AMA’s Demerit Reduction Defensive Driving Course (Online)

A speeding ticket. A missed stop sign. A moment of distraction. Demerit points add up faster than most Alberta drivers realize, and too many points can mean higher insurance costs, a damaged driving record, or even a licence suspension.

AMA’s Demerit Reduction Defensive Driving course gives you a practical way to take back control. This fully online course is certified by Alberta Transportation, which means that when you pass, you can take your certificate to any Alberta registry office and have up to 3 demerit points removed from your driving record.

But this course does more than clear points. Developed by the Alberta Motor Association, one of Canada’s most trusted names in driver education, it retrains the habits that earned those demerits in the first place. You’ll learn how unsafe driving behaviours like speeding and distracted driving lead to collisions, and you’ll build proactive strategies to avoid unnecessary risks in real Alberta driving conditions, from icy highways to congested city streets.

Because the course is delivered entirely online through the BIS Safety Software platform, you can complete it from home, on your schedule. No classroom, no commute, no time off work.

Course Overview: What You’ll Learn

This course covers the causes and consequences of unsafe driving, then equips you with proven defensive driving strategies you can apply immediately. Content is delivered in short, interactive online lessons you can complete at your own pace.

Understanding Unsafe Driving Behaviours

• How high-risk habits such as speeding, distracted driving, tailgating, and impatience develop and why they persist
• The real-world consequences of these behaviours: collisions, convictions, demerits, and rising insurance premiums
• Why it matters: You can’t fix a habit you don’t recognize. This module helps you honestly assess your own driving patterns.

How Driving Habits Connect to Traffic Safety

• The link between individual driver behaviour and collision statistics on Alberta roads
• Common crash types and the driver decisions that cause them
• Why it matters: Understanding why collisions happen is the foundation of preventing them, for yourself, your passengers, and other road users.

Proactive Defensive Driving Strategies

• Techniques for anticipating hazards before they become emergencies
• Managing space, speed, and visibility in traffic
• Avoiding unnecessary risks in challenging conditions, including winter driving, poor weather, and heavy traffic
• Why it matters: Defensive driving means staying safe regardless of what other drivers or road conditions throw at you.

Breaking Bad Habits for Good

• Practical exercises to replace risky behaviours with safe, proactive ones
• Building a driving mindset that keeps your record clean long after the course ends
• Why it matters: Removing demerits solves today’s problem. Changing your habits prevents tomorrow’s.

Final Exam and Certification

• Complete the course modules, then pass the final exam with a minimum score of 80%
• You have two attempts to pass the final exam
• Once you successfully pass, you will receive a certificate of completion from AMA
• Take your AMA certificate to any Alberta Registry to have up to 3 demerits removed from your record

Learning Outcomes

By the end of this course, you will be able to:

• Master the ability to recognize unsafe driving behaviours in yourself and others before they lead to collisions or convictions
• Apply proven techniques for hazard anticipation, space management, and collision avoidance in everyday driving
• Gain confidence in handling high-risk situations, including adverse weather, heavy traffic, and unpredictable drivers
• Develop skills in proactive decision-making that reduce your exposure to tickets, demerits, and at-fault collisions
• Learn how to maintain a clean driving record and protect your licence over the long term
• Earn an Alberta Transportation certified completion certificate that qualifies you for a reduction of up to 3 demerit points

Who Should Take This Course?

• Alberta drivers with demerits on their record who want to remove up to 3 points and protect their licence from suspension
• Drivers approaching the demerit limit. Fully licensed Alberta drivers face suspension at 15 points, and GDL (probationary) drivers at just 8, so acting early matters
• New and young drivers who want to build safe habits before bad ones take hold
• Professional and fleet drivers whose livelihood depends on a clean driving record, including delivery drivers, tradespeople, sales reps, and commercial operators
• Employers and safety managers looking to strengthen a driver safety program with government-certified training
• Any Alberta driver who wants to reduce collision risk and become a more confident, proactive driver, even without demerits to remove

Key Benefits

• Remove up to 3 demerits from your Alberta driving record. Pass the course, take your certificate to any Alberta registry office, and reduce your points. Demerit credit can be applied once every two years.
• Protect your licence. If you’re close to the suspension threshold, this course can be the difference between keeping your licence and losing it, along with your independence, your commute, or your job.
• Potentially lower your insurance costs. A cleaner driving record can support better insurance outcomes over time. (Check with your insurance provider for their specific rate policies.)
• Train on your schedule. The course is 100% online. No classroom sessions, no fixed dates, no travel to Calgary or Edmonton. Complete it from home, in the evenings, or on weekends.
• Learn skills that last. Unlike simply paying a fine and moving on, this course addresses the root cause: the habits behind the ticket. You’re less likely to be back in the same position next year.
• Trusted, government-certified training. The course is developed by AMA and certified by Alberta Transportation, so you know your certificate will be accepted at the registry office.

Why Enrol in This Course?

It’s the recognized path to demerit reduction in Alberta. Not every driving course qualifies. This program is certified by Alberta Transportation specifically for demerit reduction. Pass with 80% or higher, then take your AMA certificate of completion to any Alberta Registry to request a reduction of up to 3 demerit points.

It’s built by AMA. The Alberta Motor Association has trained generations of Alberta drivers. This isn’t generic content adapted for Canada. It’s Alberta-specific instruction built around Alberta roads, laws, and driving conditions.

Online beats the classroom for busy drivers. The in-class alternative requires a full-day commitment in Calgary or Edmonton. The online version delivers the same certified outcome with complete flexibility: pause, resume, and learn at your own pace.

The return on investment is straightforward. Compare the cost of this course to the cost of a licence suspension, higher insurance premiums, or lost income if driving is part of your job. For most drivers, the course pays for itself many times over.

It works for individuals and organizations alike. Delivered through the BIS Safety Software platform, the course integrates cleanly into corporate safety training programs, making it easy for employers to assign, track, and verify driver training across a team or fleet.