Westworld Alberta

WELCOME HOME Moved to Alberta? Get the right paperwork so you can drive legally here. ama.ab.ca/ WelcomeHome I've just arrived from another province. How do I get an Alberta licence? You'll need to register it within 90 days and have to get an out-of-province inspection done. Depending on the age of the vehicle and its history, you may be exempt. Under the law, you can't hold two licences at the same time, so be prepared to surrender your old one. You'll need to take a vision test, but as long your out-of-province licence is valid, you won't need to take the written or road exam. I brought my car with me from another province. Do I need to register it? Yes, you'll need to register it within 90 days and you'll have to get an out-of- province inspection done. All vehicles brought into Alberta must be registered within 90 days of estab- lishing permanent residency. Depending on the age of the vehicle and its history, you may be exempt. I've just arrived from another country. Can I exchange my licence? If you're from a reciprocal country (Australia, Austria, Belgium, France, Germany, Isle of Man, Japan, Northern Ireland, Republic of Korea, Switzerland, Taiwan, United Kingdom and the United States), you have 90 days to exchange your out-of-country licence for an Alberta class 5 driver's licence. You'll need to bring in your old licence and proof of residency. Depending on your age or licence you are applying for, you may need to have a driver's medical exam done by a physician. I've never driven in snow before? Can I take lessons? AMA offers a half-day winter driving program to help new drivers learn how to drive safely in Alberta win- ters. In this in-class and in-vehicle program, you'll also learn emergency manoeuvres and skid recovery, as well as understanding visibility, traction, steering, braking and accelerating. AMA also offers Brush-up Lessons, which allow you to customize your learning to suit your driving needs. AMADriverEducation.ca 38 W E S T W O R L D A L B E R T A | F A L L 2 0 1 5 lots of pedestrians walking into traffic against the lights, says Habte. "When I drive here in Alberta, I feel very comfort- able because people obey the rules and they're enforced." Distracted driving, and drinking and driving laws increase road safety, he says. While there are differences, the task of driving remains the same. "You must be focused. You always have to be aware of what's around you, who is coming and where are they going." He recalls his first attempt at driving in the snow and what it was like to brake on ice for the first time. e day after he bought his car, a snowstorm blanketed the city with several inches of snow. Although he knew winter driving required more caution and attention, he wasn't comfortable driving in the snow that day. He took the bus to work and ventured out the next day when the roads were plowed. But, he still had a close call. "I pressed on the brake at an intersection and my car slid the other way. Luckily, it was early in the morning and no other cars were around me." You learn quickly how to adjust your driving for the road conditions, says Habte. "The more I drove in snow, the easier it got. You just have to slow down and drive cautiously." This winter will be Habte's second year of winter driving and with some experience now behind him, he's ready to embrace winter. W DRIVING Whether you're looking to renew or register your vehicle, take your class 1-7, or Airbrake written test, pay a traffic fine or put new plates on your vehicle, AMA Registries can help. Visit us online at AMARegistries.ca or come into any AMA centre. SAFER CITY DRIVING IN SIX STEPS Navigating the concrete jungle in a car can be a beast. Here's how to cope. 1 Undivide your attention. Urban driving demands concentration. Imagine: on your left, bumper-to-bumper cars, buses, taxis and motorcycles. On your right, cyclists. Add to that pedestrians crossing, trucks honking and signs and signals at every turn. Why would you involve distraction as a contributing factor to that mix? One in three collisions are caused by distraction; plus, if you're caught driving distracted, it's a $288 ticket. 2 Watch for flashing lights. When emergency-response vehicles such as ambulances and tow trucks are stopped with their lights on, you must slow down to 60 km/h or the posted speed limit, to pass – whichever is slower. This also applies to the lane of traffic next to where the emergency vehicle is stopped. Traffic fines are double in these areas. Give these vehicles room to work.

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