Driving mistakes happen. No driver is perfect, and there will inevitably be mistakes they make when they’re out on the road. What are the most common driving mistakes that can get you ticketed in Calgary, though? They range from speeding to hit and runs to careless driving, and they all come with fines and demerit points that go on your driving record and can eventually lead to a license suspension.
We’ve been helping Calgarians when they get ticketed for driving mistakes for years and have learned a lot along the way. Here’s what you need to know about some common driving mistakes that result in tickets.
Key Takeaways
- Common costly mistakes: speeding, excessive speeding, failing to stop (signs/lights), failing to yield, careless driving, hit & run, suspended license, no insurance, and distracted driving.
- Penalties include hefty fines, demerit points, insurance hikes, vehicle impoundments, and license suspensions.
- Even minor errors (rolling stops, slight speeding) add points that can accumulate quickly (15 points = suspension).
- Serious offences (excessive speeding, careless driving, hit & run, suspended license, no insurance) carry mandatory court appearances and major consequences.
- Always worth fighting tickets — We Defend reviews tickets for errors and builds strong cases to reduce or eliminate penalties.
Why You Need to Know About Driving Mistakes That Can Get You Ticketed
Most of us drive every day in Alberta, and it’s easy to form bad habits that lead to driving mistakes and expensive tickets. When those tickets add up, it’s not only expensive in terms of fines and insurance increases, but also getting 15 demerit points can lead to a suspended license.
Remind yourself of the common driving mistakes that often lead to tickets in Alberta, and then do your best to avoid them. If a mistake does happen, though, contacting We Defend is the right call.
10 Driving Mistakes That Get You Ticketed in Calgary
- Speeding
Fine: Between $81 and $495, depending on how fast you were going.
Demerit Points: Between 2 and 4 demerit points.
What It Is: The cost of speeding tickets goes way beyond the amount you were fined. Insurance premiums rise, and your driving record is affected, so it’s always worth fighting a speeding ticket to get the penalties reduced or eliminated.
- Excessive Speeding
Fine: Up to $2,000.
Demerit Points: 6 & license suspension
What It Is: Excessive speeding tickets are given out to anyone who is going more than 50 kilometres per hour above the speed limit, and they come with serious consequences. They are expensive driving mistakes that come with a mandatory court appearance, where a judge can impose a fine or even a license suspension of up to three months.
Fighting an excessive speeding ticket is always, always worthwhile, as it helps you avoid the worst of the penalties.
- Failure to Obey a Stop Sign
Fine: $405.
Demerit Points: 3.
What It Is: Among the most common driving mistakes that can earn you a ticket is failing to obey a stop sign. Even rolling up to a stop sign and not stopping completely can result in an expensive ticket that affects your driving record and will increase your insurance premiums.
- Failure to Obey a Red Light
Fine: $405.
Demerit Points: 3
What to Do: Calgary Police Services uses red light cameras to catch drivers who don’t stop at a red light, and these driving mistakes come with big fines and 4 demerit points. These tickets can happen even when you thought you had time to get through on a yellow light, but just barely misjudged.
- Failure to Yield to a Pedestrian at a Crosswalk
Fine: $810.
Demerit Points: 4.
What It Is: Pedestrians have the right-of-way at crosswalks, so as a driver, you need to stop and let them cross. Not doing so comes with a huge fine and 4 demerit points, so fighting a Failure to Yield to a Pedestrian at a Crosswalk ticket is important. Arguing that the actions of the pedestrian were unpredictable or that you simply didn’t have time to stop can both be compelling defences.
- Careless Driving
Fine: Up to $2,000.
Demerit Points: 6.
What to Do: Careless driving charges can be for a number of different driving mistakes under the Alberta Traffic Safety Act, including racing another car, tailgating too closely, or driving without headlights in the dark. The important factor is that you have to be deemed to have put the public’s safety at risk, so the goal of fighting a careless driving ticket should be to prove that you were driving safely and not putting anyone in danger.
- Hit and Run
Fine: Up to $2,000.
Demerit Points: 7.
What It Is: Hit and Run tickets are serious, and the repercussions are no joke. They’re the most serious driving mistakes you can make in Alberta, even if you just lightly tapped another car in a parking lot and didn’t stop to leave a note identifying yourself. They come with a mandatory court appearance, so fighting them is logical.
- Driving with a Suspended License
Fine: up to $2,000.
Penalty: Vehicle automatically impounded for 30 days 6 month suspension
What It Is: Your license can be suspended for accumulating demerit points, impaired driving, or administrative reasons, and you cannot drive when your license is suspended. Fighting a suspended license ticket can save you money both in terms of fines and expensive increases in insurance premiums.
- Driving Without Insurance
Fine: Maximum $10,000 – $3000 1st offence
What to Do: You need insurance if you’re going to drive on Alberta’s roads, plain and simple. It’s your responsibility as a driver to make sure the car you’re driving is insured, although at We Defend, we can make the argument in court that you couldn’t have reasonably known that your vehicle was uninsured.
- Distracted Driving
Fine: $300.
Demerit Points: 3.
What It Is: Whether you’re using a cell phone, texting, entering GPS info, or even writing while you’re driving, you could be hit with a distracted driving ticket. These common driving mistakes are punished even if no other infraction has occurred and come with hefty fines and demerit points on your driving record, which could eventually add up to a license suspension.
How to Fight Tickets for Driving Mistakes in Calgary
Driving mistakes do happen, and you don’t need to simply accept the consequences and pay your fine. Increases in insurance premiums can make that incredibly costly in the long run, and it only takes 15 demerit points in a 2-year period to get your license suspended.
So instead of just pleading guilty, fight your ticket with We Defend.
We’ll carefully review your ticket for inconsistencies and then use our decades of experience to craft an argument that gives you the best chance at reducing or avoiding the penalties that come with your ticket.
Fight Your Ticket with We Defend
Don’t let driving mistakes ruin your life. Tickets can be costly and disruptive, but drivers who made a mistake on the road don’t have to just accept their fate, plead guilty, and deal with the repercussions. At We Defend, we will guide you through every step of the process of fighting a ticket and give you the best chance at success.
Increase your chances of staying on the road by contacting us today for a free consultation.