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On my way home the other day, I saw a driver ignoring a pedestrian crossing as a lady was about to step onto the road. While I stopped so she could make it safely to the other side, I wondered if the other driver simply missed the sign, didn't know what it meant or chose to ignore the law.

I'll never know because I was obviously not going to start chasing the guy to find out, but the fact is that road sign disobedience is not a rare sight. So, today I'll ask you this: Do you really know what the various signs and warnings mean?

Here are some of the more problematic ones:

The Pedestrian Crossing sign informs road users that they are approaching a crossing for pedestrians. They must show caution and yield to any pedestrian needing to cross. In Quebec, a violation of this traffic sign carries a fine of $100 for drivers and $37 for cyclists.

Everybody knows of the yield sign, but do they really know what it means? Judging by the sheer number of people who slow down to let others merge, my guess is no. Basically, this sign indicates that drivers are required to yield the right-of-way to vehicles on a priority highway.

You want to show courtesy by helping drivers in the on-ramp safely merge into traffic? Fine. But for God's sake, don't hammer the brake pedal when you have cars following you at more than 100 km/h!

What is that sign, you ask? Well, it's a hazard marker indicating the presence of an obstruction on the roadway or shoulders, as well as indicating where a public highway narrows. The diagonal bars point to the side you have to take to avoid said obstruction (in this case, the right side).

A Prepare to Stop sign indicates an intersection with traffic lights ahead. It displays flashing amber beacons when the lights are going to turn red before you reach the intersection. So, why do some drivers ignore the warning and brake at the last second, possibly encroaching on the intersection and risking a collision with other vehicles that do have a green light? I'm puzzled...

It's not just a red octagon; it also reads “Stop.” Get it? Stop! Not “Slow Down.” This can mean the difference between life and death if you ever hit a pedestrian or cyclist. Think about it...


If you'd like to test your knowledge, complete GM's Great Canadian Road Signs Quiz. I'd be curious to know your score.

On behalf of all road users, please know your signs and drive safely!


Sources: rsr.mtq.gouv.qc.ca
spvm.qc.ca