NL Written Test Study Guide: Rules of the Road and Signs

Photo: Ycleymans, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons

The Newfoundland and Labrador written test asks about the rules of the road, safe driving practices and road sign recognition, and you need 85% to pass. This study guide covers the handbook topics that test those three areas: sign shapes and colours, the signs specific to Newfoundland and Labrador (moose and weather warnings), right-of-way, default speed limits, passing, school buses, parking distances and move-over rules. It is for anyone preparing for the Class 5 Level I (learner) test.

Key facts

Pass mark: 85% on the written test (Motor Registration Division).
With no speed sign: 100 km/h on paved parts of the Trans-Canada Highway, 80 km/h on other paved highways, 60 km/h on gravel roads, 50 km/h through communities and unmarked school zones.
Uncontrolled intersection: yield to traffic on your right.
School bus with flashing lights or stop sign: stop in both directions. Passing it costs 6 demerit points.
Move over: slow to at least 30 km/h below the limit (no more than 30 km/h in zones of 60 km/h or less). Failing to do so costs 4 demerit points.
Fines are doubled in construction zones.
Railway crossing with signals or a flag person warning of a train: stop no less than 5 metres from the nearest rail.

What is in the Newfoundland and Labrador written test?

The Motor Registration Division says the written test covers rules of the road, safe driving practices and road sign recognition. Ask about the number of questions when you book. Study from the province’s Driver’s Handbook (formerly the Road User Guide), available free from gov.nl.ca. The chapters that matter most for the learner test are:

Licensing and Registration: graduated licensing levels, the Class 5I rules, ID.
Road Safety: impaired and distracted driving, fatigue, emergencies, animals on the road.
Traffic Signs and Pavement Markings: the signs section of the test.
Rules of the Road: right-of-way, turns, roundabouts, passing, signals, parking, speed, school buses, emergency vehicles.

The Motorcycle Safety and Commercial Drivers chapters are not needed for a Class 5 learner test. For the format, retakes and what to bring, see Newfoundland and Labrador written test.

Sign shapes and colours

Learn the shapes first. The handbook says several of them are used for only one sign, so you can name the sign even if snow covers the words.

Shape or colour	Meaning in the NL handbook
Octagon (red, white letters)	Stop. Come to a full stop at the stop line or crosswalk. No other sign has this shape.
Inverted triangle (white, wide red border)	Yield. Slow down, be ready to stop, give the right-of-way.
Crossbuck (X shape)	Railway crossing. Be ready to stop.
Pentagon (blue or fluorescent yellow)	School zone. Slow down and watch for children.
Diamond (yellow, black symbols)	Warning of a hazard ahead.
Vertical rectangle or square (white)	Regulations that must be obeyed: speed, parking, turns, passing.
Horizontal rectangle (green, white letters)	Directions and distances to communities and routes.
Brown rectangle	Tourist information: rest areas, parks, historic sites, chalets.
Orange (diamond, square or rectangle)	Road construction and maintenance.

Two symbols appear on regulatory signs. A green circle means the action shown is allowed or required. A red circle with a diagonal stroke means it is not permitted.

Watch the school sign colour

Many Canadian handbooks show only the fluorescent yellow-green school pentagon. The Newfoundland and Labrador handbook describes a blue pentagon with white figures of students, and says the sign may also be fluorescent yellow. Both mean a school zone.

Newfoundland and Labrador signs to know

Regulatory signs

Speed limit, and “change in speed ahead”.
Keep right except to pass.
Shared centre left-turn lane, and two-way left turns.
No U-turn, no left turn, do not enter, one-way.
Accessible parking: the space is painted blue in whole or part and is only for a permit holder or someone accompanying one.
Passing lane 2 km ahead. Oncoming vehicles may also have the right to use a passing lane first. If several are coming toward you, expect one to use it and yield to them.

