Alberta Demerit Points System

Alberta has a demerit point system which exists under the Traffic Safety Act, in which demerits are accumulated on the drivers licence with each conviction. If too many demerits are accumulated, then the licence may be suspended, and insurance premiums will likely increase.

However, the information on how many demerits each conviction carries is not entirely readily available; and even in the Alberta Driver Handbook only select few convictions are actually listed. We decided to do some digging, and finally came across the Demerit Point Program and Service of Documents Regulation. This regulation lists all of convictions and the number of demerit points they carry.

7 Demerit points are assigned for:

• Failing to remain at the scene of an accident

6 Demerit points are assigned for:

• Speeding more than 50 km/h over the speed limit
• Careless driving
• Racing
• Driving a vehicle on a highway on a bet or wager
• Failing to stop for a school bus

5 Demerit points are assigned for:

• Not stopping at an uncontrolled railway crossing if the vehicle is a school bus, is carrying explosive substances as cargo, or is used for carrying flammable liquids or gas (whether loaded or not)
• Failing to stop for a peace officer

4 Demerit points are assigned for:

• Speeding at an unreasonable rate (essentially excessive speed based on conditions like weather, traffic, etc.)
• Speeding more than 30 km/h but less than 50 km/h over the speed limit
• Following too close
• Passing a vehicle stopped at a crosswalk

3 Demerit points are assigned for:

• Failing to identify owner of unattended vehicle or property damaged in accident
• Driver failing to make an accident report
• Speeding more than 15 km/h but less than 30km/h over the speed limit.
• Improper passing in school zone
• Meeting and passing oncoming vehicle (at the same time, referring to narrow roads)
• Passing on a hill or curve
• Passing when meeting oncoming vehicle (referring to passing the vehicle ahead of you when there is oncoming traffic)
•  Overtaking and passing (if not done safely)
• Passing restrictions (referring to passing by driving off the roadway, on a parking lane, or otherwise passing when unsafe)
• Driving left of center
• Driving the wrong way on a one-way high way
• Impeding passing vehicle on a single- or multi-lane highway
• Failing to yield right of way to a vehicle at an intersection, yield sign, merge sign, green light, flashing yellow light, or in a traffic circle
• Failing to yield right of way to a pedestrian at an alley entrance, at a green light, at a flashing yellow light (either intersection or not, or in a school/playground zone), or in a crosswalk
• Failing to stop before entering a highway, at a ‘stop’ sign, for a vehicle sounding a siren, following an emergency vehicle too closely, at a railway crossing, driving around a barrier at a railway crossing, at a yellow light (either in or not in an intersection), or for a solid or flashing red light (either in or not in an intersection)
• Proceeding when unsafe when entering highway at a ‘stop’ sign, at a ‘stop’ sign at a railway crossing, when passing a school bus, at a red light at an intersection, or at a flashing red light (either in or not in an intersection)
• Stunting
• Distracted driving – holding, using, or viewing a cellphone, electronic device, etc.
• Distracted driving – display screen visible to driver
• Distracted driving – adjusting a GPS while driving
• Distracted driving – reading printed material; writing, printing, or sketching; personal grooming or hygiene

2 Demerit points are assigned for:

• Speeding by up to 15 km/h over the speed limit
• Traffic lane violations including slow moving vehicles, driving near center line, crossing solid lines while driving, unsafe lane change, failing to drive in middle of marked lane, straddling two lanes, improper use of center lane on a 3-lane highway, enter or driving in a lane marked with an illuminated red ‘X’ (like in a lane reversal)
• Failing to obey instruction of traffic control device
• Slow driving impeding traffic
• Driving at less than minimum speed
• Failing to obey a peace officer to increase speed, remove the vehicle from the roadway, or to drive vehicle in different traffic lane
• Failing to signal when changing lanes, turning left or right, or when stopping
• Improper turning when making a left or right turn, U-turning, U-turning by a school bus, or when turn is controlled by traffic control device
• Improper backing

2 Demerits assigned exclusively to Alberta GDL licences:

• Driving within curfew hours
• Having more passengers than seatbelts
• Supervisor not fully qualified

Summary

Above is the comprehensive list of demerits that you can receive in Alberta. The convictions are from the Alberta Demerit Point Program and Service of Documents Regulation, so if the description of the conviction isn’t clear, feel free to send us an email at info@driveproactive.com and we can further explain what the convictions mean. Send us a note and find why we’re the driving school Calgary talks about.

So what happens if you happen to have demerits on your licence? Simply contact our Calgary driving school location by phone or book online for the Defensive Driving Course which lets you remove up to 3 demerits from your licence. Defensive Driving Course classes are schedule at thee of our driving school locations in Calgary. Please check our schedule for upcoming driver training dates.