Borrowed from the Alberta Traffic Safty site:
http://www.saferoads.com/drivers/drivers/gdl_qa.html
Alberta Graduated Motorcycle Licensing Program
What is graduated driver licensing (GDL)?
Graduated driver licensing (GDL) is a program designed to improve road safety by creating a lower risk, more controlled environment for new drivers, regardless of age. It provides new drivers with the support, skills and experience they need to handle the complex task of driving.
Driver inexperience is the common factor in collisions involving new drivers. Alberta has introduced this program because statistics show that the 48,000 new drivers entering the licensing system each year have a much higher collision risk. GDL provides new drivers the opportunity to gain experience, skills and maturity before graduating to more demanding driving conditions in order that they become safe and responsible drivers.
What are the goals of Graduated Driver Licensing?
Reduce collisions, injuries and deaths in Alberta.
Reinforce driving is a privilege and not a right.
Create safer drivers early on and throughout their lives by reinforcing safe driving practices.
All provinces that have implemented a GDL program have experienced significant decreases in the collision rates of new drivers.
Who will be affected by GDL?
This program will affect all new drivers, regardless of age.
Do Albertans support GDL?
There is strong support of GDL in Alberta and throughout North America. Insurance industry surveys show a very strong support for "zero alcohol tolerance." Albertans recognize the program can save lives and reduce injuries by reducing the chance of collisions.
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General Program Conditions
What are the rules and conditions under GDL?
To obtain a Learner's Licence (Class 7) you must:
Be 14 years of age or older
Pass a vision test and a written knowledge test on the rules of the road
Have parental consent if you are younger than 18 years of age
Conditions for Learners
Must hold a Learner's Licence (Class 7) for at least one year
Must be accompanied by a fully licensed (non-probationary) driver who is 18 years of age or older and who is seated next to the driver
Not permitted to drive from midnight to 5 a.m.
No more passengers than seat belts
Fewer demerit points (8) are allowed than for fully licensed drivers
Have a zero alcohol level
To become a Probationary Driver you must:
Be 16 years of age or older
Pass the standard Alberta road test
Conditions for Probationary Drivers
Must spend a minimum of two years as a Probationary Driver
No more passengers than seat belts
Fewer demerit points (8) are allowed than for fully licensed drivers
Have a zero alcohol level
No upgrading to a commercial licence
Cannot serve as an accompanying driver to a Learner
To become a fully licensed driver (Class 5) you must:
Have been suspension free for the last year of the two year Probationary Stage
Pass an advanced road test
What if I drive a motorcycle?
If you apply for a Motorcycle Licence (Class 6) after your Learner’s Licence (Class 7), you will be subject to the conditions under the GDL program.
If I currently hold a Class 5 licence and wish to obtain a Class 6 licence after May 20th, 2003, will I be part of GDL?
No. The GDL program is for first time drivers only. Even if after GDL is in place you move through the three year program and get your Class 5 licence, should you decide to obtain a Class 6 motorcycle licence or upgrade to a higher level of licence, you will not be required to go through the program again.
If I currently hold a Class 7 licence and wish to obtain a Class 6 licence after May 20th, 2003, will I be part of GDL?
Yes, you will serve the conditions of GDL specific to Class 6. The brochure entitled, "New Rules for New Riders" is available at registry agent offices throughout the province.
If I have a valid class 1 thru 5 driver licence and wish to get my motorcycle licence (class 6) will GDL apply to me?
No, it will not. The GDL program for Class 6 only applies to only first time riders holding a Class 7 licence that choose to get their class 6 as their first licence.
If I choose to get my class 6 licence (without having any other class of licence) after my class 7 licence does GDL apply to me?
Yes, it does. GDL applies to all first time riders, class 6 for motorcycle or class 5 for vehicles.
How long will it take to become a fully licensed driver?
It will take a minimum of three years to complete both stages of Graduated Driver Licensing, four years if you get your Learner’s Licence at 14 years of age.
