have the right of way even if you reached the turning point first.
• You must not pass at an intersection if you would have to cross the solid centre line, at a crosswalk or anywhere a car has stopped to yield, in a school zone, in a posted no-passing zone, or on the left when there is not enough clear road ahead.
• Passing on the right is allowed only on a street with two or more lanes going your way.
• When passing, the handbook says the law requires you to signal and sound your horn. Never pull out behind another car that is already passing, and do not pass in heavy traffic.
• Being passed: move to the right and never speed up.

Driving in a village, town or city

• Do not block an intersection. If your lane is blocked beyond it, stop before entering and wait.
• Do not weave in traffic, and keep to the right lane if you are slower than the flow.
• Slow down in residential areas and watch for children and cyclists.
• Keep your speed down in lanes and alleys, and stop before you enter a street from one.

PEI speed limits

Unless a sign says otherwise, the maximum in Prince Edward Island is 80 km/h. The handbook lists these basic limits:

Where	Limit
Urban areas	50 km/h
Construction zones	60 km/h
Unpaved roads	80 km/h
Other locations at night	90 km/h
Other locations in daytime	100 km/h
Signed school zones, 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., Monday to Friday, September to June	60 km/h unless a lower limit is posted; speeding fines are doubled

Posted limits are the maximum for ideal conditions. Slow down for darkness, rain, fog, snow, slippery roads, heavy traffic or pedestrians. Driving so slowly that you block traffic is also an offence.

Following distance: the three-second rule

1. Pick a fixed marker, such as a sign or pole.
2. When the rear of the vehicle ahead passes it, count “one thousand and one, one thousand and two, one thousand and three”.
3. If you reach the marker before you finish, you are too close.

• Pulling a trailer: four seconds.
• Following a motorcycle: add one or two seconds.
• Bad weather, road or traffic conditions: four seconds or more.

On the highway: merging, shoulders, slow driving and oncoming traffic

Merging from an acceleration lane

Signal as you enter the acceleration lane, build up to the speed of highway traffic, keep checking the gap and the vehicles behind you, then move in and cancel the signal. Plan the merge early and avoid stopping in the lane without need. If no safe gap opens, adjust your speed, or stop if you must, rather than forcing your way in; pressure from traffic behind never makes an unsafe merge acceptable. If you are already on the highway, leave a gap for merging drivers or move left when it is safe. Leaving the highway, signal before you enter the deceleration lane and slow down only once you are in it.

If your wheels drop onto a soft shoulder

• Hold the wheel firmly with both hands and stay straddling the edge.
• Ease off the accelerator. Do not brake.
• Steer back onto the pavement only once you have slowed enough to be in full control. Coming back too fast can swing you into oncoming traffic.
• Straighten up in your own lane. You may need to keep going on the shoulder until it is level with the road.

Driving too slowly

You must not drive so slowly that you block the normal flow of traffic, unless the lower speed is needed for safe operation or to obey the law. Do not speed up just because someone behind is impatient. If a mechanical problem or anything else forces you to go slowly, move to the right lane to let traffic pass, or pull off the road and stop to let the queue by.

Meeting oncoming traffic

• Keep to your half of the road and drive in the centre of your lane, except when passing or turning.
• On a narrow road, both drivers must slow down or stop and help each other pass safely.
• Where parked cars narrow your half of the street, watch for oncoming vehicles and tuck into a gap.
• Dim your high beams within 150 metres (500 feet) of an oncoming vehicle.

Passing cyclists

• Leave at least one metre between your car and the bicycle, or as close to that as the conditions allow, and keep that gap until you are safely past.
• The metre is measured between the nearest points, including your mirrors and anything attached to the car or the bike.
• You may cross a solid centre line, or pass where a no-passing sign is posted, to overtake a cyclist, but only if the move can be made safely. If oncoming traffic or a hill or bend blocks your view, slow down and wait behind the cyclist.

Tractors and farm machinery

On rural roads, especially at planting and harvest time, expect slow, wide farm equipment and mud or soil carried onto the pavement. Slow down early, hang back far enough to see past the machine, and pass only where you can see the whole passing distance and get back in lane without cutting in. Do not pull out because traffic is building up behind you or because the farm driver waves you on.

Off-highway vehicles and snowmobiles

ATVs, snowmobiles and other off-highway vehicles are not allowed in the ditch beside a highway. They may cross a highway only if the operator has held a driver’s licence for 24 months or has passed an approved off-highway vehicle safety course. Expect them near rural crossings, especially in winter, and slow down if you see one waiting to cross.

School buses in PEI

• Flashing amber: the bus is about to stop. Slow down and proceed with caution.
• Flashing red: stop at least 6 metres (20 feet) from the front or rear of the bus, and stay stopped until the red lights stop flashing. Passing is illegal (Highway Traffic Act s. 202).

Failing to stop for a school bus with flashing red lights carries 12 demerit points. For other provinces, see school bus stopping rules across Canada.

Heavy vehicle No-Zones

No-Zones are the areas around trucks and buses where crashes are more likely, including blind spots where your car disappears from the driver’s view.

No-Zone	What to do
Sides	Do not linger beside a truck or bus. If you cannot see the driver’s face in their side mirror, they cannot see you.
Rear	Do not tailgate. The driver cannot see you, and you cannot see the road ahead.
Front	After passing, wait until you can see the whole front of the truck in your rear-view mirror before moving in, then do not slow down. Trucks need nearly twice the time and room to stop.
Backing up	Never cross behind a truck that is reversing.
Wide right turns	Trucks may swing left to turn right. Do not squeeze between the truck and the curb.