Warning signs

Moose crossing: moose cross this stretch regularly. Slow down and drive with caution. See moose on Newfoundland roads.
Pavement ends, gravel road ahead.
Roundabout ahead (may show a recommended speed).
Steep hill: you may need a lower gear and engine braking.
Right lane ends; two lanes merge with traffic entering from the right.
Divided highway begins, and divided highway ends (two-way traffic, keep right).
Slow-moving vehicle triangle: required on the back of the vehicle when it is driven on a highway.

Weather and hazard signs

Hazardous conditions signs give advisories, closures or detours because of bad weather. They may be black on yellow, sometimes with flashing yellow lights, or digital signs with yellow or orange text on black. The handbook’s examples are wind warnings in the Wreckhouse area and closure of the highway from Holyrood to St. John’s in winter weather. Obey them strictly.

Construction signs

Orange signs with black letters or symbols mark construction and maintenance. Speeds are reduced to protect workers and fines for speeding are doubled. Construction signs still apply when no workers or equipment are visible, because the road itself may be the hazard. Unless the signs at the start of the zone show a lower limit, the Highway Traffic Act sets a maximum of 60 km/h in a construction zone; where the signs show a different maximum, that posted figure applies. When a flag person holds up a STOP sign or flag, stop before the work area and stay stopped until that person waves you on, even if the car ahead has moved. Expect cars ahead to stop suddenly. Zipper merge signs tell you to use both lanes up to the merge point, then take turns.

The handbook describes two merge methods for lane closures. An early merge, where you leave the closed lane well before it ends, suits light traffic at higher speeds. A late (zipper) merge suits heavy, slow traffic: stay in your lane to the marked merge point, then alternate.

Traffic lights and pavement markings

Signal	What you do
Solid green	Go straight or turn right. Turn left only after yielding to pedestrians and oncoming traffic.
Solid amber	Stop if you can do so safely; otherwise go through with caution. If you are turning right, the Act lets you continue the turn with caution after yielding to pedestrians and vehicles in the intersection, unless a sign prohibits it. This does not apply to going straight.
Solid red	Stop. Right turn allowed after a complete stop and yielding, unless a sign prohibits it. A left turn on red is allowed only from a one-way street into another one-way street, after the same full stop and yielding.
Green with green arrow	Go in the direction of the arrow, or straight ahead or right unless a sign forbids it. When the arrow goes off, follow the solid green rule.
Red with green arrow	Go only in the direction of the arrow, after yielding. When the arrow goes off, wait for green.
Flashing amber	Slow down and proceed with caution.
Flashing red	Come to a complete stop; go only when safe.
Lights not working	Treat as a four-way stop.

A police officer’s directions override the lights, even if you are waved through a red.
Yellow lines separate traffic going in opposite directions; white lines separate traffic going the same way.
A solid line on your left: do not pass. A broken yellow line on your left: you may pass if the way is clear.
You may cross a solid line with caution only to turn left into, or come out of, a private road or driveway. That does not let you overtake across it.
Painted islands (two solid yellow lines around diagonal yellow lines): never drive over them or use them to pass.
No stop line or crosswalk at an intersection: stop as close to the corner as possible, then yield.
If the road beyond the intersection is blocked, stop before entering and wait.

Right-of-way rules in Newfoundland and Labrador

No lights, signs or officer: yield to any vehicle already in the intersection. If two vehicles enter at about the same time, the driver on the left yields to the one on the right.
Turning left: yield to oncoming vehicles.
Entering a main highway from a side road or driveway: yield to traffic and pedestrians.
Passing lane merging back: traffic in the through lane has the right-of-way.
Four-way stop: first to stop goes first. Two arrive together: the vehicle on the right goes first. If you are behind a car at the stop sign, you must make your own complete stop once it has moved on.
Crosswalk with no working signals: yield to a pedestrian crossing in it, whichever direction you are coming from. A pedestrian crossing outside a crosswalk must yield to vehicles, but you must still take care to avoid them.
Signal changes while someone is crossing: a pedestrian who started crossing before the amber or DON’T WALK signal has the right-of-way to finish.
Emergency vehicles with lights and siren: pull as far right as possible, stop clear of the intersection, and stay stopped until it passes. You do not have to stop if it is on the other roadway of a highway with separate roadways.
A pedestrian who extends a white cane intends to cross: give them the right-of-way. Some people walk with a guide dog in a rigid harness. Hybrid cars are almost silent when slowing or stopping, so take extra care.
Never pass a vehicle stopped at a stop sign, traffic light or crosswalk.

