Traffic Signs, Signals and Road Markings
Traffic Signs, Signals and Road Markings
The NWT Class 7 exam checks whether you can read the road at a glance: sign shape and colour, signal phase, and pavement markings. In the north, markings may be snow-covered, so signs and signals carry extra weight.
Signs by shape and colour
- Red octagon: STOP. Come to a full stop at the stop line, crosswalk or edge of the intersection.
- Inverted red/white triangle: YIELD. Slow down, be ready to stop, and give way to traffic and pedestrians.
- Yellow diamond: warning (curve, hill, intersection, wildlife). Orange diamond: construction or maintenance.
- White rectangle with black text: regulatory (speed, turn, parking). Green or blue: guide and information.
- Fluorescent yellow-green: school zone, pedestrian or cyclist warning.
Signals
- Solid red: stop. Right turn on red is allowed after a full stop and yield unless a sign prohibits it.
- Flashing red: treat as a stop sign. Flashing amber: proceed with caution, but only if the way is clear.
- Green arrow: protected movement. Green circle: proceed if clear; yield to pedestrians and to vehicles already in the intersection.
Markings
- Yellow lines separate opposing traffic. Broken yellow permits passing when safe; solid yellow forbids crossing to pass.
- White lines separate lanes going the same way; broken white permits a lane change, solid white discourages it.
- A solid white stop line, crosswalk lines and yellow diagonal hatch marks mean keep clear.
Worked example
You approach an intersection where your signal is flashing amber and the cross street has flashing red. The cross street must stop; you have caution, not an absolute right of way. Slow down, check both directions, and proceed only when the intersection is clear.
Traps
Do not treat flashing amber as “go.” Do not cross a solid yellow line to pass a slow vehicle. Do not turn right on red without a full stop. Do not assume paint is visible under snow - read the signs.