To move from one stage to the next, drivers must show responsible driving behavior, sound driving skills and pass road tests to graduate from the learner and probationary stages.
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Program Conditions
Why is Alberta introducing a second test?
Alberta will introduce the advanced road test in May 2005. An advanced road test will assess whether drivers can handle the complex driving situations in the safe and responsible manner necessary to become a fully licensed driver. It is much more challenging that the initial road test. Drivers would be expected to:
display smooth, controlled vehicle handling skills
demonstrate that they can assess potential risks
minimize and avoid hazards
What will the rules be regarding moving out of the probationary stage of GDL?
Alberta Infrastructure and Transportation is presently preparing the policy that will guide the implementation of the advanced road test scheduled to be introduced in May 2005. Alberta will review the experience of other jurisdictions that have introduced an advanced road test to determine the best practices.
Why can’t I drive after midnight?
The midnight to 5:00 A.M. curfew applies to Learner Drivers only. Staying off the road when the risks are highest is a good way to avoid collisions:
half of the fatal collisions involving new drivers happen at night;
people are tired;
it’s harder to see; and
impaired driving occurs more often late at night.
These factors put lives in danger; especially for new drivers who are still developing the skills they need to avoid collisions. If you are out after midnight, your accompanying driver, who is 18 years or older and who is not a probationary driver, could take over the driving responsibility.
Why must there be a seat belt for every passenger?
Seat belts are the best way to avoid injury in a collision. This condition ensures that the vehicle is not overcrowded and everyone is protected in case of a collision.
Why am I not allowed to consume any alcohol before driving?
Under the GDL program, learners and probationary drivers shall not consume any alcohol before driving. Driving is a very complex skill that requires full attention. Alcohol impairs skill and judgment especially for new drivers who may already be experiencing driving challenges. Consuming even a small amount of alcohol can be dangerous.
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Violation Of Program Conditions
What will happen if I breach any GDL program condition?
Violating any program condition may result in a new driver being charged with an offence as outlined below:
Conditions
Proposed Penalty
Zero tolerance for alcohol
Immediate 30 day suspension
No more passengers than seat belts
$100 fine & 2 demerit points
Driving after midnight (Learner Drivers only)
$100 fine & 2 demerit points
Accompanying driver
$200 fine & 2 demerit points
Note: If a novice driver’s licence is suspended with 8 or more demerit points, the licence will be reinstated following the suspension with 3 demerit points.
Effective intervention strategies will be in place that will enable Alberta Infrastructure and Transportation to quickly identify problem driving behaviors that could be corrected by having the driver attend courses.
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Transition Plan
If I already have my learner’s licence, will I have to go through the
GDL program?
Learner Drivers (Class 7)
All drivers who have a learner’s licence that was issued before May 20, 2003, will not have to serve the minimum learning period of one year before being eligible to take the road test to qualify to be a probationary driver. However, they will be subject to all other conditions of the GDL program:
zero blood alcohol content
fully licensed driver (non-probationary) of at least 18 years of age who is seated next to the driver
no more passengers than seat belts
not permitted to drive between midnight and 5:00 A.M.
less than 8 demerit points to exit the learner category.
Class 7 drivers who successfully pass a Class 5 or 6 road test on or after May 20, 2003 will be subject to all the conditions of the GDL Probationary Program.
Present PROBATIONARY Drivers (Class 5)
Alberta presently has a probationary driver program in place that means all new drivers spend two years on probation. Their driving record is monitored during that period and if they incur demerit points they would have sanctions earlier than a fully licensed driver, including extension of probation. Drivers on probation on May 20, 2003 will have their driving behavior monitored until they finish probation.
Existing Alberta Drivers (Classes 1-6)
Drivers who have a Class 1 to Class 6 licence that was issued before May 20, 2003 will not be subject to GDL.
Note: New drivers are encouraged not to rush into taking a road test before GDL is put in place. You must have adequate study, practice and experience before taking the Alberta road test.