Stopped emergency vehicles and tow trucks

• When you approach or pass an emergency vehicle or tow truck stopped on the highway with its emergency lights on, you must not go faster than half the posted speed limit. On an 80 km/h road, that means 40 km/h at most.
• If there are two or more lanes in your direction and you are in the stopped vehicle’s lane or the lane next to it, also move into another lane, but only if it is safe. If you cannot change lanes, still slow down.
• You may stop instead of passing if you can stop safely and stopping is otherwise allowed.

For other provinces, see slow down, move over laws in Canada.

Lights, fog lamps and studded tires

• When lights are required: from sunset to sunrise, and at any time you cannot clearly see people and vehicles 150 metres ahead.
• Low beams: switch to low beam within 150 metres of an oncoming vehicle, and within 60 metres when following another vehicle (except while you are overtaking it). Check that an automatic high-beam system has actually dipped.
• Daytime running lights: a vehicle made after November 30, 1989 must have working daytime running lights switched on in daylight, showing only white or amber light. An older vehicle made before December 1, 1989 must instead have its headlights (or its daytime running lights, if fitted, in white or amber only) on whenever it is driven. This section does not cover farm tractors, special mobile equipment or vehicles registered outside PEI.
• Parking lights: when lights are required, it is illegal to drive on parking lights alone. In fog, rain or snow, use low beams, because high beams reflect back at you.
• Window tint: aftermarket darkening is illegal on the windshield and front side windows. It is allowed on the rear side and rear windows if you have two side mirrors. Ornaments must not block your view, and no more than two adult passengers plus the driver may sit in the front seat.
• Fog lamps: no more than two at the front, and use them only when fog, mist or snow makes them necessary. Switch them off when the air clears.
• Studded tires: allowed only from October 1 to May 31. Studs must not stick out more than 3.2 mm beyond the tread, no more than 5% of the tire surface may be studs or other non-rubber material, and studs must not be put into used or worn tires.

Stopping and parking rules in PEI

Unless signs or a town’s traffic authority allow it, or you must stop to avoid a collision or obey police or a signal, you must not stop, stand or park:

Place	Keep clear by
Fire hydrant	2.5 metres from the curb point opposite it
Crosswalk	Not in it, and not within 6 metres on the approach side
Flashing beacon, stop sign or traffic signal at the roadside	12 metres on the approach
Railway crossing	15 metres from the nearest rail
Entrance or exit of a hotel, church, school, theatre, dancehall, public meeting place or playground	6 metres on either side
Fire station driveway	6 metres; 45 metres on the opposite side of the street where signed

You also cannot stop on a sidewalk, in front of a driveway or loading zone, or inside an intersection.

Other places you cannot stop or park

• Double parking: never stop on the road side of a vehicle that is already stopped or parked at the curb, even for a quick drop-off.
• Bridges and tunnels: no stopping on a bridge or other elevated structure, or inside a highway tunnel.
• Roadworks: no stopping beside or opposite a street excavation or obstruction if it would hold up traffic.
• Safety zones: where a raised or marked pedestrian safety zone sits in the road, do not stop between it and the curb, or within 9 metres of the curb points opposite its ends, unless signs or markings give a different length.
• Signs and markings: obey any sign or marking that bans or limits stopping, standing or parking.

• Curb parking: unless a traffic authority allows otherwise, park on the right side, parallel to it, with your wheels within 300 mm of the curb where there is one.
• Outside towns: if you can pull off the roadway, you must, and you must not block traffic. Those two rules do not apply if a breakdown makes a temporary stop on the roadway unavoidable. Separately, a vehicle parked on a highway must be visible to traffic from both directions for 125 metres, so do not stop just past a hill crest or bend; the only exception is when repairs on the highway are necessary. Neither exception lets you leave a vehicle anywhere it is likely to endanger other road users.
• Accessible parking spaces: marked by an approved sign or a blue-painted area. You may not even stop briefly in one unless the vehicle displays a valid accessible parking permit or plate.
• Backing up: reverse only when it can be done safely and without getting in the way of traffic. If someone walks behind you, stop and look again; a reversing camera does not show everything.

Parallel parking, angle parking and backing

• Parallel parking: stop even with the car ahead, about 0.45 metres from it. Back slowly with the wheel turned sharply right until you are at about 45 degrees to the curb, then straighten. Back slowly until you can see the left headlight of the car behind, then turn sharply left and keep backing. Turn sharply right and pull forward to the centre of the space.
• Angle parking: drive forward into the space, with equal room on each side.
• Pulling out: check for traffic, signal, and go only when it is safe and you will not get in anyone’s way.
• Backing: check all around the vehicle before you get in, look out the rear window, sound the horn just before you start, back slowly and check both sides. From a driveway, check for pedestrians and traffic before crossing the sidewalk.

Leaving the car, opening doors and charging spaces

Before you walk away from a car parked on a highway, stop the engine, set the brake firmly and take the key out, leaving the ignition locked if it has a locked position. On a slope, turn the front wheels toward the curb if there is one. Before opening a door, make sure it will not endanger or get in the way of anyone, and do not leave a traffic-side door open longer than it takes passengers to get in or out. Nobody should get on or off a vehicle while it is moving.

