Alberta Driver's Guide Practice Flashcards

A collection of vocabulary flashcards based on the Alberta Driver's Guide for cars and light trucks, focusing on key safety concepts, traffic rules, and licensing information for licensing and professional driving standards.

Attitude

Developing a mindset of safe and responsible driving every time you drive.

Awareness

Being aware of what is happening around you as you drive and making responsible decisions about hazards and problems.

Knowledge

Learning and understanding traffic laws and rules of the road.

Skill

Learning more about operating a motor vehicle safely through education programs, training, and practice.

Proactive driving

Driving with the aim to anticipate possible hazards and take action to reduce, minimize, or avoid danger before it can occur.

Graduated Driver Licensing (GDL)

A program for all new drivers, regardless of age, that ensures they get the support, skills, and experience needed to handle the complex task of driving.

Class 7 (Learner's Licence)

The first stage of the GDL program for drivers who are $14$ years of age or older and have passed a vision screening and knowledge test.

Class 5-GDL (Probationary Licence)

The second stage of the GDL program, which requires holding a learner's licence for at least a year and passing the Alberta Class 5 road test.

Air brake endorsement (Q)

An endorsement placed on a driver's licence indicating the successful completion of an approved Alberta air brake course.

Resident

A person lawfully entitled to be in Canada who makes their home in Alberta and is ordinarily present in the province.

Traffic control signals

Lights using the colours green, yellow, and red to control the flow of traffic at intersections or where roadways merge.

"Stale" green light

An informal term for a traffic light that has been green for a while and is expected to turn yellow soon.

Lane reversal signals

Signals, such as a red X and a green arrow, used to control the direction of traffic on specific lanes of a roadway during different times of the day.

Traffic regulatory signs

Signs that tell the driver what can or cannot be done, such as stopping, yielding, or speed limits.

School zone

An area near a school where drivers must not exceed the posted speed limit (usually $30\,km/h$) during specific times on school days.

Playground zone

An area near a playground where speed restrictions are in effect every day from $8:30$ a.m. to one hour after sunset.

Shared-use lanes

Lanes marked with stencils or signs where motorists must provide space for cyclists or where cyclists are allowed full use of the lane.

Head restraint

A safety device that should be positioned so the centre is level with the top of the driver’s ears to reduce the risk of neck injuries during a collision.

Blind spots

Areas to the sides or slightly behind a vehicle that cannot be seen in the inside or outside rear view mirrors.

Friction point

The point in a manual transmission vehicle where the connection between the engine and transmission is first felt as the clutch pedal is slowly released.

Riding the clutch

The habit of leaving a foot on the clutch pedal unnecessarily, which can cause extra wear on the clutch.

Hand-over-hand method

A steering technique used when turning a corner or returning the wheel from a turning position.

Perception time

How long it takes a driver to recognize a situation and understand the need to stop, typically taking about three-quarters of a second.

Reaction time

How long it takes a driver to respond to a situation by moving their foot from the accelerator to the brake pedal, averaging three-quarters of a second.

Braking time

How long it takes a vehicle to stop after the brakes are applied.

Threshold braking

An emergency braking technique where the driver applies the brakes to the point just before the wheels lock, allowing for steering control.

Right-of-way

Rules that determine which driver or pedestrian is allowed to proceed first at an intersection.

Uncontrolled intersections

Intersections that have no traffic signs or signal lights, where drivers must yield to the vehicle on their right.

Traffic circles and roundabouts

Circular intersections where traffic always circulates in a counterclockwise direction and entering vehicles must yield to traffic already in the circle.

Off-tracking

The phenomenon where the wheels of a trailer travel a path that is inside the path of the wheels of the towing vehicle during a turn.

U-turn

A maneuver done by turning a vehicle around at an intersection to go in the opposite direction using oncoming lanes.

Emergency stopping lane

The portion of a primary highway, also known as the shoulder, intended for drivers who need to stop due to an urgent situation or mechanical problem.

Weave zone

An area on a roadway interchange where a highway entrance and exit use the same lane, requiring caution and cooperation between vehicles.

Anti-lock braking system (ABS)

A system that allows a driver to steer while the brakes are being applied by preventing the wheels from locking.

Black ice

A thin layer of moisture frozen on the road surface that appears shiny and black, making it difficult to see.

Hydroplaning

A loss of contact between tires and the road surface on wet roads, which can cause a loss of steering and braking control.

Carbon monoxide

A colourless, odourless, and tasteless poisonous gas that can enter a vehicle from a leaky exhaust system.

Visual lead time

The process of looking ahead to respond to hazards; recommended as $12$ to $15\,seconds$ in urban areas and $20$ to $25\,seconds$ in rural areas.

Fixed hazards

Permanent conditions along the roadway, such as restricted vision areas, curves, intersections, and merging roadways.

Variable hazards

Conditions that change throughout the day, such as pedestrians, left-turning vehicles, icy road surfaces, and emergency vehicles.

Space cushion

The distance maintained between your vehicle and the vehicles ahead, behind, and to either side to stop safely or steer around hazards.

Two second rule

The minimum following distance recommended under normal road and weather conditions to stay behind the vehicle ahead.

Immediate Roadside Sanctions (IRS)

Alberta’s program for deterring impaired driving through immediate roadside penalties such as licence suspensions, fines, and vehicle seizures.

SafeRoads Alberta

The administrative branch responsible for conducting reviews for provincial administrative penalties and vehicle seizures for impaired drivers.

Registrar Reconsideration Process

A process that allows Albertans to appeal non-impaired driving decisions, such as those related to driver conduct and licensing administrative reviews.