If I pass my Class 5 road test before May 20, 2003 but do not upgrade my licence from a Class 7 to a Class 5 until May 20, 2003 or after, will I be subject to GDL conditions?
Yes. Although you passed your Class 5 road test before May 20, 2003 if you did not have your Class 7 operator's licence "re-classed" by a registry agent to a Class 5 until May 20, 2003 or later, you will be affected by GDL and be subject to all Probationary Driver (GDL Class 5) conditions as follows:
Must spend a minimum of 2 years as a Probationary Driver
No more passengers than seat belts
Fewer demerits points are allowed than for fully licensed drivers
Have a zero alcohol level
No upgrading to a commercial licence
Cannot serve as an accompanying driver to a learner
Must pass an advanced road test.
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Information For New Albertans
I have come from another province’s GDL program. How will I be affected by Alberta’s GDL?
You will be given credit in Alberta for time spent in the other GDL program. You will have to meet all of the conditions of Alberta’s requirements to be fully licensed.
Will drivers coming from jurisdictions outside of Alberta, who have many years driving experience, be subject to the minimum three year requirement to complete both stages of GDL?
Drivers coming from jurisdictions outside of Alberta will need to provide documented proof that they have held a driver's licence for a two-year period. If the required documentation is not available, drivers would be issued a probationary licence until such time as driving experience is confirmed. Those drivers who have not held their licence for a two-year period would be provided with a probationary licence.
What is acceptable documentation to prove two years driving experience?
Any document which states the original date of issue of your driver’s licence and/or confirms two years previous driving experience is acceptable (i.e., the actual driver licence, driver abstract)
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Additional GDL Information
Will the age to learn to drive change when GDL comes in?
The minimum age in which you can obtain a Learner’s Licence is 14 years old. This age will not change with the implementation of GDL. It is considered that all supervised practice is very beneficial and encouraged.
I plan to drive a moped with a Class 7 licence as I am currently allowed to. Under the Graduated Driver Licensing Program will anything change?
If you drive a moped with a Class 7 licence, you will be subject to two conditions of GDL:
You may not consume any alcohol prior to driving.
You must abide by the driving restriction in force between midnight and 5:00 a.m.
What happens if I move out of province while under GDL?
Almost all provinces have a GDL program; therefore, your time in the program in Alberta will be credited toward the requirement in that province.
What impact will GDL have on insurance for new drivers?
The insurance incentive in place that results from successful completion of driver training will continue to be in place. Otherwise, GDL will have no impact on insurance rates in the foreseeable future.
How will my Graduated Driver Licence look different from a regular operator’s licence?
Your licence will have the letters GDL clearly identified to ensure that law enforcement is aware that you are subject to driving conditions.
Under the GDL Program will a Class 7 or Class 5 GDL driver be required to display a sign in the vehicle they are driving to identify them as a novice driver?
This is not a requirement for Alberta's GDL program. The actual driver's licence will be the only thing which will differentiate a GDL driver from a fully licensed driver.
Can a driver under the GDL program take a Defensive Driving (DDC) course to reduce the demerit points on their record?
Yes. If a client is suspended at 8 demerit points, but completed the merit credit course (DDC) prior to the conviction that caused the demerit suspension, they will be credited three points.
I currently hold a probationary licence. Will I be affected by the new GDL program?
No. The province of Alberta currently has a Probationary Driver Licence Program which has been in effect since 1988. This licence however, must not be confused with the new GDL program which includes a two year probationary period with conditions that come into effect on May 20th, 2003.
Can a driver under the GDL program take a Defensive Driving Course (DDC) to reduce the demerit points on their record?
Yes. If a novice driver successfully completes a course that is satisfactory to the Registrar while that person has 7 demerit points or less on their driving record, that person is entitled to have a reduction of up to 3 demerit points. You may take advantage of this demerit reduction procedure only once every 2 years.
Note: You must have at least 2 demerits on your driving record in order to apply the demerit reduction mentioned above.
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