A designated electric vehicle charging space, whether publicly or privately owned, is not general parking. You may leave a vehicle there unattended only if it is a battery electric or plug-in hybrid vehicle plugged into the charger, or if you own or lease that charging station. Owning an EV is not enough on its own; it has to be connected.

Seatbelts and child seats

• The driver must wear a seatbelt except when reversing. Every passenger 16 or older is responsible for wearing their own belt.
• Wear the lap belt firmly across your hips and the shoulder belt across your shoulder and chest, fastened, with one person per belt.
• The driver must make sure every passenger under 16 is in the right child seat or wearing a belt.

Child	Required seat
Under 10 kg, or under 1 year old	Rear-facing infant seat
10 kg to under 18 kg	Child seat that meets the Canadian standard
18 kg or more, 9 years old or younger and under 145 cm tall	Booster seat (a child over the booster’s weight limit uses the seatbelt)

Every seat must be used according to the manufacturer’s instructions. A child under one year old stays rear-facing even after passing 10 kg. More detail is in child car seat and booster rules in Canada.

Common questions

Who has the right of way at a four-way stop in PEI?

If vehicles arrive at about the same time, the vehicle on the left yields to the one on the right.

Do you signal when entering a PEI roundabout?

Signal left on entry if you are turning left or making a U-turn. Signal right on entry, and keep it on, if you are turning right. Going straight, give no signal on entry. Always signal right before you exit.

Can you change lanes in a dual-lane roundabout in PEI?

No. Choose the correct lane before entering and stay in it until you exit.

What is the speed limit in PEI if there is no sign?

80 km/h, unless you are in an area with its own basic limit, such as 50 km/h in urban areas.

Is right on red legal in PEI?

Yes, after a complete stop and yielding to traffic and pedestrians, unless a sign prohibits it.

How far back do you stop for a school bus in PEI?

At least 6 metres (20 feet) from the front or rear while the red lights are flashing.

Back to the full guide: learning to drive in PEI. Next: PEI knowledge test and PEI road test.

Sources

• Government of Prince Edward Island, Highway Safety, “Prince Edward Island Driver’s Handbook” (princeedwardisland.ca)
• Government of Prince Edward Island, Highway Safety Division, “Graduated Driver’s Licensing Program (GDL)” booklet, December 2022 and August 2023 editions (princeedwardisland.ca)
• Government of Prince Edward Island, “Highway Traffic Act”, consolidated to May 29, 2026, including sections 92, 96, 98, 109, 109.1, 115.1, 155.1, 159, 167, 176 to 178, 184, 188, 192, 204 to 212 and 228 (princeedwardisland.ca)
• Government of Prince Edward Island, “Highway Traffic Act Seat Belt Regulations” (princeedwardisland.ca)
• Government of Prince Edward Island, “Highway Traffic Act Winter Tires Regulations” (princeedwardisland.ca)

Photo: Robert Linsdell, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons

The PEI road test is how you move from a Class 7 Instruction Permit (Stage 1) to a Class 5 licence (Stage 2). To book, contact Access PEI once your waiting period is over and you have finished the Novice Driver Course. Driver education students are usually tested by their driving school. This guide covers eligibility, what to bring, what the examiner checks and what happens after a pass or a fail.

Key facts

• Earliest road test: 365 days after your permit is issued, or 275 days if you are enrolled in certified driver education.
• You need a valid Instruction Permit and a completed Novice Driver Course.
• You provide the vehicle and must arrive with a driver who has been licensed for at least four years.
• If you fail, wait at least two weeks before the next attempt.
• Fees change, so check the current road test fee with Access PEI when you book.

Are you eligible for the PEI road test?

• You have held your Class 7 permit for 365 days (275 with driver education).
• Your permit is still valid. It lasts two years from issue.
• You have completed the Novice Driver Course, or driver education, which covers it.
• You have no suspension.

How to book a road test in PEI

Your route	Who tests you	How to book
No driver education	A Highway Safety examiner	Contact Access PEI for an appointment. The province lists driving exams at Access PEI in O’Leary, Summerside, Charlottetown, Montague and Souris.
Certified driver education	Your driving school, unless Highway Safety randomly selects you	Through your driving school

Exam locations can change, so confirm when you call Access PEI. Driver education students can also be asked to take a second road test with a Highway Safety examiner during their probation. That evaluation is free.

What to bring to the PEI road test

• Your valid Instruction Permit
• Proof you completed the Novice Driver Course
• A licensed driver who has held a valid licence for at least four years, is not a novice (GDL) driver and can lawfully take control of the vehicle if needed
• A safe vehicle with valid registration
• Proof of public liability insurance (the pink insurance card)
• Glasses or contacts, if your permit requires corrective lenses

Vehicle check before the test

The examiner checks the vehicle first. No test is given in an unsafe vehicle. Check these at home:

• valid licence plates and a valid inspection sticker
• lights (including signals and brake lights) and horn
• rear-view mirror, adjusted so nothing in the car or its load blocks a view at least 60 metres behind you
• windshield and window glass: a windshield cracked or shattered enough to be a hazard is not allowed on the road
• seatbelts
• windshield wipers, in good working order
• muffler
• brakes and tires: the legal minimum tread depth is 1.6 mm, measured at three points around the tire, and a damaged sidewall or low pressure is a problem even above that
• speedometer, in working condition

Put your L decal on the windshield above the inspection sticker.