Turning lanes

For a right turn, approach and turn as close as practicable to the right curb or edge. For a left turn from one two-way road into another, keep just right of the centre line as you approach and as you leave. Where two or more lanes are marked for the same turn, start in one of them and finish in the matching lane of the road you enter; do not drift into the other turning car’s lane.

Changing lanes, U-turns and backing

Changing lanes: keep at least a two-second gap behind the car ahead, and make sure the new lane is clear for about two seconds ahead and two behind. Check your mirrors, signal, look over your shoulder, then move without delay. Do not change lanes at an intersection.
Shared left-turn lane (solid and broken yellow lines on each side): use it only to turn left, in either direction. You may cross the solid yellow line to enter it, but do not use it to pass or as a driving lane, and do not travel in it for more than 100 metres.
U-turns are not allowed at an intersection, near the top of a hill, on a curve, where a sign forbids them or where you would interfere with traffic. Where one is allowed, stop at the far right, signal left, check front, rear and your blind spot, and turn in one swing.
Turning around on a narrow road: the handbook prefers a two-point turn, backing into a side road and then leaving it to the left. For a three-point turn, signal right, pull to the far right, turn sharply left across the road and stop at the edge, back up with the wheel turned right, then drive off the way you came.
Backing: check behind the vehicle from outside before you get in, because children and small objects are hard to see. Turn and look out the rear window, go slowly, and stop to check again before crossing a sidewalk or crosswalk. Back into the nearest lane going the way you want to go.

Entering and leaving a divided highway

Signal and use the acceleration lane to match the speed of traffic. Drivers already on the highway may move left to let you in, but the handbook calls that a courtesy: it is your job to merge only when there is a safe gap. If you miss your exit, do not stop or back up on the highway. Carry on and take the next exit.

Leaving by the deceleration lane: signal right, move into the lane, then slow to the limit posted on the ramp. At a cloverleaf, all turns are right turns. In a weave zone, where one lane serves both the entrance and the exit, vehicles exiting have the right-of-way over vehicles entering. An added lane sign means the entering road gets its own new lane, so keep going without merging; a merge sign means two roads become one lane, so entering drivers must find a gap.

Roundabouts

Traffic goes counterclockwise. Entering traffic yields to everyone in the roundabout. In a two-lane roundabout, use the left lane if you are going at least halfway round (second exit or later) and the right lane for the first exit. Do not change lanes inside. Never stop inside a roundabout for an emergency vehicle: take your exit, clear the splitter island, then pull right. Signal right before you leave the roundabout; for the second exit or farther, the handbook also has you signal left as you approach. If you cannot exit safely, stay in your lane and go around again. Give large vehicles plenty of room, as they may need more than one lane.

Speed limits in Newfoundland and Labrador

Road (when no speed sign is posted)	Limit
Paved portions of the Trans-Canada Highway	100 km/h
Other paved highways	80 km/h
Gravel roads	60 km/h
Through communities or settlements	50 km/h
Unmarked school zones	50 km/h

Marked school zones are usually 30 to 50 km/h. Under the Highway Traffic Act, the 50 km/h school zone limit applies between the two posted school zone signs from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. on days when school is regularly held, and a lower posted limit still applies. Speeding in a school zone carries 6 demerit points. The posted limit is the maximum for ideal conditions: in fog or at night, drive at a speed that lets you stop within what you can see.

Passing, signals and following distance

When you may not pass

When weather limits your view
On a curve, a blind hill or near the top of a hill
At an intersection or railway crossing
Within 30 metres of a crosswalk
On a narrow bridge
With a solid line on your left, or where a sign prohibits it

Passing cyclists and pedestrians

Leave at least 1 metre when you pass a cyclist or a pedestrian where the speed limit is 60 km/h or less, and at least 1.5 metres where it is above 60 km/h. The speed limit sets the distance, not the speed you slow to. If you cannot leave that gap safely, stay behind until you can. The handbook lists penalties of $100 to $400, 2 to 14 days in prison and 2 demerit points. Around cyclists, slow down, keep a safe following distance and avoid using the horn. Yield to an oncoming cyclist when turning left and to a cyclist on your right when turning right.

