Overview
This lecture covers essential knowledge and skills required for driving cars and light trucks in Alberta, focusing on licensing, road rules, signs, safe driving habits, emergency procedures, and legal responsibilities.
Key Skills for Safe Driving
- Develop a responsible driving attitude and always be courteous to others on the road.
- Stay aware of your surroundings and make safe decisions about hazards.
- Learn and understand Alberta’s traffic laws and rules of the road.
- Build practical skills through driver education and training programs.
Alberta Driver Licensing System
- All new drivers enter the Graduated Driver Licensing (GDL) program: Class 7 (Learner), Class 5-GDL (Probationary), and Class 5 (Full).
- Class 7 requires you to be 14+, pass vision and knowledge tests, have parental consent if under 18, and always drive with a full-licensed adult.
- Class 5-GDL is available after holding Class 7 for a year and passing a road test; must be 16+; minimum two years probation.
- Full Class 5 is earned by being violation-free for 12 months in probation and is available at 18+.
Licensing, Registration & Insurance
- You must carry a valid driver's licence, vehicle registration, and proof of insurance when driving.
- Non-Alberta residents can drive with a valid out-of-province licence for up to one year; new residents must exchange their licence within 90 days.
- All vehicles (and trailers) must be registered and insured.
Traffic Control Devices
- Obey traffic signals: red means stop, green means go, yellow means prepare to stop.
- Know traffic signs by shape and colour: regulatory (white/red/green), warning (yellow), information (blue/green).
- Understand lane markings, crosswalks, and pavement indicators.
- School zones: 30 km/h during posted times; no passing allowed.
Basic Driving Skills
- Pre-drive checklist: lock doors, adjust seat/mirrors, set head restraint, and fasten seat belt.
- Use correct steering (9 & 3 o'clock), hand-over-hand for turns.
- Signal before moving from curb, turning, or changing lanes.
- Understand stopping distances: perception, reaction, and braking add up.
- Parking types: parallel, angle, perpendicular, and hill parking techniques.
Intersections and Turns
- Yield right-of-way as indicated by signs/signals or rules (vehicle on right at uncontrolled intersections).
- At stop signs, fully stop before the line/crosswalk; at yield, slow down and stop if necessary.
- Use correct lane for turns; never turn wide or from the wrong lane.
- U-turns prohibited where signed or unsafe.
Highways & Freeways
- Drive in the center of your lane and use shoulder checks for blind spots.
- Pass only where safe/legal; never exceed speed limits to pass.
- Use right lane except to pass; merge smoothly into traffic.
Emergencies & Challenging Conditions
- For emergency braking: press firmly (ABS); use threshold braking (non-ABS).
- In a skid, steer where you want to go; avoid braking or accelerating hard.
- When stranded, stay with your vehicle if safe and use emergency supplies.
- Reduce speed and increase following distance in poor weather.
Responsible Driving
- Scan for hazards ahead, maintain a safe space cushion, and use the two-second rule for following distance.
- Don’t use hand-held devices or perform distracting activities while driving.
- Ensure all passengers under 16 are properly secured with seat belts or child restraints.
Sharing the Road
- Yield to pedestrians and cyclists at crosswalks.
- Give extra space and time for large/commercial vehicles and school buses.
- Stop for school buses with flashing red lights unless on a divided highway.
Legal Responsibilities
- Never drive impaired by drugs or alcohol; Alberta enforces strict zero-tolerance for GDL and commercial drivers.
- Accumulate too many demerit points and your licence is suspended.
- Report all collisions with more than $2,000 damage or any injury to police.
- Know federal and provincial penalties for impaired driving, including immediate roadside sanctions.
Towing a Trailer
- Register and plate your trailer; ensure all lights and safety chains are in place.
- Use extension mirrors if trailer is wider than your vehicle.
- Allow more space and time for braking/turning; practice backing slowly and carefully.
Key Terms & Definitions
- GDL (Graduated Driver Licensing) — Alberta’s staged licensing for new drivers.
- Demerit Points — Penalties on your record for traffic violations.
- ABS (Anti-lock Braking System) — Prevents wheels from locking when braking hard.
- Space Cushion — Safe distance between your vehicle and others.
- Right-of-Way — Legal priority to proceed at intersections or merges.
Action Items / Next Steps
- Review Alberta Traffic Safety Act for detailed laws.
- Schedule and complete required knowledge and road tests.
- Practice safe driving habits and complete an approved driver education course for early GDL exit.
- Ensure all vehicle documents (licence, registration, insurance) are current and with you when driving.