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Alberta Driver’s Guide · Glossary

Driving terms, defined

44 terms from the official Alberta Driver's Guide. Each definition is a sentence from the guide itself, not a paraphrase, and links to the section it was taken from.

A

Acceleration lane
Use your signal light before or when you are in the acceleration lane.
Chapter 5 · Entering and exiting a major roadway · guide page 75
Angle parking
Angle parking is most often used in parking lots.
Chapter 3 · Parking · guide page 54

B

Black ice
Black ice: Black ice is caused by moisture freezing on the road surface.
Chapter 6 · Challenging conditions · guide page 83

C

Class 5 road testalso called road test
Passing the Class 5 road test allows drivers to move from a Class 7 learner’s licence to a Class 5-GDL driver’s licence.
Chapter 1 · Class 5 road test · guide page 14
Construction zone
The speed limit in construction zones must be obeyed at all times.
Chapter 2 · Construction zones · guide page 39

D

Deceleration lane
Move into the deceleration lane if there is one.
Chapter 5 · Entering and exiting a major roadway · guide page 75

E

Emergency braking
The key to emergency braking is to stop the vehicle as quickly as possible without losing control of your vehicle.
Chapter 6 · Emergency braking · guide page 80
Emergency stopping lanealso called shoulder
Emergency stopping lanes border the lanes of travel on a primary highway.
Chapter 5 · Emergency stopping lane · guide page 74
Emergency vehicles
When an ambulance, fire, or police emergency vehicle is approaching from any direction and is sounding a siren, you must yield the right-of-way:
Chapter 6 · Emergency vehicles · guide page 87

F

Following distancealso called two-second rule
To know if you are two seconds behind the vehicle in front of you, when it passes a fixed objects such as a road marking or a shadow on the roadway, start counting.
Chapter 7 · Proactive driving · guide page 91

G

Graduated Driver Licensing (GDL)also called GDL
Regardless of age, all new drivers are part of the Graduated Driver Licensing (GDL) program.
Chapter 1 · Graduated driver licensing · guide page 12

H

Hill parkingalso called uphill parking, downhill parking
When parking facing uphill on a street with a curb, turn the front wheels to the left (toward the centre of the road).
Chapter 3 · Parking · guide page 54
Hydroplaning
On wet roads your tires may lose contact with the road surface.
Chapter 6 · Challenging conditions · guide page 83

K

Knowledge test
To obtain your learner’s licence, you will need to pass a knowledge test.
Chapter 1 · Knowledge test · guide page 13

L

Lane reversal signalsalso called red X
Lane reversal signals are used to control the direction of traffic on specific lanes of a roadway.
Chapter 2 · Lane reversal signals · guide page 26
Light rail transit (LRT)also called LRT
Light rail transit (LRT) crossings in Calgary and Edmonton are similar to other railway crossings and require pedestrians, cyclists, and motorists to use caution in these locations.
Chapter 8 · Light rail transit · guide page 107

O

Off-highway vehiclesalso called OHV
When driving, it is important to be aware of off-highway vehicles and their operators who may be near or attempting to cross the highway.
Chapter 8 · Off-highway vehicles · guide page 107
Overdriving your headlights
Travel at a speed that allows you to respond safely or stop in the distance lit by your headlights.
Chapter 6 · Challenging conditions · guide page 83

P

Parallel parking
When approaching your intended parallel parking space, check behind you for traffic.
Chapter 3 · Parking · guide page 54
Passing lane
A passing lane is a lane added to a highway to allow passing, often in the mountains.
Chapter 5 · Passing · guide page 73
Pavement markings
In some cases, pavement markings are used along with other traffic control signs or signals.
Chapter 2 · Pavement markings · guide page 40
Playground zone
Playground zone: When you approach a playground sign with a maximum speed sign attached to it, you are entering a playground zone.
Chapter 2 · Playground zones and areas · guide page 33
Proactive drivingalso called defensive driving
Proactive driving is driving with the aim to anticipate possible hazards and take action to reduce, minimize, or avoid danger before it can occur.
Chapter 7 · Proactive driving · guide page 91

R

Railway crossing signalso called crossbuck
A railway crossing sign means drivers must yield to all trains.
Chapter 8 · Railway crossings · guide page 105
Registration and insurancealso called public liability insurance
It is illegal to operate an uninsured motor vehicle.
Chapter 1 · Registration and insurance · guide page 22
Reversingalso called backing up
Before reversing, look behind the vehicle and only drive in reverse when your path is clear of traffic, pedestrians, and obstacles.
Chapter 3 · Reversing · guide page 53
Right-of-way
Right-of-way rules require one person to yield and allow the other to proceed.
Chapter 4 · Right-of-way · guide page 60
Roundabout
Traffic circles and roundabouts are circular intersections designed to improve traffic flow and safety.
Chapter 4 · Traffic circles and roundabouts · guide page 63

S

School busalso called stop arm
When school bus lights are flashing: On an undivided highway (not divided by a median), do the following:
Chapter 8 · School buses · guide page 103
School zone
School zone: When you approach a school sign with a maximum speed posted with it, you are entering a school zone.
Chapter 2 · School zones and areas · guide page 32
Signallingalso called hand signals
Signal lights and brake lights tell other drivers what you are going to do.
Chapter 3 · Signalling · guide page 51
Skid
Skidding means you have lost control of the vehicle.
Chapter 6 · Loss of control · guide page 80
Snowplow
Snowplows are equipped with flashing amber and red lights to make them more visible.
Chapter 8 · Snowplows · guide page 104
Stopping time and distancealso called total stopping distance
Perception time: Perception time is how long it takes to recognize a situation and understand that you need to stop.
Chapter 3 · Stopping time and distance · guide page 51

T

Towing a traileralso called trailer
When driving with a trailer, it is important to keep in mind the added weight and length:
Chapter 10 · Towing a trailer · guide page 122
Traffic circle
Traffic circles and roundabouts are circular intersections designed to improve traffic flow and safety.
Chapter 4 · Traffic circles and roundabouts · guide page 63
Traffic control signalsalso called traffic lights
Traffic control signals are lights that use the colours green, yellow, and red to control the flow of traffic at intersections or where roadways merge.
Chapter 2 · Traffic control signals · guide page 24
Turning lane
Some lanes are designated as turning lanes.
Chapter 4 · Turning lanes · guide page 68

U

U-turn
A U-turn is done by turning your vehicle around at an intersection to go in the opposite direction by using oncoming lanes.
Chapter 4 · U-turns · guide page 69
Uncontrolled intersection
The T intersection without signs or signals (also known as an uncontrolled intersection) is a unique situation.
Chapter 4 · Uncontrolled intersections · guide page 61

V

Vulnerable road users
Pedestrians, cyclists, and motorcycle riders also share the roadways with all vehicle operators on a daily basis.
Chapter 8 · Vulnerable road users · guide page 99

W

Warning signs
Warning signs give drivers advance notice of actions required, or potentially hazardous conditions on or near a road.
Chapter 2 · Warning signs · guide page 34
Weave zone
The area that these vehicles share is called a weave zone.
Chapter 5 · Entering and exiting a major roadway · guide page 75

Y

Yield sign
Yield: Yield the right-of-way to traffic not facing the sign and to all pedestrians waiting to cross and within the crosswalk or intersection.
Chapter 2 · Traffic regulatory signs · guide page 28

Not finding a term?

These are the terms the guide defines outright. Plenty of driving vocabulary appears in the guide without a definition sentence to lift — for those, the full text of all ten chapters is here to search, free and without signing in. Nothing is paraphrased into a definition that the guide does not give.