What the PEI examiner checks

The handbook calls the road test a sample of your ability to do certain manoeuvres properly and safely. You are assessed on:

1. starting
2. stopping
3. turning
4. parking
5. traffic signs and signals
6. controlled, partly controlled and uncontrolled intersections
7. anticipating potential hazards
8. your attitude toward others
9. the other safe driving practices in the handbook

The purposes of the road test

The handbook gives four purposes:

• to measure whether you can drive properly and safely in typical conditions
• to decide whether you need retraining
• to serve as a basis for further training
• to help you correct errors found during the test

The Co-pilot guide says you fail through too many mistakes, a law violation or a dangerous action.

How to behave during the test

• Ask any questions before you start. The examiner will not coach you during the test.
• Do not chat. Unnecessary talk distracts you.
• Afterwards, the examiner reviews your driving and suggests improvements.

Your accompanying driver during the test

The handbook says no one else may ride along during the test. PEI’s newer Driver Testing Regulation Acknowledgement Form (2025) describes a different set-up, and both you and your accompanying driver sign it:

• Your accompanying driver sits in the front passenger seat.
• Neither of you may talk to, or signal to, the other except for safety. Your accompanying driver may speak only to step in during an emergency.
• Any other communication between you means a failed road test, so practise making your own decisions before test day.
• The test may be filmed, and video, audio and written information is collected to assess you.
• Your pass or fail result is given in person, by phone or by email within one business day.

Ask Access PEI which arrangement applies when you book.

Skills worth extra practice for the PEI road test

These are taken from the handbook’s driving chapters:

Skill	What the handbook expects
Stop signs	A full stop before the crosswalk or stop line, never a rolling stop. In rural areas, stop before the road edge and look both ways twice, starting left.
Following distance	At least three seconds in normal conditions, four or more in bad weather
Right on red	A complete stop, then yield to traffic and pedestrians, unless a sign forbids the turn
Roundabouts	Yield to traffic already inside and to pedestrians; signal right before your exit
Parking and backing	Parallel and angle parking, backing with full observation
Speed	Stay within limits and adjust for conditions, including school zones

The full rules are in PEI rules of the road.

If you fail the PEI road test

• Wait at least two weeks before trying again. Parents may choose to wait longer.
• Go over the examiner’s feedback with your supervisor and practise those areas.
• PEI’s permit page says retaking a failed road test costs nothing extra. Confirm with Access PEI when you rebook.
• Watch your permit’s two-year expiry date. See learning to drive in PEI for what happens if it lapses.

After you pass

• You get a Class 5 licence and a yellow G decal, and you enter Stage 2. See PEI Stage 1 and Stage 2 rules.
• If you passed with a driving school, get your Class 5 photo licence at Highway Safety or Access PEI within 30 days. Otherwise you may need a retest with a Highway Safety examiner and pay the fees again.
• You are on probation for two years, and Highway Safety monitors your record.

Common questions

How do I book my road test in PEI?

Contact Access PEI. If you are in certified driver education, your driving school normally conducts the test.

Can I use a driving school car for the PEI road test?

Driver education students are usually tested by their school. Otherwise you supply a registered, insured and safe vehicle yourself.

How long do I wait to retake the road test in PEI?

At least two weeks after a failed attempt.

Can my parent sit in the car during the test?

Your parent can be the accompanying driver if they have held a licence for at least four years and are not in GDL. Under PEI’s 2025 acknowledgement form, the accompanying driver sits in the front passenger seat but must not speak to you except to step in during an emergency. The older handbook says only you and the examiner ride, so confirm the format when you book.

What happens if my car fails the pre-test check?

The test is not given in a vehicle that is unsafe or does not meet equipment requirements. You will need to rebook.

Is there a separate highway test in PEI?

PEI has one Class 5 road test. It moves you from Stage 1 to Stage 2, and you move to Stage 3 automatically after a year.

Sources

• Government of Prince Edward Island, Highway Safety, “Prince Edward Island Driver’s Handbook” (princeedwardisland.ca)
• Government of Prince Edward Island, Highway Safety Division, “Co-pilot: A Guide for Parents and Guardians of New Drivers” (princeedwardisland.ca)
• Government of Prince Edward Island, Highway Safety Division, “Graduated Driver’s Licensing Program (GDL)” booklet, December 2022 and August 2023 editions (princeedwardisland.ca)
• Government of Prince Edward Island, “Getting an Instruction Driver’s Permit in PEI” (princeedwardisland.ca)
• Government of Prince Edward Island, “Driver Testing Regulation Acknowledgement Form”, 2025 (princeedwardisland.ca)
• Government of Prince Edward Island, “Highway Traffic Act”, sections 122, 129, 131 and 134, consolidated to May 29, 2026 (princeedwardisland.ca)

Photo: Doug Kerr, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Prince Edward Island’s graduated licence has three stages, and Stages 1 and 2 have the tightest rules. In Stage 1 you drive only with a supervisor licensed for at least four years. In Stage 2 you can carry only one passenger from outside your family. If you are under 21, neither stage allows driving between 1 a.m. and 5 a.m. on your own. This guide lists every PEI GDL restriction, the decals, the curfew exemption and the penalties.

