Road signs in Canada

Road signs in Canada may conform to the Manual of Uniform Traffic Control Devices for Canada (MUTCDC) by the Transportation Association of Canada (TAC) for use by Canadian jurisdictions. Although it serves a similar role to the MUTCD from the US Federal Highway Administration, it has been independently developed and has a number of key differences with its American counterpart, most notably the inclusion of bilingual (English/French) signage for jurisdictions such as New Brunswick with significant anglophone and francophone population, and a heavier reliance on symbols rather than text legends.

Language

Signs for the most part employ one or two languages: English, French or both. However, some signs are trilingual, incorporating English, French and an indigenous language.

Stop sign

Bilingual (English and French) stop sign on Parliament Hill in Ottawa.

Bilingual (English and Inuinnaqtun) in Cambridge Bay.

In Quebec, modern signs read either Arrêt or Stop. Both stop and arrêt are considered valid French words and the Office québécois de la langue française (OQLF) notes that the use of "stop" on stop signs is attested in French since 1927. In practice, however, it can be empirically observed (for instance, with Google Street View) that arrêt predominates in French-speaking areas (i.e., most of the geographic extent of Quebec), while stop can be found in majority English-speaking areas such as Montreal's West Island suburbs. At the time of the debates surrounding the adoption of the Charter of the French Language ("Bill 101") in 1977, the usage of stop on the older dual-word signs was considered to be English and therefore controversial; some signs were occasionally vandalized with red spray paint to turn the word stop into "101". However, it was later officially determined by the OQLF that stop is a valid French word in this context, and the older dual arrêt + stop usage is therefore not considered bilingual but merely redundant and therefore deprecated (à éviter). All newly installed signs thus use either one word or the other, but not both.

The province of New Brunswick has bilingual stop arrêt in English-speaking areas. Acadian regions of Nova Scotia and Prince Edward Island also have bilingual signs. Some areas in Alberta, Manitoba and Ontario also have bilingual signs. Entry points to the country through Canada Customs and other federally-regulated sites (including airports) also have bilingual stop signs. On First Nations or Inuit territories, stop signs sometimes use the local aboriginal language in addition to or instead of English and/or French. Other parts of Canada use stop.

Canadian road signs

The following are samples of Canadian road signs.

Gallery of stop signs

• 
  Stop (English)
• 
  Stop (French)
• 
  Stop (English and French)
• 
  Stop (French and English)
• 
  Stop (Inuktitut and English)
• 
  Stop (Cree)
• 
  Stop (Cree and French)
• 
  Stop (Cree and English and French)

Gallery of other signs

Alphanumeric reference IDs from the Manual of Uniform Traffic Control Devices for Canada are included.

• 
  RA-2
  Yield
• 
  RA-3
  School Crossing
• 
  RA-4
  Pedestrian Crossing
• 
  RA-5
  Pedestrian Crossing
• 
  RA-6
  Railway Crossing
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  RB-1
  Maximum Speed Limit
  (ex: 50 km/h)
• 
  RB-14L
  Left turn required
• 
  RB-14R
  Right turn required
• 
  RB-14b
  Turn left or right
• 
  RB-15
  Must proceed straight only, turns prohibited
• 
  RB-16
  No U-Turn
• 
  RB-23
  No entry
• 
  RB-24
  Two-way traffic
• 
  RB-25
  Keep left
• 
  RB-25
  Keep right
• 
  RB-53
  Parking permitted (24/7 variant)
• 
  RB-55
  No stopping
• 
  RB-61
  Truck route
• 
  RB-64
  Snowmobile trail
• 
  RB-66
  No pedestrians
• 
  RB-67
  No bicycles
• 
  RB-69
  Hazardous material route
• 
  RB-79
  Cyclists must dismount their bikes and walk
• 
  RB-81
  Bus Lane
  In Quebec, taxis are often included and thus shown and as well as time periods in force. In Quebec bus and taxi are spelled out & the arrow at bottom left is not shown
• 
  RB-91
  Bike Lane
• 
  RB-93
  Shared Path for pedestrians and cyclists
• 
  RC-5
  No Littering
• 
  WA-1L
  Turn to left
• 
  WA-1R
  Turn to right
• 
  WA-3L
  Curve to left
• 
  WA-3R
  Curve to right
• 
  WA-5L
  Reverse curve to left
• 
  WA-5R
  Reverse curve to right
• 
  WA-8
  End of road
• 
  WA-11
  Intersection
• 
  WA-14
  T-junction
• 
  WA-15
  Y-junction
• 
  WA-18
  Railway crossing ahead
• 
  WA-23
  Road narrows ahead
• 
  WA-24
  Narrow structure ahead (usually a bridge)
• 
  WA-25
  Rough pavement ahead
• 
  WB-1
  Stop sign ahead
• 
  WB-4
  Traffic signal ahead
• 
  WC-1
  School zone
• 
  WC-2
  Pedestrian crosswalk ahead
• 
  WC-5
  Road surface slippery when wet
• 
  WC-7
  Bicycle crossing ahead
• 
  WC-11
  Drawbridge ahead

