Distracted Driving Laws In Alberta

Distracted driving rules vary from province to province. According to Government of Alberta, the following actions are considered distractions :

• Using hand-held cell phones
• Texting or e-mailing (even when stopped at red lights)
• Using electronic devices like laptop computers, video games, cameras, video entertainment displays and programming portable audio players (e.g., MP3 players)
• Entering information on GPS units
• Reading printed materials in the vehicle
• Writing, printing or sketching
• Personal grooming (brushing and flossing teeth, putting on makeup, curling hair, clipping nails or shaving)

There are a number of actions that are NOT considered a distraction :

• Using a cell phone in hands-free mode
• Drinking and eating a snack
• Smoking
• Talking with passengers in the vehicle
• Calling 911 using a handheld phone
• Using a CB radio to communicate with an employer
• Using a GPS that is affixed to the vehicle

While it is not explicitly stated, pets can be considered to be a distraction if drivers become too occupied with a pet while driving. Police can use their discretion.

Traffic Safety Act 115(2)(i) & (j) allows police to charge any driver who permits anything to occupy the front seat, including pets, that interferes with the driver’s ability to operate vehicle controls or obstructs their view.

You are subject to a $300 fine if you are convicted of distracted driving. Additional fines can be levied if you drive carelessly. Careless driving comes with a $402 fine and six demerit points.

If you are convicted of driving while distracted in Alberta, 3 demerit points will be added to your driving record. They will stay on your record for 2 years from your conviction date and will increase how much you pay for car insurance in Alberta.

Since Alberta's distracted driving legislation was passed in 2011, the number of convictions has increased each year.

The province of Alberta estimates :

• 20-30% of all collisions are due to distracted driving
• Distracted drivers are three times more likely to get into a collision than an alert driver

While most people assume distracted driving is a new or young driver issue, it’s not. Based on data collected about distracted driving convictions, a distracted driver in Alberta is 35-44-year-old male drivers who use a cell phone while driving

The most common types of distractions drivers were fined for in 2017 :

• Cell phone use (20,075)
• Using hand-held electronic devices (3938)
• Display screens and GPS (39)
• General prohibited distractions (230)
• Reading (10)
• Writing (5)
• Grooming (10)

Not surprisingly, the larger municipalities in Alberta had the highest instances of distracted driving. In 2017 :

• Edmonton had the most distracted driver convictions (6,594), followed by
• Calgary (5,234)
• Lethbridge (992)
• Medicine Hat (480)
• Red Deer (474)

Since 2015, convictions have lowered in virtually all major municipalities in Alberta except Edmonton :

• Calgary : 7,173 in 2015; 5,234 in 2017
• Red Deer : 1,257 in 2015; 474 in 2017
• Lethbridge : 1,259 in 2015; 992 in 2017

In Edmonton, according to the Alberta Government, distracted driving has increased significantly :

• 4,094 convictions in 2015; 6,594 convictions in 2017

Comparing gender, male drivers had the highest number of distracted driving convictions in 2017. There were 24,665 drivers convicted of distracted driving in Alberta in 2017. Of those :

• 9,186 were female (37%)
• 15,479 were male (63%)

In terms of age, the number of convictions is spread fairly evenly across all age groups :

• 16-21 years old : 1,921
• 22-24 years old : 1,832
• 25-29 years old : 3,822
• 30-34 years old : 4,195
• 35-44 years old : 6,329
• 45-54 years old : 3,718
• 55-64 years old : 2,180
• 65+ years old : 667

Source: Alberta Government

Yes. Rules in Alberta apply to all cities and all roads within the province.

Anything that takes your attention and eyes off the road could be considered a distraction. Distracted driving is a lot more than texting and driving.

Yes. You can get a ticket for distracted driving in Alberta.

Yes. The Traffic Safety Act in Alberta outlines distracted driving laws, fines, and penalties.

Distracted driving laws in Alberta came into effect on September 1st, 2011.

Regulations were put in place to help make Alberta roads safer for all drivers. If each driver chose to not drive while distracted, we could reduce the number of traffic accidents in the province.