Green circle and red circle signs in Alberta: what is permitted and what is not
Green circle and red circle signs are traffic regulation signs. A green circle shows an action that is permitted. A red circle with a slash shows an action that is not permitted. Here are all of these signs from the Driver’s Guide, what each means, and the rules that go with it.p. 25
Checked against the Driver’s Guide (Spring 2026) on .
The short version
- Green circle on a white square: the action inside the green circle is permitted.p. 29
- Red circle and diagonal red bar on a white square: the action inside the red circle is not permitted.p. 29
- On no parking and no stopping signs, the arrow under the symbol shows where the action is not permitted. Some signs show the days and times the rule applies.p. 30
- Turning right on a red light is permitted only if no sign prohibits the turn, and only after a complete stop before the stop line or crosswalk. Then complete the turn when it is safe, yielding to any other traffic.p. 22
- Do not pass where a sign shows a no passing zone.p. 72
How to read a circle sign
Traffic regulation signs tell you what you can or cannot do at a certain place or time. They cover things like turns, passing, traffic lanes and parking.p. 25
The colour of the circle tells you which kind of sign it is:p. 29
For all the sign shapes and colours, see Alberta road signs by shape and colour.
Green circle signs: what is permitted
The Driver’s Guide shows these permission signs. It gives each sign’s name; the green circle tells you the action shown is permitted.p. 29
Turn left only: at this sign, a left turn is the only way you may go.Green circle on a white squarep. 29
Turn right only: at this sign, a right turn is the only way you may go.Green circle on a white squarep. 29
Straight only: at this sign, you may only go straight ahead.Green circle on a white squarep. 29
Passing permitted: you may pass here. On a two-lane road, pass only when there is no oncoming traffic for a safe distance, and it is illegal to go over the speed limit to pass.Green circle on a white squarep. 29p. 71p. 72
Trucks: trucks are permitted.Green circle on a white squarep. 29
Bicycles: bicycles are permitted. A bicycle that is being ridden is a vehicle, and the cyclist must follow the rules of the road like other drivers.Green circle on a white squarep. 29p. 98
Dangerous goods: dangerous goods are permitted.Green circle on a white squarep. 29
Motorized snow vehicles: motorized snow vehicles are permitted. When you drive, be cautious around snowmobiles and other off-highway vehicles that may be near the highway or trying to cross it.Green circle on a white squarep. 29p. 105
Red circle signs: turns and passing
No left turn: you may not turn left at this sign.Red circle and diagonal red bar on a white squarep. 29
No right turn: you may not turn right at this sign. Remember that a right turn on a red light is permitted only when there is no sign prohibiting the turn.Red circle and diagonal red bar on a white squarep. 29p. 22
No U-turn: this sign means U-turns are not allowed. A U-turn is turning your vehicle around at an intersection to go the opposite way, using the oncoming lanes.Red circle and diagonal red bar on a white squarep. 29p. 67
Do not pass: you may not pass here. Do not pass when a sign shows a no passing zone.Red circle and diagonal red bar on a white squarep. 29p. 72
Do not pass bicycles: you may not pass bicycles here. Where passing a cyclist is allowed, change lanes as you would to pass any other vehicle.Red circle and diagonal red bar on a white squarep. 29p. 98
More on turns and passing: left, right and U-turn rules and highway driving: merging and passing.
Red circle signs: pedestrians, trucks, bicycles and more
Each of these signs shows people on foot, a kind of vehicle or dangerous goods. The guide gives their names; the red circle tells you that what is shown is not permitted.p. 29p. 30
No pedestrians: people on foot are not permitted here.Red circle and diagonal red bar on a white squarep. 30p. 29
No motorized snow vehicles: motorized snow vehicles are not permitted here.Red circle and diagonal red bar on a white squarep. 30p. 29
No trucks: trucks are not permitted here.Red circle and diagonal red bar on a white squarep. 30p. 29
No bicycles: bicycles are not permitted here.Red circle and diagonal red bar on a white squarep. 30p. 29
No dangerous goods: dangerous goods are not permitted here.Red circle and diagonal red bar on a white squarep. 30p. 29
More on sharing the road: cyclists, pedestrians and trucks.
No parking and no stopping signs
Parking and stopping signs use the same red circle and slash. Read them like this: the symbol in the circle tells you what is not permitted, and the arrows or days and times under it tell you where and when.p. 29p. 30
No parking on the days and times shown: you may not park here on the days and at the times printed on the sign.p. 30
No stopping on the days and times shown: you may not stop here on the days and at the times printed on the sign.p. 30
Parking not permitted: the arrow under the symbol shows where parking is not permitted.p. 30
Stopping not permitted: the arrows under the symbol show where stopping is not permitted.p. 30
The guide also shows a no stopping zone marked on the road. Drivers should not stop there because they may get in the way of vehicles turning from one road to another. This is usually where large vehicles need extra room to turn.p. 41
All the places you must not park, and how to park on a hill: Alberta parking rules. Every sign in one place: Alberta road signs and their meanings. Test yourself with the road signs practice test.
Learners ask
What does a green circle on a road sign mean?
The action inside the green circle is permitted. These permission signs are a green circle on a white square, like Turn left only, Straight only or Passing permitted.p. 29
What does a red circle with a slash mean on a sign?
The action inside the red circle is not permitted. The symbol is a red circle and a diagonal red bar on a white square, as on the No left turn, No U-turn and Do not pass signs.p. 29
What do the arrows on a no parking sign mean?
The arrow under the symbol shows where the action on the sign is not permitted. Signs with days and times show when you may not park or stop there.p. 30
Can you turn right on a red light in Alberta?
Yes, as long as no sign prohibits the turn. Before turning, come to a complete stop before the stop line or crosswalk. Then turn when it is safe, yielding to any other traffic.p. 22
Is a U-turn allowed if there is no No U-turn sign?
Not always. Even without the sign, U-turns are not permitted at traffic lights unless a traffic control device permits it. In urban areas they are also not permitted between intersections or at an alley intersection, and outside urban areas not on a curve. Never do a U-turn unless it can be done safely.p. 67