A speeding ticket costs more than the fine. It also puts demerit points on your record. For a new driver, a few tickets can mean a suspended licence.
This guide explains Alberta's fines and demerit points, and the 30 km/h zones near Edmonton schools and playgrounds. Every number comes from the Government of Alberta or the City of Edmonton.
Why speed matters so much
Speed decides how far you travel before you stop. The Alberta Driver's Guide says it takes about three quarters of a second to see a danger. Moving your foot to the brake takes about three quarters of a second more. The car keeps moving the whole time. Drivers with less experience often take longer to see a danger.
The City of Edmonton gives clear numbers. In ideal conditions, a car at 50 km/h needs 24 to 28 metres to stop. At 30 km/h, it needs only 8 to 10 metres. On wet or icy roads, both distances get longer.
Speed also decides how badly people get hurt. For people on foot who are hit, the City says nine out of 10 would survive at 30 km/h. At 50 km/h, fewer than two out of 10 would.
A speed limit is not a target. The Driver's Guide says a posted limit is the top speed allowed when conditions are ideal. Any speed that is unsafe for the conditions is illegal.
Alberta speeding fines
Alberta sets a fine for each km/h over the limit. These amounts include the 20% Victims of Crime surcharge:
- 1 km/h over: $105
- 10 km/h over: $144
- 15 km/h over: $164
- 20 km/h over: $228
- 30 km/h over: $324
- 40 km/h over: $560
- 50 km/h over: $744
At 51 km/h or more over the limit, you must go to court. The court decides the fine.
Fines double when construction workers or emergency responders are present. There, 20 km/h over costs $456.
Demerit points for speeding
Each speeding ticket also adds demerit points:
- Up to 15 km/h over: 2 points
- 16 to 30 km/h over: 3 points
- 31 to 50 km/h over: 4 points
- 51 km/h or more over: 6 points
Points go on your record on your conviction date. That is the day you pay the ticket, or the day a court finds you guilty. They stay for 2 years.
For fully licensed drivers, 8 points brings a warning letter in the mail. At 15 points within 2 years, your licence is suspended for one month. A second suspension within a year lasts 3 months.
Why new drivers need extra care
Class 7 learners and Class 5-GDL probationary drivers are both in the GDL program. Their limits are much lower. At 4 points, you get a warning letter. At 8 points within 2 years, your licence is suspended for one month.
That adds up fast. One ticket for 31 to 50 km/h over is 4 points. A second one within 2 years means a suspension.
To leave the GDL program, you must also be free of suspensions and traffic violations in the last 12 months of your probationary stage. A ticket in that last year can keep you in the program longer.
Speed matters on your road test too. The Driver's Guide lists exceeding the speed limit, or driving too fast for the conditions, as an automatic fail. Our guide on how to pass your Class 5 road test in Edmonton explains what examiners watch for.
School zones and playground zones in Alberta
Alberta has two kinds of 30 km/h zones near children.
A school zone starts at a school sign with a speed limit sign attached. It applies on school days only, at these times:
- 8:00 a.m. to 9:30 a.m.
- 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.
- 3:00 p.m. to 4:30 p.m.
A playground zone starts at a playground sign with a speed limit sign attached. It applies every day from 8:30 a.m. to one hour after sunset.
A town or city can set different times by bylaw. When it does, the times are posted under the sign.
In both zones, the limit is 30 km/h unless another speed is posted. You may not pass a vehicle going the same way while the zone is in effect.
A school or playground sign with no speed limit sign is an "area", not a zone. It warns that children may be near. Drive with care, but the 30 km/h limit does not apply. If a sign has flashing yellow lights, slow to 30 km/h or less and yield to people crossing.
Edmonton playground zones: 30 km/h from 7:30 a.m. to 9 p.m.
Edmonton sets its own hours. Playground zones in Edmonton are 30 km/h from 7:30 a.m. to 9 p.m., every day, wherever playground zone signs are posted. The City says the longer hours protect children at after-school activities.
The City puts these zones around elementary and junior high schools on residential and collector roads. There are 387 of them. Stay at 30 km/h from the start sign until you pass the sign that ends the zone.
Say you drive 50 km/h through an Edmonton playground zone at 8 p.m. on a Saturday. The zone is in effect, so you are 20 km/h over. That is $228 and 3 demerit points.
Most residential and downtown streets in Edmonton have a default limit of 40 km/h. The City has an online speed limit map if you are not sure.
Photo radar near schools and playgrounds
Since April 1, 2025, Alberta has limited photo radar speed enforcement to school, playground and construction zones. Towns and cities can ask for an exception at sites with many serious collisions. So a speed camera may be waiting in a 30 km/h zone.
