What is a defensive driving course? A defensive driving course helps drivers become more aware of how to reduce risks while driving. A typical defensive driving course consists of several classroom sessions followed by a practical session in a car with an instructor which must be completed within 60 days of finishing the theory part of the course.
How long you take to complete the course is entirely up to you! How often can I take a defensive driving course for point reduction or for an insurance discount? You may take this course once every 5 years to remove 2 points from your driving record. You may take it once every 3 years to maintain your insurance discount.
Most defensive driving courses will teach you the following skills:
What does a defensive driving course consist of? A typical defensive driving course consists of several classroom sessions followed by a practical session in a car with an instructor which must be completed within 60 days of finishing the theory part of the course.
What is defensive driving? It is a set of driving skills that allows you to defend yourself against possible collisions caused by bad drivers, drunk drivers, and poor weather. If you look ahead and keep your eyes moving, you will spot potential hazards more easily.
The short answer is yes, defensive driving courses are worth the money. Defensive driving courses give drivers a new perspective on viewing the road. They help drivers identify dangerous situations before they unfold. Defensive drivers can determine and mitigate risky behavior from other drivers.
Find out more.3 Basic Techniques. ... Two-second rule. ... Pass to stay alive. ... Keep cool and alert in traffic. ... A solid, defensive driving training program is essential for your vehicle drivers.More items...•
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A professional driver who is physically fit and trained in high-speed driving might have a reaction time of 0.2 seconds for a given situation, while the average motorist may have a slower reaction time of 0.5 seconds, 0.8 seconds or even 1 second.
The 2-second rule is a technique used to estimate a safe following distance between your vehicle and the traffic ahead. It is a general rule of thumb taught in every driving school across the United States. The premise is that by following behind traffic by two seconds, you will have the time and space to brake safely.
Top 5 Rules Of Defensive DrivingLook up ahead. It sounds obvious to make sure you're looking ahead rather than what's directly in front of you. ... Be aware of blind spots. ... Slow down at all intersections. ... Maintain a safe following distance. ... Minimize all distractions.
It's called The LLLC Defensive Driving Principles™, but we just call it “Triple-L-C.” Using the Four Driving Principles of Safety, Look Ahead, Look Around, Leave Room, and Communicate, gives you the time and information you need to avoid an accident and be an all-around better driver.
Pay Attention To Your Surroundings – Check your mirrors, keep your eyes moving constantly, be aware of slowing cars or brake lights ahead, avoid road hazards, and pay attention to weather-related conditions which could impend safe driving.
Mask the Ticket Your ticket will be masked if you take traffic school for a moving violation. This means your ticket will be held confidential. Most importantly, insurance companies will not have access to this information.
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Should I take traffic school before or after I pay my ticket? You will need to pay your ticket and request the option to take traffic school from the court before you complete a traffic school course. After you do this, the court will give you a new due date that you'll have to complete your traffic school course by.
Online defensive driving courses typically cover important driving-related topics including:
When you have a busy schedule, it can be difficult to attend in-person classes. Not only do you have to spend time on the course itself, but you also have to get to and from these classes. In the end, in-class sessions can be time consuming.
The fact that the courses are online should mean that the doors are wide open for the use of technology. But sadly, that’s not the case.
When you take a DriveSafe Online defensive driving course, you can expect to see the best content at an affordable price.
Defensive driving courses can typically be taken either online or in a classroom. The acceptable format (s) varies by state. You can find defensive driving courses in two ways: Do an online search for approved courses in your state. Call your traffic court or driver licensing agency for requirements and approved courses.
It is also a safe driving technique that all drivers should use. Driving defensively includes: Looking ahead and expecting the unexpected. Controlling your speed.
You can usually start and stop the course at your leisure.
By taking a defensive driving course, not only will you be better prepared behind the wheel; you may also reap some financial benefits. These benefits can vary from state to state, but may include the following:
Defensive driving is a set of valuable skills that give you the ability to defend yourself while on the road. This includes avoiding collisions caused by oblivious drivers, intoxicated drivers, or inclement weather.
Defensive driving is more important than ever to ensure your driving trips are always safe.
Your driving speed will affect how fast you can stop your vehicle in the event of an emergency. Your driving speed should vary based on the current road conditions. Never exceed a speed that is “reasonable and safe” even if the speed limit is higher.
