It’s important for every good driver to stay alert and prioritize safe driving, and that means understanding and adhering to the various road and safety signs that are in place to keep both pedestrians and drivers safe. In Ontario specifically, there’s a number of different traffic signs to help you get yourself and your passengers from one destination to another without risking an accident (and potentially a costly car insurance claim!). But if you’re new to the province or just visiting, you might not be familiar with the signs you commonly (and sometimes uncommonly) see on the roadside. Let’s review!

Why understanding Ontario traffic signs matters

Driving in Ontario is a privilege that comes with big responsibilities, and the most important rule is to understand and follow traffic signs. These signs are not just suggestions; they are the law. They tell you, as the driver, what to do on the road, warn you about danger and help traffic move smoothly.

First, safety is the main goal. Stop signs and speed limits exist to protect you, other drivers and pedestrians. If you ignore a sign, you could cause a serious crash. Plus, weather can change quickly in Ontario, and warning signs about icy bridges or sharp turns help you prepare for bad conditions.

Second, obeying signs saves you money and keeps your record clean. Police in Ontario take traffic rules seriously. If you run a red light or drive over the posted speed limit, you will get a fine and demerit points. Too many points can cost you your license.

Finally, street signs help everyone get where they are going. When drivers follow the rules, there’s less confusion; for instance, everyone knows who goes first at an intersection.

In short, traffic signs are the language of the road. Learning them keeps you safe and stress-free behind the wheel.

Types of traffic signs in Ontario

If you’re a new driver, or new to living in Ontario, you might be wondering about what the different street signs mean. You’ll encounter a variety of different types of signs on the road, including traffic signs, which give you information about traffic laws and dangerous driving conditions. You’ll also encounter regulatory signs, which are signs that give directions for how the roadway is to be used. These signs usually have a white background.

Finally, you may also encounter warning signs, which indicate unusual conditions ahead. You can recognize warning signs because they are diamond-shaped and have a yellow background.

The Government of Ontario employs dozens of signs to communicate to drivers what they should and should not do. Let’s go over them and their individual meanings for drivers:

Regulatory traffic signs

Stop sign

Probably the most iconic and easily recognizable street sign, the eight-sided sign can be found in many places across the globe. When you see this sign, it means you must bring your car to a complete stop. If there is a white stop line on the pavement, that is where you should stop. Likewise, if there is a crosswalk, stop before the crosswalk. Wait until the way is clear before proceeding into the intersection.

Yield sign

A yield sign is a white upside down triangle with a thick red border. A yield sign indicates that you have to slow, or stop and let any oncoming traffic go first. You can expect to find yield signs at intersections, on ramps to highways, and traffic circles.

Parking sign

Parking signs are regulatory, and do tell you how to behave in traffic. Instead, they tell you how to use the road. Parking signs usually indicate whether parking is allowed or not. If marking is not allowed, there is usually a red circle with a diagonal line over a black “P.” If parking is allowed, you’ll usually see a green circle around a black “P.” Parking signs might also indicate the times the times or days in which parking is or is not allowed. These days and times are usually found under the black “P.”

Speed limit sign

Another regulatory sign is a speed limit sign. You’ll find these signs on all types of roads, from highways, to surface streets to rural areas. Speed limit signs are usually rectangular and white. They will typically have the speed limit displayed in large black numbers. Speed limits are meant to be respected, and travelling above the speed limit can result in a fine and demerit points or worse.

Warning traffic signs

School zone signs

School zone signs are meant to protect pedestrians and young children. These signs are usually yellow, have five sides, and features two black figures. School zones requires you to drive more slowly than a standard city speed and to proceed with caution, as it’s likely that there are small children in the area and safe driving should be your priority.

Pedestrian crossing sign

This yellow, diamond-shaped warning sign alerts drivers that a designated area for pedestrians to cross the street is approaching, and it’s a critical reminder to be prepared to bring your vehicle to a complete stop. When you see this sign, you must exercise increased caution, reduce your speed and scan the roadside for people intending to enter the roadway. You are legally required to yield to pedestrians in the crosswalk and allow them to cross safely before proceeding.

Road curve sign

Another yellow sign shaped like a diamond, this traffic sign features a curved black arrow to warn drivers that the road ahead bends gradually to the left or right. It indicates that the upcoming change in direction will require a reduction in speed in order to navigate safely without losing traction. Unlike a sharp turn sign, this marks a smoother curve, but you should still slow down before entering the bend to maintain proper lane position.

Temporary condition signs

Construction sign

Road work is an ever-present aspect of living in Canada - our harsh winter require roads and highways to be continuously repaired. A series of signs that you’ll find around road work are construction signs. These signs are distinguishable by their by their bright orange colour and diamond shape.

Road work signs are usually temporary and may be put up, taken down, or moved by the construction crew daily. That means if you see a sign in a certain spot one day, don’t expect it to be there, or for conditions to be the same from day to day. Any time you are approaching a construction zone, it’s important to slow down and proceed with caution.

Detour sign

These are temporary condition signs, typically rectangular with a black "Detour" message and an arrow on an orange background. They are used during road closures, construction or maintenance to guide drivers onto an alternative route. Drivers must follow the direction of the arrows until they are returned to their original route.

Information and direction signs

These signs guide drivers to destinations, facilities and roadside services. They are usually rectangular with a green background and white lettering, though some (like signs for tourist attractions in Ontario) may be blue or brown. They provide critical navigation details, including upcoming street names, route numbers and directions to nearby towns or cities.

Freeway exit sign

These green and white signs are posted on highways to alert drivers of an upcoming exit. They indicate the exit number and often use arrows to show which lane drivers must be in to leave the freeway safely. "Advance" signs appear kilometres before the actual ramp to give drivers time to change lanes, and a yellow panel with "Exit" often accompanies the arrow to emphasize the lane direction.

Distance sign

This informational sign is typically a green rectangle with white text. It lists the names of upcoming towns, cities or destinations and the distance to them in kilometres. These signs are usually found after leaving a major municipality or a highway on-ramp to help drivers estimate the time to their destination.

Roundabout sign

Roundabouts aren’t super common in Ontario, but there are a few key signs associated with them; mainly, a yellow diamond with a circular arrow that indicates a roundabout is ahead and drivers should slow down. At the entry, a "Yield" sign indicates drivers must wait for a safe gap in traffic, and then inside the roundabout, a directional sign reminds drivers to travel counter-clockwise to the right of the central island.

Off-road facility sign

These signs exist to inform drivers of essential services available near the road, but not directly on it. This could include facilities such as hospitals, airports, universities or train stations. Depending on the specific facility in Ontario, the background color is often blue or green. These signs are helpful for drivers who are looking for specific services but might not be familiar with the area.

Do Ontario street signs ever change?

Ontario’s road rules change often to keep people safe; as an example, the government can update traffic laws to handle new problems, like distracted driving (penalties for using a phone while driving are much tougher now than they were a few years ago) or busier streets. There’s also been new rules lately to cover emerging road devices like e-bikes.

All this is to say that if you’re only relying on what you learned in driver’s ed years ago, you might break a new law by mistake. This could result in heavy fines, demerit points or even a suspended license. Simply saying that you didn’t know or weren’t aware of a change in the law won’t get you very far if you’re pulled over by police!

That’s why every driver in Ontaro needs to stay informed. Watch the local news for traffic updates or visit the Ministry of Transportation website. By keeping up with the latest changes, you can protect yourself, your passengers and everyone else on the road.

Make sure you’re covered while driving in Ontario

As you can see from the above, there are many different types of street signs in Ontario, each with unique meanings and essential information for drivers. If you aren’t sure what some street signs mean, there is a complete list on the Government of Ontario website. If you see a sign you don’t understand, slow down and proceed cautiously. It could help you prevent both accidents and a costly car insurance claim – and no matter what, you’ll want the right insurance coverage for your vehicle. Sonnet’s got you covered, so get a free auto insurance quote today and see how much you could be saving while driving safely.

Jordann Kaye is a freelance writer with over ten years of experience writing about insurance, homeownership, credit cards and more. She has been featured in many publications including The Globe and Mail, the Toronto Star, and CBC News.

Jordann Kaye is a paid spokesperson of Sonnet Insurance.