British Columbia road signs

• 
  Trans-Canada Highway marker.
• 
  Generic highway shield.
• 
  This sign is posted after the Canada–US border to remind US drivers that Canada uses the metric system.
  The imperial speed limit (left) is a BC-style sign, rather than an MUTCD-standard one as would be used in the US.
• 
  Disaster response route. All non-emergency vehicles must refrain from using such a route if a major disaster occurs.
• 
  Maximum speed limit
• 
  School zone
• 
  School zone speed limit
• 
  Crosswalk ahead.
• 
  School bus stop ahead.
• 
  Stop
• 
  Yield
• 
  Keep left of obstacle.
• 
  Keep right of obstacle.
• 
  Curve to left
• 
  Curve to right
• 
  Turn to left
• 
  Turn to right
• 
  Reverse curve to left
• 
  Reverse curve to right
• 
  T-junction
• 
  Y-junction
• 
  Railway crossing ahead
• 
  Stop sign ahead
• 
  Traffic signal ahead.
• 
  This sign is posted when there is a history of vehicles taking a curve too quickly and losing control. The sunburst emphasizes that drivers need to take extra caution when going through the curve.
• 
  Road narrows.
• 
  Road surface slippery when wet.
• 
  Watch for fallen/falling rocks and other debris.
• 
  End of pavement.
• 
  Deer area.
• 
  Moose area.
• 
  Elk area.
• 
  Cattle area.
• 
  Drawbridge.

Ontario road signs

The Ministry of Transportation of Ontario (MTO) also has historically used its own MUTCD which bore many similarities to the TAC MUTCDC. However, as of approximately 2000, MTO has been developing the Ontario Traffic Manual (OTM), a series of smaller volumes each covering different aspects of traffic control (e.g., sign design principles).

Sign classification

The Ontario Traffic Manual Committee categorizes all road signs into two main categories: freeway and non-freeway sign types. Signs are then subcategorized into two additional groups: urban and rural.

Examples of Ontario regulatory and warning road signs

• 
  Some Ontario maximum speed signs have an additional tab at the bottom of the speed limit, reminding motorists that the unit of speed is kilometres per hour. The "km/h" tab sign (Rb-7t) is mandatory on all King's Highways because of the likelihood of unfamiliar interprovincial and international travellers.
• 
  Where there is a change in the legal speed limit, the first maximum speed sign in the new zone must be accompanied by a "BEGINS" tab sign (Rb-84t).
• 
  School zone speed limit
• 
  School zone
• 
  School crossing
• 
  The purpose of the VEHICLES OVER 5 TONNES MUST HAVE VALID TRANSPONDER sign is to indicate to heavy vehicles that they are required to have valid toll devices known as transponders when travelling on toll roads. Specifically, the sign above is located before entrance ramps to the 407 ETR (Express Toll Route).
• 
  The purpose of the FASTEN SEAT BELT sign is to remind passengers in vehicles to ensure that their seat belts are fastened while the vehicle is travelling. The sign is placed at exits from locations which generate a large percentage of foreign or tourist traffic, where drivers may be unfamiliar with Ontario seat belt laws.
• 
  A blue metric reminder signage used in Ontario, Canada is seen near the US borders.
• 
  Stop
• 
  Yield
• 
  Turn to left
• 
  Turn to right
• 
  Curve to left
• 
  Curve to right
• 
  Reverse curve to left
• 
  Reverse curve to right
• 
  T-junction
• 
  Y-junction
• 
  Y-junction on left
• 
  Y-junction on right
• 
  Stop sign ahead
• 
  Railway crossing ahead

Quebec road signs

The following are samples of Quebec road signs. A notable difference between Quebec road signs and those of the rest of Canada is Quebec's use of a white chevron on a red background to mark road alignment around a curve, whereas the remainder of the country employs a black chevron on a yellow background.