Dooring: before you or a passenger opens a door, do a shoulder check. Reaching across with the hand farthest from the door turns your body and makes you look back.

You may pass on the right only when the driver ahead is turning left, on roads with two or more lanes each way, and on one-way streets, and never by driving off the roadway. Never go over the limit to pass. Move back in once you can see both headlights of the passed vehicle in your rear-view mirror. If you are being passed, do not speed up.

When you must signal

Before you stop or suddenly slow down, turn, change lanes, pass, leave the roadway, or pull out from a parked position. Use hand signals if your lights fail.

Following distance

The handbook gives two methods: at least one vehicle length for every 15 km/h (double it on slippery roads), or the three-second rule, counted from a fixed point. Three seconds lets you react at highway speed but is not enough to stop, so add more in poor conditions.

School buses, emergency vehicles and moving over

School bus loading or unloading (flashing lights and/or stop sign): you must stop in both directions and stay stopped until the bus moves, the driver signals you on, or the lights and sign are off. On multi-lane undivided highways, all traffic in all lanes stops. On a divided highway with a physical median, only traffic behind the bus must stop; a painted line is not a median. You may also pass without stopping on a controlled-access highway where the bus is in a loading zone and pedestrians are not allowed to cross the road.
Move over: applies to police, fire, ambulance, search and rescue, tow trucks and roadside assistance, enforcement vehicles and public utility or service vehicles, and to vehicles of volunteer firefighters or medical responders answering an emergency, when stopped with lights flashing or other warning signs or equipment in use. Slow to at least 30 km/h below the posted limit, or to no more than 30 km/h where the limit is 60 km/h or less. Change lanes to leave a full lane free when it is safe. If you cannot change lanes, stay in your lane and leave as much room as you can. If the stopped vehicle is in your lane, change lanes when safe, yielding to other traffic, or stop and wait until you can pass safely.

For how these rules compare across provinces, see school bus stopping rules across Canada.

Parking distances to memorize

Do not park within	Distance
A stop sign or other traffic control signal	10 m
A crosswalk	6 m
The point opposite a fire hydrant	1 m
A bus stop	20 m
A railway crossing	15 m
A fire station entrance	7 m
The entrance to a public building (school, church)	6 m

If you must stop on a highway, use the right shoulder and make sure the vehicle can be seen from 60 metres in either direction. Parking on a hill: facing uphill with a curb, turn wheels toward the centre of the street; uphill with no curb, or any downhill, turn them toward the edge. Never block a sidewalk, intersection, traffic lane, driveway or emergency exit, double-park, or park on a bridge or in a tunnel. When parallel parked, your wheels should be within 30 cm of the curb. Before pulling out, check traffic and signal.

More numbers from the handbook

Headlights on from half an hour before sunset to half an hour after sunrise, and whenever you cannot see people and vehicles clearly at 150 metres.
Dim high beams within 150 metres of an oncoming vehicle, or of one you are following or passing.
No daytime running lights on your vehicle: use low beams at all times.
Fog: slow down, use low beams and follow the lane markings. In zero visibility, move as far off the road as you can, stop, turn on hazard and dome lights and turn off your headlights until it clears.
Tires: at least 1.5 mm of tread. No metal studs from May 1 to October 31.
Windows: no aftermarket tint on the windshield or front side windows, and no sign or object that blocks your view. Clear all ice and snow before you drive.
Collisions: if you damage a traffic control device, parking meter or other public property, report it to police immediately. Stay at the scene if police are called, exchange names, contact and insurance details, and do not discuss fault.
Railway crossing with a signal device, lowered gate or flag person warning of a train, a train close by that you can see or hear, or a stop sign at the crossing: stop no less than 5 metres from the nearest rail. Never drive through, around or under a gate while it is down or moving.

