Surcharges for Convictions
Surcharges for criminal convictions:
- one: 300%
- two: 450%
- for each additional conviction, add 150% to the preceding percentage
Surcharges for serious convictions:
- one: 25%
- two: 50%
- three: 100%
- four: 200%
- five: 400%
- six: 800%
- for each additional conviction, double the preceding percentage
Surcharges for other convictions:
- one: none
- two: 25%
- three: 35%
- four: 50%
- five: 75%
- six: 100%
- for each additional conviction, double the preceding percentage
Other Convictions
Convictions for any moving traffic offence (offences related to the operation of a vehicle), other than those listed as Serious, under an Act governing highway traffic or for any offence substantially the same whether committed within Alberta or elsewhere in Canada.
- Speeding - exceeding limit by over 30 but not more than 50 kph (Traffic Safety Act section: 115(2)(p)) (Demerits: 4)
- Passing vehicle stopped at crosswalk (Traffic Safety Act section: 41(2) (Demerits: 4)
- Failing to yield right of way to a pedestrian: in a crosswalk (Traffic Safety Act section: 41(1)) (Demerits: 4)
- Following too close (Demerits: 4)
- Speeding- unreasonable rate of speed (Demerits: 4)
- Failing to stop at a stop sign (Demerits: 3)
- Failing to stop at a red light (Demerits: 3)
- Novice Drivers - Driving while under the influence - zero alcohol tolerance (Traffic Safety Act section: 90) (Suspension)
- Failing to notify owner:
- of an unattended vehicle damaged in accident (Traffic Safety Act section: 69(2)(a)) (Demerits: 3)
- of property damaged in accident (Traffic Safety Act section: 69(2)(b)) (Demerits: 3)
- Driver fail to make accident report (Traffic Safety Act section: 71(1)) (Demerits: 3)
- Speeding - exceeding limit by over 15 but not more than 30 kph (Traffic Safety Act section: 115(2)(p)) (Demerits: 3)
- Improper passing in school zone (Traffic Safety Act section: 8) (Demerits: 3)
- Meeting and passing oncoming
vehicle
(Demerits: 3)
- Passing on hill or curve (Demerits: 3)
- Passing when meeting oncoming vehicle (Demerits: 3)
- Overtaking and passing (Demerits: 3)
- Passing restrictions (Demerits: 3)
- Driving left of center (Demerits: 3)
- Driving wrong way on one-way highway (Demerits: 3)
- Impeding passing
vehicle
(Demerits: 3)
- Impeding passing vehicle - multi-lane highway (Demerits: 3)
- Failing to yield right of way to a vehicle:
- at intersection (Demerits: 3)
- at yield sign (Demerits: 3)
- in traffic circle (Demerits: 3)
- at merge sign (Demerits: 3)
- at green light (Demerits: 3)
- at flashing yellow light (Demerits: 3)
- Failing to yield right way to a pedestrian:
- at alley entrance (Demerits: 3)
- at a green light (Demerits: 3)
- at flashing yellow light (intersection) (Demerits: 3)
- at flashing yellow light (not at intersection) (Demerits: 3)
- at flashing yellow light (with zone sign) (Demerits: 3)
- Failing to stop
- before entering highway (Demerits: 3)
- for vehicle sounding siren (Demerits: 3)
- following emergency vehicle too close (Demerits: 3)
- at railway crossing (Demerits: 3)
- driving around barrier at railway crossing (Demerits: 3)
- stop sign at railway crossing (Demerits: 3)
- yellow light at intersection (Demerits: 3)
- yellow light - not at intersection (Demerits: 3)
- Proceeding when unsafe:
- entering highway at stop sign (Demerits: 3)
- stop sign at railway crossing (Demerits: 3)
- to pass school bus (Demerits: 3)
- red light at intersection (Demerits: 3)
- flashing red light at intersection (Demerits: 3)
- flashing red light - not at intersection (Demerits: 3)
- Stunting (Traffic Safety Act section: 115(2)(f)) (Demerits: 3)
- Speeding - exceeding limit by up to 15kph (Traffic Safety Act section: 115(2)(p)) (Demerits: 2)
- Traffic lane violation:
- slow moving vehicle (Demerits: 2)
- drive near center line (Demerits: 2)
- solid lines (Demerits: 2)
- unsafe lane change (Demerits: 2)
- failing to drive in middle of marked lane (Demerits: 2)
- straddling 2 lanes (Demerits: 2)
- 3 lane highways (Demerits: 2)
- lane marked with X (Demerits: 2)
- Failing to obey instruction of traffic control device (Demerits: 2)
- Slow driving impeding traffic (Demerits: 2)
- Driving at less than minimum speed (Traffic Safety Act section: 115(2)(q)) (Demerits: 2)
- Failing to obey peace officer to increase speed, etc. (Demerits: 2)
- Failing to signal:
- when changing lanes (Demerits: 2)
- turning left or right (Demerits: 2)
- when stopping (Demerits: 2)
- Improper turns:
- right turns, various (Demerits: 2)
- left turns, various (Demerits: 2)
- turns controlled by traffic control device (Demerits: 2)
- U-turns (Demerits: 2)
- U-turns by school bus (Demerits: 2)
- Improper backing (Demerits: 2)
|
|
|
Serious Convictions
Convictions for any of the following offences under any Act governing highway traffic or for any offence substantially the same whether committed within Alberta or elsewhere in Canada.
