If you are roaming around any city, you first need to make sure you are following their traffic rules. It won’t only keep you safe from any accident but also traffic fines. Well, the fines are also a part of a warning so that you maintain the rules and ensure your safety.
In this following section, you will learn about the Alberta traffic safety act that you should know to avoid accidents.
What is the Alberta Traffic Safety Act?
The Alberta Safety Act is a set of law and rules designed to increase road safety. It is intended to promote appropriate driving behaviour by punishing offenders with fines and demerits. It also includes all publically accessible streets.
Additionally, this is intended to minimize persistent and regular offenders significantly. And the offender’s license may be terminated or earn demerit points in the event of wrongdoing or breaking traffic rules.
Although the demerits are only valid for two years from the judgment date, this gives drivers time to change their driving patterns and lessen the likelihood that their license will be suspended.
Usually, there are more penalties in addition to a fee or demerit points for an offence. But, again, it indicates that the faulty party may need to face several legal actions, considering the seriousness.
What is a Demerit?
A driver’s license will accrue demerits, or points, underneath the Alberta Traffic Safety Act for each offence they get. Many offences carry a variety of demerit points, focusing on how severe the offence was.
A license suspension and higher insurance rates may result from too many demerits. In addition, your driving record will earn penalty points if you are guilty of an offence.
An offence is committed when you:
- Voluntarily make the required payment of the fine
- When you are judged to have committed the crime in court
- If you miss court and are found guilty in your absence
Who in Alberta is Eligible for a Demerit?
As mentioned earlier, depending on the seriousness of the offence you committed, you may collect several types of penalty points on your driving license. The most severe will result in seven demerit points, while the lowest serious will only result in one.
The following list of offences, listed in order of severity, includes the demerits you will incur for each one:
7 Demerit points
- Failure to remain at the site of an accident may result in a $2000 fine and a jail sentence.
6 Demerit points
- Exceeding the speed limit by more than 50 km/ h carries a $650–$2000 punishment.
- Careless driving.
- Driving while betting.
- Not stopping for a school bus.
5 Demerit points
- Driving a school bus with explosives on board across an unmanned railway crossing or a machine used to move flammables.
- Failure to pause for police.
4 Demerit points
- Reckless speeding without considering weather or road conditions.
- Exceeding the speed limit by 30 kph while paying a fine of $253 to $474.
- Excessively close car following
- Passing a car at a crossing with a stop sign
- Failing to stop for a pedestrian at a crossing
3 Demerit points
- Failing to locate the owner of a car left unattended or property destroyed in a mishap.
- Failure to file an accident report
- A fine of $140-$239 is assessed for beyond the speed limit – more than 15 kph.
- Speeding through a school zone.
- Crossing through a curve or a high place.
- Crossing in the direction of traffic.
- Restrictions on passing.
- When driving, stay to the left of the center.
- Taking the wrong turn on a one-way street.
- Interfering with a passing car.
- Inability to pull over at a stop sign.
- Incorrect passing.
- Performing stunts.
2 Demerit points
- Ignoring the directions on traffic devices.
- Incorrect reversing.
- Dangerous turning.
- Risky U-turns.
- Disobeying traffic lane regulations.
- A $78 to $120 punishment for exceeding the speed limit between 1 and 15 kph.
Only GDL drivers are subject to the additional 2-point demerit regulations listed below:
- Breaking curfew (between 12am-5am)
- Driving with more passengers than available seatbelts
- Having an unqualified supervisor
What is the Traffic Law for Emergency Vehicles in Alberta?
When you’re driving, accidents can obstruct or limit the sides of the road. Traffic accidents, disabled cars, spilled goods, and highway upkeep or construction are a few instances of this.
You’ll know there’s trouble when you see emergency cars’ flashing lights. So, be prepared to stop, slow down, and gently change lanes if required. Also, obey the traffic-directing instructions of emergency officials.
The danger of responding workers or machinery hit by passing automobiles is among the most critical issues of these accidents. Law enforcement, ambulance, fire, and towing services frequently respond to highway mishaps.
Drivers must slow down while overtaking emergency vehicles or parked tow trucks and blinking their lights to 60 km/h or the posted speed, whatever is lower. The lane directly adjacent to the stopped cars are subject to this law.
The speed limit when passing emergency vehicles is 60 km/h. You must remain alert and careful even if you are not in the lane adjacent to the stopped cars. Reduce your speed and give the emergency workers and their equipment plenty of room as you approach the situation.
What Should I Do to Prevent an Accident?
Apart from being careful about the traffic safety acts, you need to be cautious about the following aspects:
Get winter tires for your vehicle
All-season tires usually lose grip at temperatures far below 7 degree Celsius, which are frequent in Alberta. Try to get winter tires for your vehicle rather than all seasons. Only consider it if winter tires are out of your price range.
Avoid driving too close to another vehicle
This is very apparent, but it’s simple to do and quite powerful. At speeds under 50 km/h and beyond 50 km/h, maintain a minimum 3-car-length and 6-car length distance between vehicles.
No matter the weather, someone will probably pull into that space since this is Alberta, but you can step back anytime.
Avoid Distractions
Distractions are not limited to smartphones. Eating, donning cosmetics, messing with electronics, or conversing with passengers are all potentially fatal distractions for drivers. Keep your eyes on the road and your hands on the wheel – maybe this is the finest advice ever for drivers.
To Conclude
Alberta traffic safety act ensures your safety while driving on the road. You may also have your family, which is a big responsibility. Keep in mind every motor vehicle traffic acts while you have your feet on the accelerator and hand on the steering wheel.
Thus, you will surely be able to keep yourself and your family safe, and maybe also from the demerits and fines.