Quebec gallery

• 
  The logo for Le ministère des Transports et de la Mobilité durable (English: Ministry of Transport and Sustainable Mobility).
• 
  Metric signage reminder in Quebec, posted near US border and at major airports
  The imperial speed limit (left) is a Quebec-style sign, rather than an MUTCD-standard one as would be used in the US
• 
  ARRÊT (Translation: STOP)
• 
  Yield sign
• 
  Yield at roundabout
• 
  Do not enter
• 
  Road closed
• 
  Maximum speed (50 km/h)
• 
  MAXIMUM SPEED signs along Quebec autoroutes are accompanied by a MINIMUM SPEED sign. The minimum sign is positioned directly below the maximum speed sign on the same post.
• 
  Keep left
• 
  Keep right
• 
  No U-turn
• 
  No left turn
• 
  No right turn
• 
  Route for dangerous goods vehicles
• 
  Dangerous goods vehicles prohibited
• 
  No overtaking
• 
  No parking
• 
  Parking permitted
  for 2 hours
• 
  No stopping
• 
  School crossing
• 
  Stop ahead
• 
  Traffic signal ahead
• 
  Turn to left
• 
  Turn to right
• 
  Curve to left
• 
  Curve to right
• 
  Reverse curve to left
• 
  Reverse curve to right
• 
  T-junction
• 
  Y-junction
• 
  Roundabout ahead
• 
  Railway crossing ahead
• 
  School zone
• 
  Deer crossing
• 
  Moose crossing
• 
  Cattle crossing
• 
  End of road
• 
  Slippery surface, often accompanied by 0 °C
• 
  Pavement ends
• 
  Example of autoroute shield
• 
  Example of provincial highway shield

Retired signs

These signs have been superseded but can still be seen in some places.

• 
  Stop (Ontario) (1955)
• 
  Yield (Ontario) (1955)
• 
  Yield (Ontario) (1962)
• 
  School crossing (Blue on white) (Ontario) (1955)
• 
  School crossing (White on blue) (Ontario) (1955)
• 
  Railway crossing (Ontario) (1955)
• 
  Railway crossing (1960-1980's)
• 
  Speed limit (British Columbia) (1938)
• 
  Speed limit (Ontario) (1955)
• 
  Maximum speed limit (Ontario) (1960)
• 
  Surburban district speed limit (Ontario) (1960)
• 
  Turn to left (Ontario) (1955)
• 
  Turn to right (Ontario) (1955)
• 
  Curve to left (Ontario) (1955)
• 
  Curve to right (Ontario) (1955)
• 
  Reverse curve to left (Ontario) (1955)
• 
  Reverse curve to right (Ontario) (1955)
• 
  T-junction (Ontario) (1955)
• 
  Y-junction on left (Ontario) (1955)
• 
  Y-junction on right (Ontario) (1955)
• 
  Railway crossing ahead (Ontario) (1955)
• 
  Railway crossing ahead (1960-1968)
• 
  Railway crossing ahead (1968-1975)
• 
  Stop sign ahead (Ontario) (1968)
• 
  School ahead (Ontario) (Blue on white) (1955)
• 
  School ahead (Ontario) (White on blue) (1955)
• 
  School zone (Ontario) (1960)
• 
  School zone (1960–1982)
• 
  School zone (1982–2007)
• 
  School zone speed limit (British Columbia) (1938)
• 
  School zone speed limit (Ontario) (1960)

See also

• Comparison of traffic signs in English-speaking countries
• Crosswalks in North America
• Glossary of road transport terms
• Road signs in the United States
• Traffic sign
• Warning sign

External links

• Government of Quebec traffic control devices library - Extensive list of all road signs and signals from the Quebec Transport Ministry (in English and French)
• Road Signs in Ontario, from the Ontario Ministry of Transportation.
• Traffic Signs & Pavement Marking, from the British Columbia Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure