Planning to get your G1 or renew your licence? Check your color vision before heading to the DriveTest centre. Our quick screening helps you understand how you perceive red and green — the colors that matter most when you're behind the wheel at a busy intersection.
Good news: In Ontario, BC, and Alberta, color blindness alone won't stop you from getting a licence. The key question is whether you can tell when a traffic light turns red, yellow, or green — even if the colors look different to you.
You'll see plates filled with colored dots. Hidden inside each one is a number. If you struggle to spot certain numbers, it may indicate red-green confusion — the most common type, affecting 1 in 12 men.
Applying for a Class 1, 2, or 4 licence? Commercial driving roles often have stricter color vision standards. If you're aiming for truck, bus, or taxi work, get a professional eye exam to know where you stand.
Identify the numbers hidden in each plate to evaluate your color perception
You'll see 12 plates filled with colored dots. Each one hides a number — tap what you see, or tell us if nothing appears. Takes about 3 minutes.
Overall Color Vision Score
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Around 1 in 12 men and 1 in 200 women have some form of color vision deficiency. Many people don't discover it until they fail a screening test or struggle to match socks. The condition runs in families and is present from birth — you've been seeing the world this way your whole life.
Each plate uses carefully chosen shades of red, orange, and green dots. People with normal color vision see a clear number pop out. If you have red-green confusion, those specific shades blend together, making the number invisible or showing a different digit entirely.
Your monitor's brightness, color settings, and even the room lighting can shift what you see. This online test gives you a useful indication, but it's not the same as sitting in an optometrist's office with standardized test booklets and controlled lighting.
Millions of Canadians with color deficiency drive safely every day. Traffic lights are designed with position cues (red on top, green on bottom) and brightness differences. Most people adapt without even realizing it. The key is knowing your limits and compensating.
Most common — affects ~5% of men
Green appears more muted, and red-orange-yellow tones can blur together. On the road, you might find that autumn leaves, orange construction cones, and red brake lights look surprisingly similar.
Affects ~1% of men
Red looks darker and less vivid. A flashing red light might seem dim or brownish. Brake lights in bright daylight can be harder to notice, so keeping extra following distance is a smart habit.
Affects ~1.5% of men
Red and green can look like the same muddy yellow-brown. Traffic lights may all appear similar in color, but the position (top, middle, bottom) and brightness still give reliable cues.
Affects ~1% of men
Red essentially disappears into dark gray or black. A red traffic light at night might look like an unlit hole in the signal. Most drivers with this condition learn to rely heavily on position and context.
Rare — under 0.01%
Blue looks greenish, and yellow can appear pink or light gray. This rarely affects driving since few critical road signals rely on blue-yellow distinction, but wet road surfaces may look unusual.
Extremely rare — 1 in 30,000
The world appears in shades of gray only. Driving is possible but relies entirely on brightness, position, and shape cues. Bright sunlight can be uncomfortable, and night driving may actually feel easier.
Standard licences require 20/50 visual acuity (with glasses if needed) and 120° horizontal field of vision. No specific color vision test for regular drivers, but you must demonstrate ability to recognize signal lights. Commercial licences (A, B, C, D, E, F) need 20/30 acuity and 150° field.
ICBC requires a vision screening at licensing. Class 5/7 needs 20/40 acuity. Color vision is assessed but deficiency alone doesn't disqualify you — functional ability to distinguish traffic signals matters. Medical review may be required for significant impairments.
Class 5/7 requires 20/50 minimum acuity in at least one eye and 120° peripheral vision. Class 1, 2, and 3 commercial licences need 150° field. Color blindness doesn't prevent licensing if you can differentiate stoplight signals during the practical assessment.
All provinces follow CCMTA (Canadian Council of Motor Transport Administrators) guidelines with minor variations. Generally: 20/50 acuity for personal vehicles, 120° field minimum. Commercial roles have tighter standards. When in doubt, call your local licensing office.
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