Signs, Signals, Road Markings and Right-of-Way
Alberta uses standard shape and colour coding, and exam questions test whether you can read a sign at a glance. Octagons mean stop, triangles mean yield, diamonds warn, rectangles give information or regulatory instructions, and pentagons mark school zones. Yellow means warning, orange means construction, and white-on-black or white-on-red rectangles are regulatory.
Signals and pavement markings
A solid yellow centre line means no passing; a broken yellow line on your side means you may pass when safe. A solid white line at the edge marks the shoulder, and a solid white line between lanes means lane changes are discouraged. Crosswalks, stop lines and turn arrows are painted white. At a flashing red light, stop and proceed when safe - treat it as a stop sign. A flashing yellow means proceed with caution; a green arrow gives a protected turn.
Right-of-way essentials
At an uncontrolled intersection, the first vehicle to arrive goes first; if two arrive together, yield to the vehicle on your right. A vehicle turning left yields to oncoming traffic going straight or right. Pedestrians in a crosswalk have the right of way. Emergency vehicles with lights and siren get the right of way - pull to the right and stop.
Traps: a flashing red is not the same as a flashing yellow; a green light does not guarantee a safe left turn if oncoming traffic is still clearing; and a motorcycle must still come to a full stop at a stop sign even when no one is around.
Worked example: you reach a four-way stop at the same moment as a car on your left. You are on the right, so you proceed first - but only after confirming the other driver is actually stopping.