Study guide3 min read

Speed limits, school zones and playground zones in Alberta

A speed limit is the most you may drive when conditions are ideal. It is not a target. Here are Alberta’s default limits, the hours for school and playground zones, and the other places where you must slow down.p. 27

Checked against the Driver’s Guide (Spring 2026) on Oct 11, 2026.

The short version

Unless a sign says otherwise: 50 km/h in towns and cities, 80 km/h on other roads outside towns, and 100 km/h on provincial highways outside towns.p. 27
School zones: 30 km/h on school days only, 8:00–9:30 a.m., 11:30 a.m.–1:30 p.m. and 3:00–4:30 p.m., unless other times are posted.p. 30 p. 31
Playground zones: 30 km/h every day, from 8:30 a.m. to one hour after sunset, unless other times are posted.p. 31
In construction zones, the limit applies at all times, and speeding fines double when workers are present.p. 37

Default speed limits in Alberta

When no sign shows a different limitp. 27
Road	Maximum speed
Any road in a town or city	50 km/h
Provincial highway inside a city	80 km/h
Other roads outside towns and cities	80 km/h
Provincial highway outside towns and cities	100 km/h

A provincial highway has a route marker with a single-digit, two-digit or three-digit number. Local roads usually have a name or a number instead, like TWP RD 52 or RGE RD 252.p. 27

Towns and cities can set different limits by bylaw, so always follow the posted signs.p. 27

A few things people get wrong:

Driving under the limit can still be illegal: any speed that is unsafe for the conditions is illegal.p. 27
You may not go over the limit to pass another vehicle.p. 72
Driving much slower than traffic can be a hazard too. Drive with the flow of traffic.p. 49

The tab under a curve sign is the recommended top speed for that curve in ideal conditions, not a limit for the whole road.p. 33

School zones and school areas

School zone: the school sign with a speed limit. Don’t go over that speed while the zone is in effect.p. 30
School area: the school sign with no speed limit. Children may be walking or crossing, so drive with care.p. 31
End of the zone: a sign with a higher speed limit, or a sign marking the end of the school zone.p. 31

When a school zone is in effect (unless other times are posted)p. 30 p. 31
Days	Times	Speed limit
School days only	8:00–9:30 a.m., 11:30 a.m.–1:30 p.m., 3:00–4:30 p.m.	30 km/h

Some towns and cities use different hours. When they do, the times are posted under the school sign.p. 31
While the zone is in effect, you may not pass, or try to pass, a vehicle going the same way.p. 31

Playground zones and playground areas

Playground zone: the playground sign with a speed limit. Don’t go over that speed while the zone is in effect.p. 31
Playground area: the playground sign with no speed limit. Children may be near, so drive with care.p. 32
End of the zone: a sign with a higher speed limit, or a sign marking the end of the playground zone.p. 32

When a playground zone is in effect (unless other times are posted)p. 31
Days	Times	Speed limit
Every day	8:30 a.m. to one hour after sunset	30 km/h

The big difference from school zones: playground zones apply every day, not only on school days, and they run into the evening.p. 31 p. 30
Some towns and cities use different hours. When they do, the times are posted under the playground sign.p. 31
While the zone is in effect, you may not pass, or try to pass, a vehicle going the same way.p. 31

Construction zones

Speeding fines double in a construction zone when workers are present.p. 37

Obey the construction zone limit at all times, even when nobody is working: bumps, fresh oil and loose gravel may still be there.p. 37
Follow the flag person’s signal, and be ready to slow down or stop.p. 37

The orange construction signs, one by one: Alberta road signs and their meanings.

Other places you must slow down

Pedestrian crossing with flashing yellow lights: slow to 30 km/h at most, and yield or stop for pedestrians.p. 24
Emergency vehicles or tow trucks stopped with their lights flashing: in the lane next to them, slow to 60 km/h, or the posted limit if it’s lower. Speeding fines there are doubled.p. 85

More on passing emergency vehicles, tow trucks and snowplows: Emergency vehicles, tow trucks and snowplows in Alberta. The demerit points for speeding: Demerit points in Alberta.