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Taking a defensive driving course has many benefits. You may want to take a course voluntarily to learn how to be a safer driver, or it may be a requirement of a traffic court or the WV Division of Motor Vehicles (DMV).
In some circumstances, the court may require you to complete a defensive driving course as part of your punishment. For more information, check your traffic ticket or contact the court handling your case.
In West Virginia, you can complete traffic school to have points removed from your driving record. You can have up to 3 points reduced from your existing record each time you complete a course. However, you can take a course only once every 12 months for point reduction purposes. To determine your eligibility, contact the WV DMV.
Q. What is the price for the West Virginia defensive driving course? A. The course fees for West Virginia traffic school is $29.95.
Following these defensive driving tips can help reduce your risk behind the wheel:Think safety first. ... Be aware of your surroundings — pay attention. ... Do not depend on other drivers. ... Follow the 3- to 4-second rule. ... Keep your speed down. ... Have an escape route. ... Separate risks. ... Cut out distractions.
The West Virginia DMV will issue a notice of suspension once a driver accumulates 12 or more points. Points are removed two years after the date of conviction.
Points for a given infraction remain on a driver's record for two (2) years after the date of the driver's conviction for that infraction; the infraction itself remains on a driver's record for five years.
1. Aim high. It is the first principle of defensive driving, and it requires you to be alert and focused so as to avoid collisions and, in particular, the rear-end and also warn the other drivers of the impending traffic. Your gait should be held up high so that you can have a clear view of the road.
“Kindly exercise the five C's – care, caution, consideration, common sense and courtesy when using the roadways. Let us avoid the use of reckless driving on our roadways which will aid in the reduction of deaths to human lives.
4-11 yearsPoints can stay on your driving record for 4-11 years.
Note: When a person has 20 or more points, their driver's license will be suspended until their accumulated points are reduced to 11 or less points. Furthermore, when a person is convicted of driving while their license is suspended or revoked, it may result in an additional driver's license suspension.
How to Remove Violations from Driving Record?Complete a driver improvement course. Taking a state-approved course is one way to reduce or eliminate penalties on your record. ... Fight the ticket. ... Stay on top of all penalties. ... Keep your record clean. ... Check with your DMV.
Maximum speed law: According to section 17C-6-1(a) of WV vehicle code, “No person may drive a vehicle at speed greater than is reasonable and prudent under the existing conditions and the actual and potential hazards.”
Fines are typically around $100 per violation but increase depending on the amount over the limit and how many speeding violations have occurred within a set timeframe. The location where the incident occurred can have more severe penalties.
The following points have been assigned to speeding or speed-related violations: reckless driving — 6 points; speeding in a school zone — 6 points; speeding 15mph or more over the posted limit — 5 points; speeding ≥10 but <15 mph over the posted limit — 3 points; speeding ≥5 but<10 mph over the posted limit-2 points; ...
A defensive driving course in West Virginia can help you to reduce the total number of points you have accrued on your driving record. Overall, traffic school programs aim to review standard safety protocols and practices for motorists who need a refresher. This could include drivers who have committed several moving violations or mature motorists seeking a discount on their auto insurance premiums.
A defensive driver course is for a fully licensed driver to review the best safety techniques and procedures in order to improve safety standards on the road.
A West Virginia defensive driving class is an option for a driver who wants to reduce the number of points he or she has accumulated on a DMV record. In general, completing an approved driver improvement course in WV will take three points off of your driving record, which can help you to avoid a drivers license suspension. However, it is important to note that you can only take a traffic school course for that purpose once every 12 months. Moreover, you can only remove points accrued prior to the date of the course. Furthermore, the course must be completed prior to the start of a suspension period in order to potentially cancel its effects.
A defensive driving course is a wise choice for all drivers, regardless of point accumulation or age. Taking a refresher course to be reminded of rules and regulations as well as being taught current safety standards and techniques can help all drivers to be safe on the road.
The in-person defensive driving courses to reduce points are only available at select authorized locations around the state. These are eight-hour sessions and must be attended in their entirety.
Retaking the course once every three years is a common requirement, but make sure to find out your company’s policy.
Taking a driver improvement program might help you avoid an insurance premium increase or lower your premium after the fact. If you have received a traffic citation or caused an accident, your insurance company might raise your costs. Find out if you can take a course in exchange for lowering those back down.
