G1 Traffic Rules

Physical and mental readiness

Don't drive when sick

Know your vehicle

Learn all controls and instruments before driving

Seating position

Sit high enough to see the ground four metres ahead

Clear view

Do not block your windows or coat the windshield or front door windows in any way that obstructs vision in or out

Blind spots

Adjust mirrors to minimize blind spots

Seatbelt use

You must wear a seatbelt in any equipped vehicle

not buckling up brings a fine and two demerit points. Wear the shoulder strap over your shoulder and the lap belt low over the hips

G1 passenger rule

A Level One (G1) driver may only have their accompanying driver as a front-seat passenger and must have a seatbelt for them

Driver responsibility for passengers

You are responsible for ensuring all passengers under 16 are properly secured. Failing to provide a working seatbelt for every passenger can mean losing your licence for at least 30 days

Rear-facing car seats

Infants under 9 kg (20 lbs) must use a rear-facing car seat

Forward-facing car seats

Toddlers 9 to 18 kg (20 to 40 lbs) must use a child car seat secured by seatbelt or UAS strap, with the tether strap attached; Booster seats, Required for children under age eight, weighing 18 to 36 kg (40 to 80 lbs), and under 145 cm (4'9") tall. Must be used with a lap and shoulder belt, never a lap belt alone

Booster seats

Required for children under age eight

When a child can use a seatbelt

A child may use a seatbelt once they turn eight

Headlight requirements

Headlights must shine white light visible 150 m ahead and light objects 110 m away

High and low beams

Switch to low beams within 150 m of an oncoming vehicle

Parking and daytime running lights

Parking lights are for parking only

use headlights in low light. Daytime running lights are for good conditions only and must not be used as headlights in poor light

Steer smoothly

Keep both hands on the wheel at nine and three o'clock and steer smoothly. You must be able to steer straight while shifting

Turn signals and hand signals

Signal well before stopping

Keep right

Keep to the right or in the right-hand lane unless turning left or passing

Speed limits

Obey posted limits but slow for bad weather

Obey police

Follow a police officer's directions even over traffic signals. When pulled over

Following distance

Keep at least a two-second following distance behind the vehicle ahead

Sharing the road with pedestrians

Yield to pedestrians and make eye contact where possible. Do not pass a vehicle stopped at a crosswalk

School crossings and guards

Stop and yield the whole roadway at school crossings and pedestrian crossovers. Proceed only once pedestrians and the crossing guard are safely on the sidewalk

Sharing the road with cyclists

Cyclists ride about one metre from the curb but may use the full lane for safety. When passing

Bike lanes

sharrows

enter only when safe to turn. Stop behind a bike box at signals

and watch for cyclists where sharrows mark a shared lane

Sharing the road with motorcycles

Treat motorcycles as full-lane vehicles. Since many turn signals don't self-cancel

Large commercial vehicle blind spots

Large vehicles have big blind spots on all sides

if you can't see the driver's mirror

they can't see you. Avoid tailgating and don't cut in closely after passing

Large vehicle turns and stopping

Large vehicles need longer stopping distances and may swing wide before turning. Stay well back until the truck has fully cleared the lane

Municipal buses

When a bus in a bus bay signals to re-enter traffic and you're in the adjacent lane, you must let it merge

Farm machinery and horse-drawn vehicles

These display an orange and red slow-moving sign and travel at 40 km/h or less. Slow down

School bus amber lights

Amber flashing lights mean the bus is preparing to stop

slow down and prepare to stop. On a road with a median

only vehicles behind the bus need prepare

School bus red lights

Stop for a school bus with flashing red lights or an extended stop arm

Controlled intersections

These have traffic lights, yield signs, or stop signs. Stop fully at red lights and stop signs, and proceed on green only when the way is clear

Uncontrolled intersections

These have no signs or lights

approach with extra care. If two vehicles arrive at the same time

the driver on the left yields to the driver on the right

Yielding right-of-way

Yield to vehicles arriving before you

Entering from a driveway

When entering a road from a private road or driveway, yield to vehicles on the road and pedestrians on the sidewalk

Pedestrian crossovers

Yield and wait for pedestrians to completely cross. You must not pass any vehicle within 30 m of a pedestrian crossover

Where to stop

Stop fully at all stop signs and red lights

Railway crossings

Slow

if a train is coming

stop at least five metres from the nearest rail or gate. Never drive around a lowered gate or race a train

