Through a playground zone
School / Playground zones · Alberta Class 5 road test
Slow down before the sign, maintain 25–30 km/h in the zone, speed up only once the rear has passed the End sign
Watch the interactive demoHow to drive it
A 120 m playground zone on a 50 km/h neighbourhood collector road, the view following your car: arriving at 47 km/h + brake lightly about 38 m before the sign + down to 25–30 km/h when the front reaches the Start sign + maintain 25–30 km/h in the zone; two oncoming cars also keep to the signs on their side (you only see the backs of those signs) + speed back up to 47 only once the rear has passed the End sign
Common mistakes
Slowed down only after the Start sign
Road test: automatic fail — L5 Speeding violation
The front of the car passed the Start sign at 46 km/h. A playground zone starts at the Start sign: ease off the gas and brake lightly 30–50 m before it, so you're under 30 km/h by the time the front of the car reaches the sign. Brake only at the sign and you speed through the first stretch of the zone, and more than 10 km/h over the limit is an automatic fail.
Watch this mistake →Allowed speed to creep up in the zone
Road test: 10 points — G1 Too fast for conditions
In the zone your speed crept up to 33 km/h. In the zone, check your speedometer often, keep your foot light on the gas and ready to brake, and hold 25–30 km/h; let your speed creep up unnoticed and 31–40 km/h is 10 points, while over 40 is an automatic fail.
Watch this mistake →Sped up at the sight of the End sign
Road test: 10 points — G1 Too fast for conditions
Still in the zone, you were already at 36 km/h. Seeing the End sign doesn't mean you've left the zone: speed up only once the rear of the car has fully passed it. Accelerate while still in the zone and you're speeding all the way to the sign.
Watch this mistake →Drove too slowly in the zone
Road test: 10 points — G2 Too slow for conditions
You drove only 19 km/h in the zone with no car ahead holding you up. A speed zone sets a maximum, not "the slower the better": with no car ahead holding you up, driving well under the limit (this demo uses under 20 km/h) is too slow, and the examiner marks Too slow for conditions; 25–30 km/h is safest.
Watch this mistake →Related scenarios
- A playground zone across an intersectionEnter the zone on the side road; after turning left onto the main road, still maintain 25–30 km/h until the End sign
- A slow car in a playground zoneDon't pass the slow car ahead; follow it to the End sign
- A pedestrian crossing in a school zoneA child is crossing: stop before the crosswalk and wait until they reach the other side