Manitoba handbook · chapter 2 · 8 min read

Safe and legal driving practices

• Section

• Safe and legal driving practices 1. Signs and signals Signs, signals and pavement markings help indicate the rules of the road designed for the safe movement of vehicles, pedestrians and cyclists. As a driver, you’re required to know them. The shapes of signs enable you to identify them in darkness, fading light, fog, rain or snow.

Sign shapes and colours

Fluorescent yellow-green pentagon indicates school area. Drive cautiously. Children could be crossing the street.

Diamond warns you of possible dangerous conditions, either on or near the roadway (e.g., a sharp curve, turn, side road, intersection, narrow bridge). Slow down to keep full control of your vehicle.

Octagon is used only for stop signs. Always come to a complete stop.

Triangle with the tip pointing down means you must yield the right-of-way. Slow down and, if necessary, stop.

Triangle with each tip cut off indicates a slow-moving vehicle.

Crossbuck indicates a railway crossing. Always slow down and look both ways for trains before crossing the tracks. You must yield the right-of-way to trains.

Square or Rectangular signs regulate traffic and direct the driver.

Note: Times listed on signs follow the 24-hour clock so that: 0:00 = midnight 1 a.m. to noon remains the same. 13:00 = 1 p.m. 14:00 = 2 p.m. 15:00 = 3 p.m. 16:00 = 4 p.m. 17:00 = 5 p.m. 18:00 = 6 p.m. 19:00 = 7 p.m. 20:00 = 8 p.m. 21:00 = 9 p.m. 22:00 = 10 p.m. 23:00 = 11 p.m. Warning signs These signs warn of possible dangerous conditions immediately ahead.

Very sharp right turn ahead Divided highway begins ahead

Sharp right curve, maximum recommended speed 40 km/h Divided highway ends ahead

Pedestrian crosswalk ahead Two-way traffic ahead

Winding road ahead Right lane ends ahead

Road ends, exit right or left Left lane ends ahead

Bump ahead Merging roadways ahead

Steep hill ahead Hidden intersection ahead

Warning signs

Bridge ices School area indicated by fluorescent yellow-green pentagon

Narrow bridge ahead Hazard marker showing an obstruction

Stop ahead Low structure clearance 4.1 metres

Traffic signals ahead Right curve ahead

Playground ahead School crosswalk ahead

Deer crossing area ahead Railway crossing advance warning, track position indicates the angle the railway tracks cross the road

Road slippery when wet Traffic island ahead

Roundabout ahead Pavement ends

Maximum recommended speed on exit 40 km/h

Maximum speed limit change ahead

Reserved Bus Lane ahead

Reserved Lane located in curb lane of cross-street, if turning right, enter the second lane from the curb

Reserved Lane located in median lane of cross-street, if turning right, enter the curb lane

Prepare to stop. When the amber lights on the sign are flashing, approaching drivers should be prepared to stop, as the traffic signal ahead is red or about to turn red.

Railway Crossing Sign: This railway crossing sign is equipped with warning lights and bells. When the lights are flashing and the bells are ringing, be prepared to stop as they warn you of an approaching train.

The number on the square sign under the railway crossing sign indicates the number of train tracks. Refer to the Railway Crossing section for further information.

Construction and maintenance signs These signs warn you of road construction and maintenance areas ahead. Slow down to a safe speed. At some locations maximum speed limits are posted.

Drivers must watch for and obey the instructions of flag persons.

Designated construction zone: speed fines double Construction zone ends

Maximum speed 40 km/h when meeting traffic Detour ahead

Overhead wires Barricade ahead

Flying stones Part of roadway has been removed

Construction area Trucks entering on the right

Flagperson ahead Road work

Bump ahead Pavement edge drop-off

Regulatory signs These signs regulate your driving, informing you about speed limits, permitted turns, stopping and parking rules.

No turns allowed No U-turn allowed

No right turn All traffic must turn right

No left turn No trucks allowed

Do not enter Truck route

No right turn on red signal

Keep right of this sign

Reduced speed school zone All traffic must turn left

• No right turn during the times shown

• Maximum speed 60 km/h ahead
• Maximum speed 90 km/h

Reduced speed school zone (restricted hours) Reduced speed school zone ends Regulatory signs

Parking permitted as indicated

Parking for disabled persons only

Snow Route: No stopping during a declared “snow emergency”

Do not enter: Except buses and cyclists

Two-way traffic

Do not pass

Passing permitted

Overhead mounted sign indicating that the curb lane is reserved for buses and cyclists during the times shown