Defensive driver education can reduce your insurance premium up to 10%. Are you ready to save money?
The Intermediate License expires on the driver’s 18 th birthday. The 3rd level of West Virginia’s GDL is a Full Class E License. Drivers must be at least 17 years of age, have held an Intermediate License for at least 12 months, and be infraction free for the 12 months prior to application for a Full License.
DriveSafe Online courses merge unique graphics and animations, interactive scenarios with narrated stories and video demonstrations—including in-car and drone footage—to deliver safe driving information like no other online defensive driving course available today.
West Virginia employs a Graduated Driver’s Licensing (GDL) system for new drivers. At the first stage of this system, Level 1, applicants between the ages of 15 and 18 must pass a knowledge test and have a parent or guardian sign the application in order to receive a learner’s permit. This permit allows new drivers to practice driving between the hours of 5 am and 10 pm when a licensed driver over the age of 21 is in the front passenger seat. The learner’s permit expires on the driver’s 18 th birthday and is not renewable.
Two proofs of West Virginia residency documents with name and physical address
Insurance companies may offer a defensive driving discount to eligible West Virginia drivers. The terms and amount of savings may vary from provider to provider. Please contact your insurance company to find out if you are eligible for a discount.
You might be eligible for a defensive driving discount after successfully completing our course. Ask your insurance agent for information!
Defensive driving courses in West Virginia are designed to help you improve your driving skills and become a safer driver. They’ll share tips for defensive driving, avoiding accidents, and avoiding tickets as well.
Your defensive driving course for insurance discounts will be the same course offered to drivers who enroll to take care of driving record points or traffic tickets. This course offers the same potentially life-saving resources for safe, defensive driving. The course can improve your driving skills, reduce your risk of collisions and tickets, and overall make you a safer driver. You will also learn more about current driving laws in West Virginia. As curriculum at each school varies, what you learn may be different, but most defensive driving courses in West Virginia offer instruction in:
Discounts are usually between 5% and 20%, but most can expect to earn a discount of 10%.
If you accumulate at least five points on your license, you’ll receive a warning letter and a suspension if you continue to accumulate points. Suspensions start at 12 points and can last for 30 days or longer, depending on the number of points on your license.
Drivers in West Virginia often enroll in defensive driving for points or traffic violations. Still, every driver can benefit from this course whether you’ve had trouble with the law or not. And, if you enroll voluntarily, your insurance company may offer you a discount on your auto insurance premiums.
All drivers in West Virginia may be eligible for a defensive driving discount on insurance. However, it’s up to the individual insurance company to determine whether they’re willing to offer a discount. Some will restrict their discounts to drivers with a clean record, while others limit by ages such as mature drivers or teenage drivers.
Students must supply us with payment and all required documents, including traffic citations, in the beginning of the class. Each student must also provide a government-issued Driver's License, or similar proof of identification, and confirm their eligibility to attend the course, in order to begin the traffic course.
Our traffic school courses can be completed in one sitting. You will receive your certificate within a half hour of completing the final quiz.
Our online traffic safety courses are based on the research and findings of psychologists specializing in the human thought process behind driving.
Yes! We offer driver training for adults and seniors that can result in an insurance premium reduction. Each state has different requirements for who can complete a traffic safety course for an insurance discount. Some states only permit drivers age 55 and older to complete a traffic safety course for an insurance discount. You should confirm any benefits of traffic safety courses with your car insurance agent.
The process for reporting traffic school courses varies by state. Further details will be explained during your registration.
Our traffic school courses are accredited by many state and local agencies, including Courts and DMVs across the country. Before signing up for this course, you should confirm the specific benefit you wish to gain from this course with the organization that referred you to an online defensive driving course.
West Virginia teen drivers are required to meet the GDL requirements before obtaining a regular driver’s license. Beginner drivers between 15 and 18 years of age are not required to complete a driver education course in West Virginia.
For more information regarding West Virginia defensive driving, click here. Drivers education in West Virginia is not a mandatory requirement to get a driver’s license. Instead, it is an option that teen drivers may consider if they want to receive benefits such as waive the number of supervised driving hours to get a driver’s license, ...