In Edmonton, a photo radar ticket is mailed to the vehicle's registered owner. It does not add demerit points to a driver's licence. You still need to respond to the ticket.
Tickets and your insurance
Paying a ticket counts as a conviction. The Driver's Guide says convictions stay on your driving record for 10 years and show on your driver's abstract.
In 2026, Alberta caps rate increases for good drivers at 7.5%. To qualify, you need no minor traffic convictions in the past 3 years. From January 1, 2027, a new driving conviction can cost you rate protection. Ask your insurer how a ticket would change your premium.
How to lower your demerit points
If you already have points, an approved defensive driving course can help. Alberta removes up to 3 demerit points, once every 2 years, after you complete one. Fully licensed drivers must finish it before they reach 15 points. GDL drivers must finish it before they reach 8. Then you take the completion form to a registry agent.
Arrow offers the Defensive Driving Course (DDC) for $170 + GST. Speed management and reaction time are part of the course.
Simple habits that keep your speed legal
- Check every school and playground sign for a speed limit sign.
- In Edmonton, treat 7:30 a.m. to 9 p.m. as playground zone time.
- Glance at your speedometer now and then.
- Slow down in rain, snow and ice.
- Keep a safe gap to the car ahead. Our post on defensive driving techniques shows how.
Questions about lessons or the DDC? Call Arrow Driving School at (780) 721-8282.
Frequently Asked Questions
Edmonton playground zones are 30 km/h from 7:30 a.m. to 9 p.m., every day, wherever playground zone signs are posted. A yellow sign with no speed limit sign is a warning only.
It depends on how far over the limit you were. For example, 50 km/h in a 30 km/h zone is 20 km/h over. That is a $228 fine and 3 demerit points.
Up to 15 km/h over is 2 points. From 16 to 30 km/h over is 3 points. From 31 to 50 km/h over is 4 points. At 51 km/h or more over, it is 6 points. Points stay on your record for 2 years from the conviction date.
Sources
All official pages were opened on 30 Sep 2026.
- Government of Alberta, Speeding fines in AlbertaFines for 1, 10, 15, 20, 30, 40 and 50 km/h over, the 20% Victims of Crime surcharge, court at 51 km/h or more over, fines double when construction workers or emergency responders are present, $456 for 20 km/h over there, the $228 example.
- Procedures Regulation, Alberta Regulation 63/2017, Schedule, Parts 32 and 33 (current as of March 13, 2026), Alberta King's PrinterThe standard fine table also covers speed limits set for a period of time, such as school and playground zones; court appearance at more than 50 km/h over.
- Traffic Safety Act, RSA 2000, c T-6, sections 107 and 115(2)(p) and (r) (current as of July 2, 2026), Alberta King's Printer30 km/h in school and playground zones during set times (section 107), speeding offences, speed limits set for a period of time.
- Demerit Point Program and Service of Documents Regulation, Alberta Regulation 331/2002, Schedule 1, Alberta King's Printer2, 3, 4 and 6 demerit points for each speeding range.
- Government of Alberta, Demerit driving suspensionConviction date, 2 years on record, warning letter at 8 points and one month suspension at 15 points for full drivers, warning letter at 4 points and one month suspension at 8 points for GDL drivers, 3 month second suspension, the defensive driving course merit credit and the registry agent form.
- Alberta Driver's Guide: cars and light trucks, 2026 edition, pages 10 to 13, 24, 27 to 32, 49 to 50, 86 and 108 to 110PDF copyReaction time, speed limits and conditions, road test automatic fail for speeding, GDL stages and the 12 months to leave the GDL program, school and playground zone times and signs, doubled fines with workers present, convictions on record for 10 years, demerit point table.
- Government of Alberta, School and playground zonesSchool zone and playground zone times, 30 km/h unless posted, times set by bylaw posted under the sign, no passing, school and playground areas.
- City of Edmonton, Schools and Playground Zones30 km/h from 7:30 a.m. to 9 p.m. every day, 387 playground zones, signs without a speed limit, stopping distances at 50 and 30 km/h, survival at 30 and 50 km/h.
- City of Edmonton, Vision Zero: Traffic Safety40 km/h default limit on most residential and downtown streets, online speed limit tool.
- City of Edmonton, Automated EnforcementPhoto radar tickets go to the registered owner and add no demerit points.
- Government of Alberta, Photo radar in AlbertaPhoto radar speed enforcement limited to school, playground and construction zones from April 1, 2025, exceptions for high-collision sites.
- Government of Alberta, Automobile insurance reform7.5% rate cap for good drivers in 2026, no minor traffic convictions in the past 3 years, adjusted rate cap from January 1, 2027.
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