Ontario G1 Test cheat sheet

Shape code: octagon = STOP, inverted triangle = YIELD, diamond = warning, rectangle = regulation or information, crossbuck X = railway crossing.

Colour code: red = stop or prohibition, yellow = warning, orange = construction or temporary condition, green = direction and distance, blue or white = services, brown = points of interest.

Steady red requires a full stop; steady amber means stop unless it is unsafe to do so; steady green means proceed only when the intersection is clear.

Flashing red is treated exactly like a stop sign; flashing amber means slow down and proceed with caution; a green arrow authorises movement only in the arrow's direction.

Fluorescent yellow-green signs mark school zones and school crossings - reduce speed and watch for children and crossing guards.

At a railway crossing, flashing red lights, bells or a lowered gate mean stop and wait until the signals stop and the gate is fully raised.

A red circle with a diagonal slash prohibits the action shown inside the symbol.

At a pedestrian crossover, overhead flashing amber means stop and yield when a pedestrian is waiting or crossing.

Unless posted otherwise: 50 km/h in cities, towns and built-up areas, 80 km/h on highways outside built-up areas, 100 km/h on 400-series freeways.

At an intersection with no signs or signals, yield to the vehicle on your right; a left-turning driver yields to oncoming traffic and to pedestrians.

A solid yellow line on your side of the centre line means no passing; a broken yellow line means pass only when it is safe and legal.

Right turn on a red light is permitted after a complete stop unless a sign prohibits it; left on red is allowed only from a one-way street onto another one-way street.

Headlights must be on from 30 minutes before sunset until 30 minutes after sunrise, and whenever visibility is less than 150 metres.

On an undivided road, traffic in both directions must stop for a school bus with flashing red lights; where a median divides the road, only traffic behind the bus must stop.

G1 and G2 drivers, and all drivers under 22, must have zero blood alcohol; G1 driving is not permitted between midnight and 5 a.m. and requires a supervising driver beside them.

You must stop and yield at a pedestrian crossover, and you may not pass another vehicle that is stopped at one.

Minimum following gap is 2 seconds in ideal conditions; use 3 seconds or more on wet roads and 4 or more on ice, snow or in heavy rain.

If the vehicle starts to hydroplane, ease off the accelerator, hold the steering steady and avoid hard braking; grip returns as speed drops.

Black ice forms first on bridges, overpasses, shaded stretches and intersections when temperatures are near 0°C.

Dim high beams to low beams within 150 metres of an oncoming vehicle and within 60 metres when following another vehicle.

Mirrors do not cover the rear corners - turn your head to shoulder-check before lane changes, merges and before opening a door into traffic.

Drifting in the lane, heavy eyelids, repeated yawning and missed exits are fatigue signs; only sleep restores alertness.

Look 12 to 15 seconds ahead in city driving and further at highway speed, and keep a space cushion on all four sides.

With anti-lock brakes, hold firm pressure and steer; pedal pulsation is normal - do not pump the pedal.

Skid recovery: ease off the accelerator, look and steer where you want the front of the car to go, and avoid hard braking.

Minimum legal tire tread depth in Ontario is 1.6 mm; winter tires outperform all-seasons once temperatures fall below about 7°C.

On long downgrades, shift to a lower gear so engine braking controls speed and prevents brake fade from overheated brakes.

Steering understeer means the front wheels lose grip and the car runs wide; oversteer means the rear wheels slide out.

Slow down before entering a curve, then accelerate gently through it; hard braking mid-corner upsets the vehicle's balance.

Weight transfers forward under braking and to the outside of a turn, which reduces the traction available for steering.

Large trucks have blind spots along both sides, directly behind and directly ahead; if you cannot see the truck's mirror, the driver cannot see you.

A truck turning right may first swing wide to the left - never try to pass a turning truck on its right side.

When passing a cyclist, allow at least 1 metre where the limit is 60 km/h or less and 1.5 metres where it is above 60 km/h.

When an emergency vehicle approaches with lights or siren, pull to the right and stop; if you are inside an intersection, clear it first.

At a railway crossing, stop, look and listen; never stop on the tracks and never go around a lowered gate or flashing red lights.

Report a collision to police if anyone is injured or killed, or if total property damage appears to exceed $2,000; move driveable vehicles off the road.

Motorcyclists are entitled to the full lane - give extra following distance and check carefully before turning left across their path.