Planning ahead also includes making evasive maneuvers. Should the vehicle in front of you get into a car accident, you can quickly decide whether changing lanes or moving over to the shoulder is the best idea. This will help you avoid the accident and keep you and those in your vehicle safe.
The skills necessary for defensive driving are a mix of preparing, observing, and reacting appropriately. Defensive drivers follow these main practices:
The most valuable driving skills are knowing how to identify a potential hazard and how to avoid an accident. Throughout the course, you’ll learn many of the defensive driving practices listed above along with understanding vehicle emergencies and how to safely share the road.
For example, a vehicle driving at 30 mph will need to travel about 120 feet before coming to a complete stop. This includes about 60 feet for reaction time and 50-60 feet of braking time.
In some countries, a defensive driving course can help you save money on insurance or allow you to access preferential deals from other suppliers.
Expect to spend between $200 and $400 depending on whether you are already taking lessons with the driving instructor that is holding the course, the location of the course and its facilities, and any extras provided. You can sometimes find discounted deals under $200 on coupon sites, and some companies do student discounts. You will usually use your own vehicle; if a vehicle is provided then the course will often be more expensive and you will share it with other course participants.
A defensive driving course isn’t mandatory for regular drivers. Some companies require that their drivers complete one before they get access to a company vehicle in order to reduce their insurance costs. If you lose your licence you may be required to do a defensive driving course.
If you have driving violations, completing a defensive driving course could remove points or dismiss a ticket from your driving record. Too many points or tickets on your record could cost you money in fines, as well as potential lost wages if your license is suspended.
Taking a defensive driving course teaches you safe driving techniques for controlling your vehicle in emergency situations, as well as procedures for handling fatigue, emotional stress, and road rage. Of course, there are many more reasons for learning safe driving habits.
Defensive driving courses teach drivers safe techniques to proactively anticipate and effectively react to a variety of hazards including careless actions by other drivers, poor visibility and road conditions due to dangerous weather conditions, and dangers triggered by various physical and emotional states.
Many states support safe driver incentives that could reduce your insurance premium by as much as 10% for completing a defensive driving course. Many states support safe driver incentives that could reduce your insurance premium by as much as 10% for completing a defensive driving course.
The best way to stay safe is to put yourself in position to avoid potential threats. Defensive driving courses teach drivers safe techniques to proactively anticipate and effectively react to a variety of hazards including careless actions by other drivers, poor visibility and road conditions due to dangerous weather conditions, and dangers triggered by various physical and emotional states.
While the benefits of a defensive driving course will save you money and help you become a smarter, safer driver, the advantages offered by online courses make the learning experience fast and easy. Convenient. Anytime, anywhere, any device learning means you decide when to fit the courses into your busy schedule. You Control the Pace.
Aggressive drivers. Extreme weather. Roadway obstacles. Mechanical malfunctions. Each of these hazards can jeopardize the safety of you and your passengers if you’re not prepared to respond to them or know how to avoid them altogether.
In a defensive driving course, you will be educated on traffic rules, laws, signage. Proper understanding of these topics will reduce potential threats to your safety, as well as the safety of other motorists around you. You may already know much of this information, but rules do change over time. Our familiarity with the road can lead to bad driving habits that we may not be aware of, so a little reminder couldn’t hurt!
People take defensive driving courses for several different reasons. Certainly, the most common is to remove a citation or points from a driving record. Others take a driver safety class for an insurance discount or job-related purpose. Whatever the reason, scheduling a course will require rescheduling your life.
Everyone has that urge to be on the steering wheel at least once in their childhood. However, many people enter the roads oblivious to the carnage that awaits them. Defensive driving is the ability to steer your vehicle with an informed idea. Hitting the gas and steering your car is not difficult. The hard part is controlling it to the desired momentum. Driving tests often come after training, with a test view to ascertain credibility to drive.
Court corridors can be stressful, tedio us, and time-consuming. Additionally, no one likes it when they get hefty traffic tickets slapped on them. Extra hidden costs that pop out unwittingly disturb your peace, terrorize your budget, and leave you broke are no joke. Ever wondered why smart drivers stay away from legal battles? It is not pocket friendly. Moreover, learning this course can exonerate you from the wrong side of the law in an accident. What could be better than life from irregularities in a world where insurance companies deem everyone liable?