School crossing guards

Stop before the crossing when a guard displays a stop sign and stay stopped until everyone

Right turns

Begin and end a right turn close to the right side of the road. Signal early

Right turn on red

Permitted unless a sign prohibits it

Left turns

Begin and end a left turn in the far left lane in your direction. Don't turn your wheels left while waiting

Left turn on red

Allowed only from a one-way road onto a one-way road

Roundabouts

Yield to traffic already in the roundabout

Backing up

Move slowly

U-turns

Only make a U-turn where you can see at least 150 m in both directions and no sign prohibits it. Never on a curve

Three-point turn

Used to reverse direction on narrow roads

Changing lanes

Check mirrors and your blind spot

Passing basics

Only pass when you're sure it's safe

Where passing is prohibited

Don't pass within 30 m of a pedestrian crossover

Passing at night

Switch to low beams as you approach from behind

Passing on shoulders

You may use the right shoulder to pass a left-turning vehicle only if it's paved. You may never pass on the left shoulder

Passing on the right

Allowed on multi-lane or one-way roads and when overtaking a streetcar or left-turning vehicle. It is more dangerous than passing on the left

Passing streetcars

Pass streetcars on the right unless on a one-way road

Basic parking rules

Never park on the travelled road

Opening doors safely

Never open a door without checking it's safe

Accessible Parking Permit

Issued to the person

Parallel parking

Find a space about 1.5 times your vehicle's length and reverse in

Parking facing downhill

Turn your front wheels toward the curb so the vehicle won't roll into traffic if the brakes release

Parking facing uphill with a curb

Turn your wheels toward the road (left) so the tires catch the curb if the vehicle rolls back

Parking facing uphill without a curb

Turn your wheels sharply to the right so the vehicle rolls off the road rather than into traffic if it moves

Freeways and G1 drivers

A freeway is a high-speed, multi-lane road with no intersections, pedestrians, or cyclists. Class G1 drivers may only drive on freeways with a licensed driving instructor

Entering a freeway

Use the acceleration lane to match the speed of freeway traffic

Driving along a freeway

Keep right and use left lanes only for passing

Leaving a freeway

Signal into the deceleration lane without slowing first

HOV lanes

Reserved for vehicles with at least two people plus buses

Aggressive driving and road rage

Stay calm

Street racing

One of the most reckless forms of aggressive driving

Drowsy driving

A tired driver can be as impaired as a drunk one

Workers on the road

Slow down

Animals on the road

Scan shoulder to shoulder, slow down, and sound your horn

don't try to steer around an animal

since their movements are unpredictable. Be most alert from dusk to dawn

Distracted driving law

It's illegal to text

Careless and dangerous driving

Endangering others through any distraction

Approaching emergency vehicle

When one approaches with flashing lights or siren from any direction, stop immediately as near as practical to the right curb, clear of intersections. Don't stop on the shoulder, which emergency vehicles may use

Stopped emergency vehicle or tow truck

When passing one stopped with flashing red, blue, or amber lights, slow down and proceed with caution

Failing to respond to emergency vehicles

Taking lights and sirens seriously is the law

a first offence brings a fine and three demerit points. Repeat offences raise fines and can mean up to six months in jail

Overdriving your headlights

This means going so fast your stopping distance exceeds what your headlights reveal

Glare

When facing oncoming high beams, look up and slightly to the right of the lights rather than into them. Use low beams within 150 m of oncoming traffic and within 60 m when following.

Driving in fog

Slow down

Rain and hydroplaning

Wet roads are most slippery as the first drops fall

Flooded roads

Avoid them

Skids

Most skids come from driving too fast for conditions. If you skid, ease off the accelerator or brake, steer where you want to go, and avoid oversteering until you regain control

ABS braking

Anti-lock brakes prevent wheel lock and preserve steering control but don't shorten stopping distance. Expect pedal pulsation during hard braking and keep firm pressure rather than releasing

Threshold braking

Used in vehicles without ABS

Snow and whiteouts

Slow down

Black ice

Wet roads freeze as temperatures drop

Snow plows

Snow-removal vehicles show flashing blue lights visible from 150 m and may have a wing extending up to three metres. Never try to pass between staggered plows clearing a freeway

If your brakes fail

Pump the brake pedal to try to restore pressure

call for help

If your gas pedal sticks

Try lifting the pedal with your foot (never your hand while moving)