PEI GDL restrictions by stage

Rule	Stage 1 (L, Instruction Permit)	Stage 2 (G, Class 5)	Stage 3 (G, Class 5)
Supervisor	Always, in the front seat	Not required (except curfew hours)	Not required
Passengers	Only the supervisor’s immediate family	One non-family passenger; the rest must be your immediate family	Any, up to the number of seatbelts
Seatbelt limit	Yes	Yes	Yes
1 a.m. to 5 a.m. (under 21)	No driving, no exemptions	Only with a qualified supervisor, or with a work exemption	No curfew
Alcohol and drugs	Zero	Zero	Zero
Hand-held devices and headphones	Banned	Banned	Banned
Decal	Yellow with black “L”	Yellow with black “G”	Same G decal
Minimum age	16	17 (16 years + 275 days with driver ed)	18 (17 years + 275 days with driver ed)

A hands-free phone is permitted for GDL drivers. The 1 a.m. to 5 a.m. rule does not apply once you are 21.

Stage 1 rules in PEI

Who can supervise a Stage 1 driver?

Under the Highway Traffic Act, your accompanying driver must:

• be fully licensed
• have held a valid licence in PEI or another jurisdiction for at least four years
• hold a licence class that covers the vehicle you are driving
• meet any conditions on their own licence
• sit in the front seat the whole time
• have a blood alcohol concentration under 50 mg in 100 mL of blood (0.05)
• not be impaired by a drug, or by alcohol and a drug together, and not refuse a police demand for a breath, blood or coordination test

Only you and your supervisor may sit in the front seat. An out-of-country supervisor counts only if PEI has a reciprocal licensing agreement or unilateral exchange with their country. Police can ask to see the supervisor’s licence.

Stage 1 passengers

The only other passengers allowed are the supervisor’s immediate family. During a driving school lesson, the instructor can carry up to four people plus themselves.

Stage 1 penalties

Any violation that carries demerit points suspends your Instruction Permit for at least 30 days.

Stage 2 rules in PEI

You enter Stage 2 when you pass the road test and get a Class 5 licence. Stage 2 lasts one year.

The Stage 2 passenger rule

You may carry one passenger who is not in your immediate family. Every other passenger must be your immediate family, and there can never be more passengers than seatbelts. You can be fined for any passenger not wearing a seatbelt.

The 1 a.m. to 5 a.m. curfew

If you are under 21, you may drive between 1 a.m. and 5 a.m. only with a supervisor who:

• is fully licensed and sits beside you
• has held a driver’s licence for at least four years
• has a blood alcohol level below 0.05
• is not impaired by a drug, or by alcohol and a drug together

Work exemption: Stage 2 drivers can apply for an exemption from the curfew for work. Forms are at every Access PEI location and on the PEI government website (search “night-time driving restriction”). Stage 1 drivers cannot get an exemption.

Who counts as immediate family?

The Highway Traffic Act (s. 92.1(1)) defines immediate family of the newly licensed driver as:

• your spouse
• your parents and their spouses
• your children and your spouse’s children
• your grandchildren
• your brothers and sisters
• your grandparents
• your spouse’s parents and their spouses
• any relative who lives permanently with you, or with whom you live permanently

Friends and relatives outside this list, such as cousins who live elsewhere, do not count. In Stage 2 they take your single non-family seat.

PEI GDL decals

• Where: inside the windshield, just above the motor vehicle inspection sticker.
• When: on any vehicle you drive. The decal peels off so you can move it between vehicles.
• Cost: free, including replacements from any Access PEI location.
• Forgot it or lost it after hours: the GDL booklet lets you use a temporary paper decal on the windshield.
• Motorcycles: a small yellow L or G decal on the back of your helmet.
• Stage 3: keep the G decal on until Stage 3 ends, then remove it.

Penalties for GDL drivers in PEI

Offence or total	Result
Stage 1: any offence with demerit points	Permit suspended for at least 30 days
Seatbelt or passenger restriction fine (Stages 2 and 3)	30-day suspension for a first offence, 90 days for a second; the time is added to your stage
Stage 2: 3, 4 or 5 demerit points	Warning
Stage 2: 6 demerit points	One-month suspension
Stage 3: 5 to 8 demerit points	Warning
Stage 3: 9 demerit points	One-month suspension
Any blood alcohol above zero	24-hour roadside suspension and 90-day administrative prohibition; 12 demerit points on conviction

The handbook says safety specialists take corrective action during or shortly after a suspension. GDL drivers can also have vehicles impounded for Highway Traffic Act offences such as excessive speeding.

Scenario: can I drive my friends home after a game?

Stage 1, aged 17: only if your supervisor is in the front seat and the friends are the supervisor’s immediate family. In practice, no.

Stage 2, aged 18, at 11 p.m.: one friend, plus any of your own immediate family, up to the number of seatbelts. Two friends is a passenger restriction offence and a 30-day suspension.

Stage 2, aged 18, leaving at 1:30 a.m.: only with a supervisor licensed four or more years and under 0.05, unless you hold a work exemption for that trip.

For the full route from permit to Stage 3, see learning to drive in PEI. Alcohol and phone rules are in PEI impaired and distracted driving. To compare PEI’s curfew and passenger limits with other provinces, see graduated licence rules by province.

Common questions

What time is the PEI new driver curfew?

1 a.m. to 5 a.m., for Stage 1 and Stage 2 drivers under 21.

How many passengers can a Stage 2 driver have in PEI?

