What does the no left turn sign mean?

This sign is mounted over your lane at a busy downtown intersection. Which movement does it forbid?

Turning left at this intersection

The ban is on the left turn itself, not on the turn under one particular signal. Going straight or turning right stays legal, so the plan is to carry on and turn where the movement is allowed rather than stopping in the lane to think about it.

You are in the left lane at a set of lights and you see this sign across the intersection. Your route needs a left turn here. What should you do?

Go straight through and find another way around to your route

The sign bans the movement outright, so no signal phase and no gap in traffic makes it legal. Left turns are removed where turning vehicles would block a through lane or cross a stream of traffic with poor sightlines, and the normal fix is three right turns around the block.

This sign is above your lane as you approach the intersection where you meant to turn left. What should you do?

Carry on through and reach your destination another way

The turn is banned because at that spot it cuts across traffic that cannot see you in time, or blocks a lane with nowhere to overflow into. Waiting for a gap makes the second problem worse and still breaks the rule. Take the next permitted turn and come back around.

You are in the left lane at a set of lights with your signal on when you notice this sign above the intersection. The street you want is to your left. What now?

Cancel the signal, go straight through, and come back to that street another way

The turn is banned at that intersection whatever the traffic is doing, usually because the sightlines or the signal timing make it dangerous. Drivers behind you and oncoming drivers are all working on the assumption that nobody turns there. Go through and come back on a street where the turn is allowed.

At a Brandon intersection you want to turn left toward a shop, but this sign is posted. What is required?

Continue to a place where a left turn is allowed

A traffic control sign forbids the left turn at this junction. An empty road does not remove the restriction.

Your destination is across a Regina intersection marked with this sign. Which choice follows it?

Continue and find another legal route to the destination

The sign bars a left turn at that location, even with a green light and an empty road. Continue until you can turn legally.