Sharing the road and winter driving in Alberta

By the end of this topic you can

• You can yield to pedestrians and cyclists safely.
• You can keep clear of large vehicles' blind spots.
• You can respond correctly to emergency vehicles and snowplows.
• You can cross railway tracks safely.
• You can reduce the risk of wildlife collisions and winter skids.

What you need to know and understand

• You must yield to a pedestrian in a marked or unmarked crosswalk.
• At a flashing yellow pedestrian-activated light, slow to 30 km/h and yield to people waiting to cross.
• When an emergency vehicle approaches with a siren, pull to the right edge and stop until it passes.
• Stay at least 150 metres behind an emergency vehicle with lights or siren on.
• Flashing amber and red lights mean a snowplow ahead; do not pass when your view is blocked or it is unsafe.
• You must stop for a train approaching within 500 metres of a crossing.
• At a railway stop sign, stop between 5 and 15 metres from the nearest rail.

People on foot and on two wheels

When stopping for a pedestrian, stop two to three car lengths back so other drivers can see them. Never pass a car that is approaching or stopped at a crosswalk. A cyclist on a bicycle is a vehicle with the same rights as you; give them a full lane change when you pass, shoulder check right before turning, and check for cyclists before opening your door. Never share a lane with a motorcycle, and remember a rider near the left of their lane is not necessarily turning.

Big vehicles, plows and trains

• If you cannot see a truck's side mirrors, the driver cannot see you.
• Do not cut in front of a truck approaching a light; it needs more room to stop.
• Snowplow operators usually pull over every 5 to 8 kilometres to let traffic pass; wait for that.
• Trains can need a kilometre or more to stop. Never race one.
• Calgary and Edmonton LRT trains are quiet; never drive around lowered gates.

Wildlife and winter

Animals are most active at dusk and dawn, often in groups. Slow down in wildlife warning areas and scan the ditches for eyes reflecting your lights. In winter, watch for black ice, which looks shiny and dark, and remember shaded spots stay icy. Increase your following distance beyond the two-second minimum and carry emergency supplies such as booster cables, a flashlight and food.

Common mistakes

• Passing a stopped vehicle at a crosswalk without checking why it stopped.
• Squeezing alongside a right-turning truck.
• Following a snowplow too closely and catching sand and gravel.
• Overdriving your headlights on dark rural highways.

Test yourself: Sharing the road and winter driving in Alberta

Answer each question, then read the explanation. Questions come in a random order each time.

Go deeper

• Sharing Alberta Roads
• Alberta Road Test
• Mountain Driving in Alberta