One non-family passenger. Your own immediate family can fill the remaining seatbelts.

Can my boyfriend or girlfriend ride with me in Stage 2?

Yes, as your one non-family passenger, unless they are your spouse, who counts as immediate family.

Can I use Google Maps on my phone as a GDL driver?

Not hand-held. GDL drivers cannot use any hand-held device. A hands-free phone is permitted.

Do I have to display the decal if I am over 21?

Yes. Decals apply to all GDL drivers regardless of age.

Does a suspension make my GDL longer?

Yes. Suspension time for seatbelt or passenger offences is added to the length of Stage 2 or Stage 3.

Sources

• Government of Prince Edward Island, Highway Safety Division, “Graduated Driver’s Licensing Program (GDL)” booklet, December 2022 and August 2023 editions (princeedwardisland.ca)
• Government of Prince Edward Island, Highway Safety Division, “Co-pilot: A Guide for Parents and Guardians of New Drivers” (princeedwardisland.ca)
• Government of Prince Edward Island, Highway Safety, “Prince Edward Island Driver’s Handbook” (princeedwardisland.ca)
• Government of Prince Edward Island, “Highway Traffic Act Graduated Driver Licensing Regulations”, sections 2 and 3 (princeedwardisland.ca)

Photo: Wiki.cullin, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Before you can drive in Prince Edward Island, you need two tests: a written (or oral) knowledge test that includes road signs, and a vision test. Before your Class 5 road test, you also need either the provincial Novice Driver Course or a certified driver education program. This guide covers what each one checks, how to book, and what happens if you fail. It is for PEI learners aged 16 and up and their parents.

Key facts

• The knowledge test covers traffic laws, safe driving practices and road sign recognition, all taken from the PEI Driver’s Handbook.
• You can ask for an oral test if you cannot read and understand the written one.
• Book with Access PEI. Driver education students write the test at their driving school.
• The vision test includes colour vision, distance judgment and field of vision.
• The Novice Driver Course takes about four hours, sometimes split over two evenings. It is required before the road test unless you are enrolled in a certified driver education program.

What is on the PEI knowledge test?

The handbook says the test examines:

• the rules of the road and safe driving practices
• recognising road signs by their shape
• reading and understanding what signs mean

Everything on it is in the PEI Driver’s Handbook. Chapters 2 to 4 carry most of the testable rules:

Handbook chapter	Topics to know cold
Ch 2: Rules of the Road	Right of way at stop signs, yield signs, left turns, driveways, emergency vehicles, funeral processions, pedestrians; child seats and seatbelts
Ch 3: Signs, Pavement Markings and Work Zones	Traffic lights (including flashing red and amber, right on red), railway crossings, crosswalks, yellow and white lines, sign shapes and colours
Ch 4: Speed, Following Distance and Driving Skills	Speed limits, the three-second rule, turning, U-turns, passing, school buses, heavy vehicle No-Zones, parking, roundabouts, night and winter driving, cellphone law, impaired driving
Ch 7: Highway Safety Programs	Demerit points, GDL suspensions, zero BAC

The rules most often tested are summarised in PEI rules of the road and PEI impaired and distracted driving.

How many questions, and what is the pass mark?

Neither the PEI Driver’s Handbook nor the GDL booklet gives a question count or pass mark. Ask Access PEI when you book, and treat any number on unofficial practice sites as unconfirmed.

How to book the PEI written test

1. Study the handbook until you can explain each sign and right-of-way rule without looking.
2. Contact Access PEI to book the written and sign-recognition tests.
3. Bring your identity document, two proofs of a PEI address and, if you are under 18, the signed parental consent form and your original birth certificate.
4. Bring the fee. Check the current amount with Access PEI, as fees change.

Driver education students write the Class 7 exams at an authorized driving school, then go to Highway Safety or Access PEI only for the vision test.

If you fail the written test

The handbook says you can make a new appointment and take another test later. PEI’s permit page says you wait at least seven days before rewriting, with no extra fee. Confirm both with Access PEI when you rebook.

The PEI vision test

Highway Safety staff check that you meet the vision standard. You also get:

• a colour vision test
• a distance judgment test
• a field of vision test

Result	What happens
You need glasses or contacts to meet the standard	Your permit and licence carry a condition: you may drive only while wearing corrective lenses
Results are unclear	You may be referred to an ophthalmologist or optometrist
Colour blindness	The deficiency is explained so you can compensate, for example by learning the position of each signal light
Very narrow field of vision	You may be refused until it is corrected, or licensed only in a vehicle with mirrors giving a clear view to the rear and both sides
Below the minimum even with glasses	Licence refused

Wear your glasses or contacts to the test if you normally use them.

The PEI Novice Driver Course

Class 7 holders who are not enrolled in a certified driver education program must complete the Novice Driver Course before they can take a road test. If you are in a certified program, its classroom part covers this material, so you do not need the provincial course as well.

What it covers:

• the Graduated Driver Licensing program
• the demerit point system
• impaired driving under the Criminal Code
• alcohol and drug education
• handling certain driving conditions

Practical details:

• About four hours, sometimes split over two evenings. The older handbook says about five, so check when you register.
• You must register in advance. Call a Highway Safety or Access PEI office to find a location.
• Bring your Instruction Permit to the first class.