How to reach 85%

Do the signs first. Shapes and colours are quick marks. Cover the descriptions in the handbook and name each sign aloud.
Make a numbers card. Default speeds, parking distances, move-over speeds, 150 m headlight distances, 5 m at railways, 30 m from a crosswalk for passing, and the demerit values above.
Learn your own GDL rules. Questions on learner conditions are easy marks: see Newfoundland and Labrador novice rules.
Read the Rules of the Road chapter twice, the second time asking “what would a question about this paragraph look like?”
Test yourself with the questions below, then go back to the handbook for any you got wrong.

Quick self-test (unofficial practice)

These original questions are not from the official test. They check the same handbook knowledge.

There is no speed sign on a paved highway that is not the Trans-Canada. What is the limit?

A) 60 km/h B) 80 km/h C) 90 km/h D) 100 km/h

Answer: B. The handbook sets 80 km/h on paved highways other than the Trans-Canada (Rules of the Road: Speed).
You and another car reach a four-way stop at the same moment. The other car is on your right. Who goes first?

A) You B) The other car C) Whoever is turning left D) Whoever is bigger

Answer: B. When two arrive together, the vehicle on the right goes first (Rules of the Road: Four-way stop).
How close to a crosswalk may you pass another vehicle?

A) No closer than 10 m B) No closer than 15 m C) No closer than 30 m D) Any distance if it is clear

Answer: C. Passing is not permitted within 30 metres of a crosswalk (Rules of the Road: Safe passing).
A police car is stopped on the shoulder with lights flashing in a 100 km/h zone. What is the most you may drive past it?

A) 30 km/h B) 50 km/h C) 70 km/h D) 90 km/h

Answer: C. Slow to at least 30 km/h below the posted limit (Rules of the Road: Slow down and move over).
A blue pentagon sign with white figures of students means:

A) Playground B) Pedestrian corridor C) School zone D) Tourist information

Answer: C. The pentagon warns of a school zone (Traffic Signs: school ahead sign).
What is the minimum distance you may park from a railway crossing?

A) 5 m B) 10 m C) 15 m D) 30 m

Answer: C. No parking within 15 metres of a railway crossing (Rules of the Road: Parking).

Common questions

How many questions are on the Newfoundland and Labrador written test?

Ask about the number of questions at the office when you book. The pass mark is 85%, and the three topic areas are rules of the road, safe driving practices and road signs.

Is the Road User Guide the same as the Driver’s Handbook?

Yes. The Driver’s Handbook replaced the Road User Guide name. Download the current version from gov.nl.ca rather than an old copy from another site, which may be out of date.

Is the handbook available in French?

The province has announced a French version alongside the English one. Check the Motor Registration Division page for the current files.

What is the speed limit on a gravel road with no sign?

60 km/h.

Do I have to stop for a school bus on the other side of a divided highway?

No. The Highway Traffic Act says you need not stop for a school bus on a different roadway of a highway with separate roadways. RCMP in Newfoundland and Labrador explain this as a divided highway with a physical median, where only traffic behind the bus must stop. On an undivided road, including one with several lanes, all traffic in all lanes stops.

Can I turn right on a red light in Newfoundland and Labrador?

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

Sources

Government of Newfoundland and Labrador, Motor Registration Division, “Graduated Driver Licencing Program” (gov.nl.ca)
Government of Newfoundland and Labrador, Motor Registration Division, “Driver’s Handbook” (formerly Road User Guide), chapters Traffic Signs and Pavement Markings, Rules of the Road and Road Safety (gov.nl.ca)
Government of Newfoundland and Labrador, “Public Advisory: Road User’s Guide Now Available in French”, 2025 (gov.nl.ca)
House of Assembly Newfoundland and Labrador, “Highway Traffic Act”, RSNL 1990 c H-3 (assembly.nl.ca)
Royal Canadian Mounted Police, “Forteau RCMP tickets driver who failed to stop for school bus”, 15 April 2026 (rcmp.ca)

Newfoundland and Labrador written test study guide: rules, signs