Don't let tickets haunt your driving record this Halloween
Arrive 3 minutes late and skip the fright. Save yourself years of consequences and sleep tight tonight!
Halloween puts more kids on foot and more drivers on the road after dark. Here’s the spooky truth:
- Cellphone use while driving is a major conviction. The fine is $390 and 3 demerit points.
- Speeding up to 50 km/h over, following too close, failing to yield, running stop signs and red lights, unsafe lane changes and failing to signal are all minor convictions.
- Both minor and major convictions can count toward your premium for 3 years.
So what does speeding really gain? A few minutes, at most. Arrive 3 minutes later and save yourself years of consequences.
Phone away, speed down, signal, stop and leave some space. No ghosting your good driving sense! 👻
Why Does Halloween Call for Extra Driving Care?
On Halloween night the streets are alive with kids:
- 🎃 Little ghouls on foot in dark costumes, crossing streets and driveways
- 🌙 Low light after an early sunset
- 🚗 More cars circling neighbourhoods for pickups and parties
It is recommended pedestrians wear bright or light-coloured clothing or reflective strips and make eye contact with drivers before they cross. Drivers, your part is easy: slow down, scan ahead and be ready to stop, so no one gets a scare and no one gets hurt.
Is Cellphone Use a Major Conviction? (Yes. It’s a Real Monster.)
Yes. AIRB’s Technical Guidance lists distracted driving as a major conviction. This includes using a cellphone or electronic device, reading, writing, grooming (personal hygiene) and programming a GPS while driving.
According to the law, the penalty is $390 and 3 demerit points. The rules apply even at a red light. Hands-free or voice-activated use is allowed.
📱 A text on the road is a trick, not a treat. Your driving record will not stay neat.
Tip: Set up your music and directions before you start the engine and put your phone out of reach. Don’t let those notifications haunts you while you drive.
What Else Counts as a Major Conviction?
Major convictions are the vampires of the traffic world. They stick around. The list includes:
- Distracted driving
- Speeding more than 50 km/h over the limit
- Any speeding in a school or playground zone
- Careless driving
- Racing
- Failing to stop for a school bus
- Failing to stop for a peace officer
- Failing to remain at the scene of an accident
According to AIRB, insurers can consider convictions in their rating programs. A major conviction can count toward your premium for 3 years. A Criminal Code conviction counts for 4 years. 🧛
What Are Minor Convictions? (Little frights which still bite) 🕷️
“Minor” doesn’t mean “no big deal.” These can count toward your premium for 3 years, too. Here’s AIRB’s list of everyday habits which are minor convictions:
| Habit | What AIRB’s minor list says |
| Speeding | Don’t be a speed demon. Up to 50 km/h over the limit, in steps (up to 15, over 15 to 30, over 30 to 50). Also speeding at an unreasonable rate of speed. 🚗💨 |
| Following too close | Don’t be a tailgating ghost. Keep your distance from the car ahead of you🚘 |
| Failing to yield | Give way, don’t slay! Failing to yield right of way to a vehicle (at an intersection, yield sign, traffic circle, merge sign, green light or flashing yellow). Also failing to yield to a pedestrian, on a crosswalk. ⚠️ |
| Stop signs and red lights | Stop. Don’t be a rolling through zombie. Failing to stop at a stop sign, red light, flashing red light, or yellow light at an intersection. Also proceeding when unsafe after stopping. 🛑 |
| Unsafe lane changes | Don’t swerve like a bat! Making an unsafe lane change and other traffic lane violations ↔️ |
| Failing to signal | Signal, don’t spook! Failing to signal when changing lanes, turning or stopping 💡 |
Good to know: Speeding in a school or playground zone is always a major conviction, even at a speed which would be minor elsewhere.
What Does Speeding Really Gain? ⏱️
Let’s put on our thinking hats and unravel this knot:
- What you gain: A few minutes, at most, on most city trips.
- What you risk: A conviction which can count toward your premium for 3 years. A collision and an at-fault claim can count for 6 years and most of all, you risk harm to yourself or someone else.
AIRB’s 2026 report shows the average cost of a collision claim in Alberta has risen about 46.9% since 2021. A rushed drive can be a costly one.
Speed up to save a minute or two? The cost can haunt you, it’s true. Arrive 3 minutes later. Save yourself years of consequences.
How Can I Drive Safer? The “Boo-tiful” Checklist 🦇
Yielding, Signalling, Merging, Stopping, Following distance. Let’s call it the YSMSF spell:
- Yielding: Be patient. A left-turning driver “must not turn until it is safe.” Small vehicles like motorcycles can appear farther away than they really are. If you’re behind a left-turner, don’t honk or crowd them.
- Signalling: Flash the light, show your plan, people are not mind-readers, no one can. Signal early when changing lanes, turning or stopping. It tells everyone, including kids, what you’re about to do.
- Merging: Check your mirrors and your spots, no force-fit in gap, merge a lot. Check your blind spot and don’t force a gap.
- Stopping: Full stop at the sign, no zombie roll, no “oops!” Come to a full stop at stop signs and red lights. Leave room in front of you when stopped at an intersection.
- Following distance: Give some space, don’t be too near, a 2-second gap is all which is here. It is advised to drive at least 2 seconds behind the vehicle ahead, or at least 4 seconds if driving a large vehicle such as a motor home. Following too closely earns a demerit point. If someone is tailgating you, slightly reduce your speed to encourage them to pass and don’t slam on your brakes.
How Long Do Tickets Haunt My Car Insurance? 👻
| What’s on your record | Counts toward your premium for |
| Minor or major traffic conviction | 3 years |
| Criminal Code conviction | 4 years |
| At-fault claim | 6 years |
This is why even one ticket can matter. Learn more at airbfordrivers.ca.
Summary 🎃
Halloween is meant to be fun, so don’t let the roads be the scary part. Put your phone away, ease off the gas, signal, stop fully and leave some space. A few extra minutes is a small price for a safe night and a clean record.
Phone away, speed down low, signal, stop and take it slow. Leave some space, give a wave, Arrive 3 minutes later and you’ll be safe!
Happy Halloween, Alberta! Drive safe and don’t let a ticket be the thing haunting you. 🎃👻🦇
Frequently Asked Questions
Is using a cellphone while driving a major conviction in Alberta? Yes. According to AIRB, distracted driving, including using a cellphone or electronic device, is a major conviction. The penalty is a $390 fine and 3 demerit points.
What is the difference between a minor and a major conviction? AIRB groups traffic offences into minor and major convictions. Minor examples include speeding up to 50 km/h over the limit, following too close, failing to yield, failing to stop at a stop sign or red light, unsafe lane changes and failing to signal. Major examples include distracted driving, speeding more than 50 km/h over the limit, any speeding in a school or playground zone, careless driving and racing.
How long do traffic convictions affect my car insurance in Alberta? Under AIRB’s guidance, minor and major convictions count for 3 years and Criminal Code convictions count for 4 years. At-fault claims affect premiums for 6 years.
Is speeding a minor or major conviction? It depends. Speeding up to 50 km/h over the limit is minor. Speeding more than 50 km/h over is major. Any speeding in a school or playground zone is major.
Is running a red light or stop sign a minor conviction? Yes. AIRB lists failing to stop at a stop sign, at a red light and at a flashing red light as minor convictions.
How far behind should I follow another vehicle in Alberta? At least 2 seconds behind the vehicle ahead, or at least 4 seconds for a large vehicle such as a motor home.
How can I keep trick-or-treaters safe? Slow down, scan ahead, put your phone away and be ready to stop. Pedestrians should wear bright or reflective clothing and make eye contact with drivers before crossing.