Slower traffic keep right

Keep right except to pass

Speed fines are doubled in designated construction zones Parking is prohibited

• Do not stop to wait

• Pedestrian Corridor

• Pedestrian Crosswalk

• School Crosswalk

• Stop here for red traffic signal
• This lane of traffic must turn right during the times shown, except buses and cyclists
• This lane of traffic must turn left
• This lane of traffic may go through or turn right only
• Through traffic is not permitted to use this lane. Traffic, having entered this lane, must turn left at the next intersecting private approach or public street.
• One Way: Proceed in direction of arrow only
• Buses only

Guide and information signs These tell you where you are, what road you’re on or how to get to certain places. There are many different types of these signs, such as service signs, location signs, route marker information and distance signs. They vary in size and colour.

Eastbound Trans- Canada Highway Hospital

“A” indicates an alternative route that will return to the route you’re on Camping site

Westbound Provincial Trunk Highway Travel Information

Southbound Provincial Road Picnic site

Northbound City Route turns right Access for disabled persons

Cul-de-sac (Dead end with turnaround) Stop for school bus when signals flashing

Airport with scheduled service

Stop signs At a stop sign, you must come to a complete stop at the appropriate places illustrated below. Before proceeding from a stopped position, you must check and yield the right-of-way to pedestrians wanting to cross the street. When pedestrians are clear, you may then slowly move forward for a better view of traffic and, when safe to do so, you may then proceed to turn or cross the street.

The following diagrams indicate the correct places for stopping.

• Stop before the stop line.

• Where there’s no stop line, stop just before the sidewalk.

• If there’s no stop line or sidewalk at the intersection, stop just before the intersecting highway.

Four-way stop signs At an intersection controlled by a four-way stop sign, the vehicle that stops first should go first. After stopping and yielding to any pedestrians wanting to cross, roll slowly forward to show your intent to proceed. If two or more vehicles stop at the same time, the vehicle on the left should yield to the vehicle on the right.

Yield right-of-way signs A yield sign means slow down as you near an intersection. Check for pedestrians and traffic. If there’s traffic or pedestrians, stop and yield right-of-way.

Yield signs are usually located where a lane or road merges with another lane or road. You must slow down and be prepared to stop. Be careful when checking for traffic so that you don’t run into the car ahead of you.

Traffic control signals Red — Stop in front of the marked crosswalk or, if there’s no marked crosswalk, before the sidewalk out of the way of pedestrians and vehicles. Unless a sign shows otherwise or vehicle/pedestrian traffic does not permit, you may, after stopping completely, turn right. You may also turn right or left from a one-way street to another one-way street.

Amber — An amber light is a warning that the light is going to turn red. Slow down and stop — never accelerate to “make the light.” If you’re already in the intersection when the light turns amber, continue through.

Green — You may proceed, but you must yield the right-of-way to pedestrians in the crosswalk and to other vehicles already in the intersection. To turn left, you may enter the intersection on a green light, but you must yield to pedestrians and oncoming traffic. You may have to complete the turn during an amber or red light.

Horizontal Vertical Flashing Red — Come to a complete stop, proceeding only when safe.

Flashing Amber — Slow down and be prepared to stop. You must yield the right-of-way to pedestrians.

Amber Arrow — A steady amber arrow may be shown after a green arrow. The amber arrow is a warning that oncoming traffic may next receive a green signal. Slow down and stop. If you’re already in the intersection when the amber signal appears, continue and complete your turn.

Green Arrow — You may proceed only in the direction of the arrow, either steady or flashing, providing you’re in the proper lane.

Flashing Green Left-Arrow — You may proceed only to make a left turn, unless facing another signal that indicates other movements are allowed. (Flashing left-arrows may be shown together with steady red, amber or green lights.)

Green U-Turn Arrow — You may proceed to make a U-turn after yielding to pedestrians and other vehicles already in the intersection.

Green Left-Arrow with Red Light — When a green left-arrow is shown with a red light together you may proceed and make a left turn only. It’s illegal to make a right turn at an intersection when a green left-arrow is shown with a red light, even if there’s no sign indicating a right turn is prohibited on a red light. Under no circumstances are you allowed to turn right or drive straight through when a green left-arrow is illuminated with a red light. If a green left-arrow is illuminated alone (the red light is not on) you may turn right if it’s safe to do so and no sign prohibits it.

• Transit priority signal A signal light with a white vertical bar on a black background allows transit buses to proceed before other traffic. Only public-transit vehicles (buses) may proceed when the Transit Priority Signal is shown, while other vehicles must remain stopped. (The Transit Priority signal is always accompanied by a steady red light).