Novice Driver Course vs certified driver education

	Novice Driver Course only	Certified driver education
Classroom	About 4 hours	At least 25 hours
In-car instruction	None (practise with your supervisor)	At least 10 hours behind the wheel plus 6 hours observation
Wait before road test	365 days	275 days
Who gives the road test	Highway Safety examiner	The driving school, unless Highway Safety randomly selects you

After you pass

You receive your Class 7 Instruction Permit, valid for two years, and the yellow L decal. Stage 1 rules apply from that day: see PEI Stage 1 and Stage 2 rules. The full route to a licence is in learning to drive in PEI.

Common questions

Is the PEI permit test multiple choice?

The handbook calls it a written or oral test of traffic laws, safe driving and sign recognition. It does not describe the format further, so ask Access PEI.

Can I take the PEI knowledge test orally?

Yes. If you cannot read and understand the written test, you may ask for an oral test.

Do I need the Novice Driver Course if I take driver education?

The classroom part of a certified driver education program covers the Novice Driver Course material, so you do not take it separately.

Do I need glasses for the PEI vision test?

Only if you cannot meet the standard without them. If you need them to pass, your licence will require you to wear them while driving.

How old do I have to be to write the PEI test?

16. If you are under 18, both parents or legal guardians must sign the consent form.

Can I study from an online practice test?

Practice tests can help with recall, but they are not official. The handbook is the only official source for the test.

Sources

• Government of Prince Edward Island, Highway Safety, “Prince Edward Island Driver’s Handbook” (princeedwardisland.ca)
• Government of Prince Edward Island, Highway Safety Division, “Graduated Driver’s Licensing Program (GDL)” booklet, December 2022 and August 2023 editions (princeedwardisland.ca)
• Government of Prince Edward Island, Highway Safety Division, “Co-pilot: A Guide for Parents and Guardians of New Drivers” (princeedwardisland.ca)
• Government of Prince Edward Island, “Getting an Instruction Driver’s Permit in PEI” (princeedwardisland.ca)
• Government of Prince Edward Island, “Novice Driver Course (NDC)” (princeedwardisland.ca)

Photo: Wiki.cullin, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons

To get a driver’s licence in Prince Edward Island, every new driver goes through PEI’s three-stage Graduated Driver Licensing (GDL) program, whatever their age. You start at 16 with a Class 7 Instruction Permit, wait 365 days (275 with certified driver education), pass a road test for a Class 5 licence, then spend a year each in Stage 2 and Stage 3. This guide sets out every step and links to the detailed PEI guides.

Key facts

• Minimum age for an Instruction Permit (Stage 1): 16. Under 18 needs consent signed by both parents or legal guardians.
• The permit is valid for two years from the date of issue.
• Wait before your first road test: 365 days, or 275 days if you are enrolled in a certified driver education program.
• You must complete the Novice Driver Course (or driver education, which covers it) before the road test.
• Stage 2 and Stage 3 each last one year. The whole program takes at least three years, or two years plus 275 days with driver education.
• Zero alcohol and zero drugs for every GDL driver, and for every driver under 22 even after leaving GDL.

PEI GDL stages at a glance

Stage	Licence	Earliest age	How long	Main limits
Stage 1 (L)	Class 7 Instruction Permit	16	365 days before road test (275 with driver ed)	Supervisor with 4+ years licensed in front seat; only the supervisor’s immediate family as passengers; no driving 1 a.m. to 5 a.m. if under 21
Stage 2 (G)	Class 5 with restrictions	17 (16 years + 275 days with driver ed)	1 year	One non-family passenger; 1 a.m. to 5 a.m. only with a qualified supervisor if under 21
Stage 3 (G)	Class 5 with reduced restrictions	18 (17 years + 275 days with driver ed)	1 year (365 days)	Passengers up to the number of seatbelts; keep the G decal

All three stages: zero blood alcohol and blood drug concentration, no hand-held phones or other hand-held devices (hands-free is allowed), and the stage decal on the windshield. Full details are in PEI Stage 1 and Stage 2 rules.

Step 1: Get your PEI Instruction Permit (Class 7)

1. Study the PEI Driver’s Handbook. The written test is based on it.
2. Book your written and sign-recognition test with Access PEI and pay the fee. Driver education students write the permit test at their driving school instead.
3. Bring your documents (see the list below).
4. Pass the vision test, done by Highway Safety staff.
5. Have your photo taken and pay the permit fee. You get your yellow “L” decal at the same time.

Fees change. Check the current permit and test fees with Access PEI before your appointment.

Documents for a first PEI permit

• Birth certificate, passport or immigration papers. The Co-pilot guide says the birth certificate must be the original, not a printed copy.
• Two proofs of a current PEI address with your name, for example a utility bill, lease, pay stub, government mail, bank statement or mortgage document.
• If you are under 18: the consent form from the Co-pilot brochure, signed by both parents or legal guardians (or the sole custodian).
• If your previous address was outside Canada: your Canadian immigration record of entry and passport.
• Driver education students: the completed master sheet approved by the driving school.

Parents can refuse consent, and can withdraw it in writing to the Registrar at any time until you turn 18. The permit is then cancelled.

The tests are explained in PEI knowledge test, vision test and the Novice Driver Course.

Step 2: Practise in Stage 1

Your accompanying driver must be fully licensed, have held a licence for at least four years, hold the right class for the vehicle, sit in the front seat and have a blood alcohol concentration under 0.05. Practise in as many conditions as you can: town streets, highways, roundabouts, rain and night (before 1 a.m. if you are under 21).