- Failing to remain at the scene of an accident (Traffic Safety Act section: 69 (1)) (Demerits: 7)
- Speeding - exceeding limit by more than 50 kph (Traffic Safety Act section: 115(2)(q)) (Demerits: 6)
- Careless Driving (Traffic Safety Act section: 115(2)(b)) (Demerits: 6)
- Racing (Traffic Safety Act section: 115(2)(c)) (Demerits: 6)
- Bet or wager (Traffic Safety Act section: 115(2)(d)) (Demerits: 6)
- Failing to stop for a school bus (Demerits: 6)
- Driving while unauthorized (Traffic Safety Act section: 94(2)
- Fail to stop school bus, explosives at uncontrolled railway crossing (Demerits: 5)
- Fail to stop for a peace officer (Traffic Safety Act section: 166(2)) (Demerits: 5)
Criminal Convictions
Convictions for any of the following offences under any Act governing highway traffic or for any offence substantially the same whether committed within Alberta or elsewhere in Canada.
- Criminal Negligence causing death (section 220)
- Criminal Negligence causing injury (section 221)
- Manslaughter (section 236)
- Dangerous Operation of a motor vehicle (section 249(1))
- Flight from Peace Officer/fail to stop (section 249.1(1))
- Flight from Peace Officer/fail to stop, causing bodily harm or death (section 249.1(3))
- Dangerous Operation of a motor vehicle, causing bodily harm (section 249(3))
- Dangerous Operation of a motor vehicle, causing death (section 249(4))
- Failure to stop at scene of accident (section 252)
- Failure to stop at scene of accident, knowing bodily harm caused (section 252(1.2))
- Failure to stop at scene of accident knowing death resulted (section 252(1.3))
- Impaired driving, over .08 (section 253)
- Failure to provide breath sample on demand (section 254)
- Impaired driving causing bodily harm (section 255(2))
- Impaired driving causing death (section 255(3))
- Operate a Motor vehicle while disqualified (section 259(4))
|
|
|
Premiums - Less Experienced Drivers
 Alberta's auto insurance reforms will see accessible premiums for less-experienced drivers, capped by a grid. As drivers gain experience and drive without claims and convictions, their premiums will improve further.
With each claims-free year, drivers move one level down the grid. Drivers with 10 or more years of driving without claims reach the bottom of the grid, capping their rates at 50 per cent of the entry-level premium, and into the competitive market . Even drivers who are on the grid can be offered greater discounts than the grid offers, but no driver can be offered a lesser discount than their level requires.
Grid premiums will be set solely on driving history, region, and liability coverage. The Fair Practices Regulation will continue to prohibit cancellation or refusal of coverage on the basis of age, gender and marital status. The reforms also include an " all-comers rule ". This rule ensures that an insurer see that a policy is available to anyone who applies.
Grid Premiums
1. Compulsory insurance, consisting of personal liability and property damage (PL/PD) insurance coverage at $1,000,000 and $50,000 Accident Benefit coverage, will begin at the following premiums:
- Calgary: maximum $1,800
- Edmonton: maximum $1,980
- Rest of Alberta: maximum $1,440
This is the maximum of what an individual with no experience and no at-fault claims would pay.
People with driver training would start two levels down the grid from the beginning, for the first two years.
Less-experienced drivers currently paying premiums lower than their grid calculation will continue to be charged the lower rate , in the regulated competitive market .
Less-experienced drivers whose grid rate is lower than they now pay will see their premiums reduced.
The 10 per cent difference between Edmonton and Calgary rates will be eliminated over the next three years.
2. Different levels of liability coverage will also be available on the grid:
- $200,000: 15 % less
- $500,000: 10% less
- $2,000,000: 10% more
3. For each year of experience , the driver moves one level down the grid.
4. For each at-fault claim , the driver moves five levels up the grid.
5. Conviction surcharges would then be applied for
6. Occasional drivers who have less than eight years experience may be charged a maximum of 25 per cent of their grid calculation , if the primary driver of the vehicle is on the grid. There will be no charge for occasional drivers with more than eight years of experience and clean driving records.
For example, a new occasional driver in Calgary with no at-fault claims or convictions would pay maximum 25 per cent of the $1,800 entry level premium, or a maximum of $450 , if the primary driver is on the grid. Under the old system, this driver could be charged up to 50 per cent of the market rate, which could mean paying $1,500 or more.
Premiums — Good, Experienced Drivers 
About 80 per cent of Alberta drivers are good and experienced. These drivers generally now pay premiums that are comparable with other western provinces, and under the reformed auto insurance system, their premiums for basic insurance will be rolled back five per cent once the new system is in place, and will remain competitive in the future.
Cost savings that result from the new system will also benefit these drivers through more stability and predictability in future premiums.
As long as good, experienced drivers maintain a clean driving record, the grid will only serve to cap their premiums and keep them fair and affordable.
Occasional drivers who have less than eight years experience may be charged a maximum of 25 per cent of the grid calculation , if the primary driver for the vehicle is also on the grid. Under the old system, occasional drivers could be charged up to 50 per cent of the market premium.
There will be no charge for occasional drivers who have more than eight years of experience and clean driving records.
Collisions and convictions below the grid
Under the new system, drivers paying premiums below the grid who have an at-fault claim could only see their premiums increase to the maximum of their lowest grid premium.
In this way, the grid serves to cap the premiums and limit premium increases for otherwise good drivers who experience rare collisions.
Insurers will compare their market premium and the grid premium for the driver, and are required to charge the lower of the two . Having more than one at-fault claim or traffic convictions would result in the driver's premium moving onto the grid.
Drivers can earn their way back off the grid into the competitive market through safe driving practices.
As with any competitive market, consumers are encouraged to shop around to compare prices for coverage with several companies to find the combination of price and product that best suits them.
To avoid customer confusion and to promote transparency, standardized forms will be developed, showing how premiums are determined. Insurers will also use plain language to explain the rating criteria used to set premiums for each customer.
» List of Companies Operating in Alberta (Alberta Finance)
|
