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Alberta's
New
Graduated Driver Licensing System
New
drivers, regardless of age, will be driving
in a lower risk, more controlled environment under
Alberta’s
new Graduated Driver Licensing system. The program
came into effect May 2003. The graduated program improves road safety by extending
the learning stage for new drivers, helping them gain
more experience and improve their skills before graduating
to more demanding driving conditions.
New drivers progress through two stages: Learner and
Probationary.
Learners |
| To obtain a Learner's licence
(Class 7) you must: |
* Be 14 years of age or older
* Pass a vision test and a written knowledge test on the rules of the road
* Have parental consent if you are younger than 18 years of age |
| Learner's Conditions: |
* Must hold a Learner's licence (Class
7) for at least 1 year
* Must be accompanied by a fully licenced (non-probationary) driver who
is 18 years of age or older and who is seated next to the driver
* Not permitted to drive from midnight to 5 a.m.
* No more passengers than seat belts
* Fewer demerit points are allowed than for fully licenced drivers
* Have a zero alcohol level |
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Probationary Drivers
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| To become a Probationary Driver
you must: |
* Be 16 years of age
or older
* Pass the standard Alberta road test |
| Probationary Conditions: |
* Must spend a minimum
of 2 years as a Probationary Driver
* No more passengers than seat belts
* Fewer demerit points are allowed than for fully licenced drivers
* Have a zero alcohol level
* No upgrading to a commercial licence
* Cannot serve as an accompanying driver to a Learner |
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To become a fully licenced driver (Class
5) you must:
* Have been suspension free for the last year of the 2-year Probationary
Stage
* Pass an advanced road test
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It will take a minimum of 3 years
to complete both the Learner and Probationary stages,
and 4 years if
a driver gets their Learner’s licence at 14 years
of age. To move from one stage to the next, drivers
must show responsible driving behavior and sound driving
skills and pass road tests.
Applicants for motorcycle licences
(Class 6) as their first licence are also subject to
the graduated license
conditions.
Consequences related to Graduated
licences
Learner and probationary drivers with
even a trace of alcohol in their blood are subject
to a 24-hour
suspension followed by a seven-day temporary driver
permit and then a one-month driver’s licence suspension.
Fines and Penalties Specific to graduated licensing
Conditions Penalty
Zero tolerance for alcohol
No more passengers than seatbelts
Driving after midnight
No accompanying driver
Immediate 30 day suspension
$100 fine and two demerit points
$100 fine and two demerit points
$150 fine and two demerit points
Strong support for Graduated Licences
There is strong support for graduated licensing in
Alberta and throughout North America. Significant decreases
in the collisions, injuries and deaths of new drivers
have been seen in all provinces that have implemented
a graduated program. In Ontario, collision rates for
new drivers have decreased 30 per cent since the province
introduced graduated licensing.
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