Step 3: Novice Driver Course or driver education

Route	What it involves	Road test wait
No driver education	Novice Driver Course run by Highway Safety: about four hours, sometimes split over two evenings	365 days
Certified driver education	At least 25 hours classroom, 10 hours behind the wheel and 6 hours observation; the classroom part covers the Novice Driver Course	275 days

With driver education, the school conducts your permit test and your road test, unless Highway Safety randomly selects you for its own evaluation.

Step 4: Pass the PEI road test

You supply a safe, registered and insured vehicle and arrive with a licensed driver. The examiner checks starting, stopping, turning, parking, signs and signals, intersections, hazard anticipation and your attitude to others. See PEI road test: what is tested and how to book.

Driver education students who pass with their school must get the Class 5 photo licence at Highway Safety or Access PEI within 30 days, or may need a retest by a Highway Safety examiner.

Step 5: Stage 2 and Stage 3

Passing gives you a Class 5 licence and a yellow “G” decal. After one year in Stage 2 you move automatically to Stage 3, which lasts 365 days. At the end of Stage 3 you leave GDL automatically, remove the G decal and do not need a replacement licence. Suspensions for seatbelt or passenger offences are added to the stage, so they make GDL longer.

You cannot apply for most commercial classes until you finish GDL. The GDL booklet allows one exception: a Stage 3 driver in a paramedic training program can apply for a restricted Class 4 licence to drive an ambulance.

Already have a permit or licence from elsewhere?

• Nova Scotia or New Brunswick Class 5: exchange at no charge.
• Other Canadian provinces and territories: a licence expired less than five years can be exchanged without written, vision or road tests.
• Instruction permits: valid Atlantic Canada permits can be exchanged directly; permits from elsewhere in Canada need a written and vision test. You also need proof of driver education or the Novice Driver Course, and waiting periods may apply.
• Most foreign licences cannot be exchanged, and an international licence is not proof of previous licensing.

See exchanging a foreign or out-of-province licence in Canada. PEI’s list of reciprocal countries changes, so confirm with Highway Safety before you apply.

Licence and vehicle paperwork

• Visiting or newly arrived: with a valid licence from elsewhere you may drive in PEI for up to 120 days, in the class that licence allows.
• Change of name: have your licence endorsed within 10 days, at no charge. Change of address: tell the registrar within 30 days. Missing either deadline is an offence.
• Expiry: licences expire at midnight on your birthday. Replace a lost or illegible licence at Highway Safety or Access PEI; there is a fee.
• Registration: your vehicle must be registered and plated, and the permit stays in the vehicle for an officer to see. Keep the plate clean and visible.
• Selling or buying: the seller notifies Highway Safety within seven days, and the new owner transfers the registration within seven days.
• Inspection: most vehicles need a yearly safety inspection and approval sticker. A rejected vehicle has 10 days to be fixed and re-inspected, but that does not allow you to drive it if it is unsafe.
• Retesting: Highway Safety can retest any driver after a number of collisions or convictions, a suspension, or a medical condition that may affect driving.

If your PEI permit expires

Expired for	What you need
Less than 1 year	Reissued for two years, no waiting period
1 to 3 years	Written and vision tests, no waiting period
More than 3 years	Written and vision tests plus the 365-day wait

Rules to learn before you drive

• PEI rules of the road: right of way, roundabouts and heavy vehicle No-Zones
• PEI impaired and distracted driving: zero tolerance until 22
• Winter driving in Canada for new drivers
• Avoiding wildlife collisions

To compare PEI with other provinces, see how to get a driver’s licence in Canada and graduated licence rules by province.

Common questions

How long does it take to get a full licence in PEI?

At least three years: 365 days on the permit, then one year each in Stage 2 and Stage 3. With certified driver education the minimum is two years plus 275 days.

Do adults have to go through GDL in PEI?

Yes. The program applies to all new drivers regardless of age. The 1 a.m. to 5 a.m. curfew does not apply once you are 21, but the other restrictions do.

Is driver education mandatory in PEI?

No. Without it you take the Novice Driver Course and wait 365 days. Driver education cuts the wait to 275 days.

Can I take the PEI permit test at 15?

No. The minimum age for an Instruction Permit is 16. A separate farm tractor permit is available at 14.

What does “immediate family” mean for passengers?

The Highway Traffic Act lists spouse, parents and their spouses, children, grandchildren, brothers and sisters, grandparents, parents-in-law, and any relative who lives permanently with the driver.

Where do I book tests in PEI?

Through Access PEI. Highway Safety’s head office is at 33 Riverside Drive, Charlottetown, and there is an office in Summerside.

Sources

• Government of Prince Edward Island, Highway Safety, “Prince Edward Island Driver’s Handbook” (princeedwardisland.ca)
• Government of Prince Edward Island, Highway Safety Division, “Graduated Driver’s Licensing Program (GDL)” booklet, December 2022 and August 2023 editions (princeedwardisland.ca)
• Government of Prince Edward Island, Highway Safety Division, “Co-pilot: A Guide for Parents and Guardians of New Drivers” (princeedwardisland.ca)
• Government of Prince Edward Island, “Getting an Instruction Driver’s Permit in PEI” (princeedwardisland.ca)
• Government of Prince Edward Island, “Novice Driver Course (NDC)” (princeedwardisland.ca)