Speed Limits & Special Zones

The speed numbers are easy — the trap is that school zones and playground zones follow different logic for when they're "in effect."

  • Provincial highway: 100 km/h outside a city, 80 km/h inside; other roads: 80 km/h outside a city, 50 km/h in town. These are provincial defaults; obey different posted or municipal limits.
  • School/playground zones while in effect: 30 km/h; a "slow-moving vehicle" (requiring the slow sign) is anything under 40 km/h
  • When in the closest lane to a stopped roadside vehicle with flashing lights, move over safely. If you cannot, slow to 60 km/h or the posted limit, whichever is lower. This includes maintenance vehicles; speeding fines are doubled.
  • School zones: in effect on school days only, in three windows — 8:00–9:30am, 11:30am–1:30pm (the one people forget), and 3:00–4:30pm; passing is prohibited while in effect. Municipalities may post different times or limits; read the signs.
  • Playground zones: in effect every day, including weekends, from 8:30am to one hour after sunset; passing is prohibited while in effect. Municipalities may post different times or limits; read the signs.
  • A flashing yellow pedestrian/school-zone warning light also means slow to 30 km/h and yield to pedestrians

Knowledge points and examples

School, playground, and construction-area signs, hours, speeds, and worker controls

Construction zone speed limits must be obeyed:

Construction zone speed limits must be obeyed at all times.

Unless local signs state different times, when are Alberta school-zone limits in effect on school days?

The standard school-zone periods are 8:00-9:30 AM, 11:30 AM-1:30 PM, and 3:00-4:30 PM on school days, unless a municipality posts different times.

Practise this topic · Traffic controls, signs, signals and road markings

Default or posted limits and selecting a lawful speed for actual conditions

Unless otherwise posted, what is the basic speed limit outside a city, town or village on a primary highway?

The default speed limit on primary highways outside municipalities in Alberta is 100 km/h unless a different limit is posted.

Speed limit signs indicate:

Speed limits indicate the maximum speed under favourable conditions.

Practise this topic · Speed, space, lanes and passing

Check your understanding

Choose an answer to see feedback. These short checks are separate from your practice statistics.

Under the provincial default hours and limit, does a playground zone apply at 10am on Saturday?
Under the provincial default, how many school-day time windows apply to a school zone?
In a construction zone with no workers present, does the posted speed limit still apply?
A "slow-moving vehicle" requiring the slow sign is defined as under what speed?
Is passing allowed while a school zone limit is in effect?

Sources and updates

Adapted from the AB Driver’s Guide study project, with illustrations and checks. The French translation is a study aid. Refer to Alberta’s official guide and current topic pages for the rules; local signs can set different requirements.

Integration and linked-source review: