what to do for defensive driving course

• Scanning the roadway and adapting to surroundings
• Employing the two-second rule for following distances
• Knowing your vehicle's stopping distance
• Being aware of reaction distance
• Environment hazards
• Vehicle emergencies
• Sharing the road
• Passing and necessary clear distance
• Right of way
• Speed adjustments and railroad crossings

Full Answer

Why you should take a defensive driving class?

Mar 16, 2021 · A state-certified defensive driving course will teach you how to: safely avoid accidents; be a more courteous and safe driver to others; identify potential accidents; avoid dangerous driving conditions; follow state laws; improve your driving skills; But driving skills aren’t the only thing you’ll learn about in your defensive driving course.

Why should everyone take a defensive driving course?

Aug 02, 2012 · A defensive driving course, or what some call traffic school, benefits all drivers, regardless of age or driving ability. A typical class, which includes online defensive driving programs, covers: Traffic crash statistics, including times when most crashes occur and age groups with the highest accident rates.

Why should I take a Texas defensive driving course?

While these do vary from state to state, the basic requirements for taking a defensive driving course include the following: Possession of a valid, noncommercial state driver's license. Not having completed a prior course within your state's allowable window (see below). An eligible moving violation, if applicable and allowed by your state.

What are the four keys of defensive driving?

A defensive driving course takes your driving one step further to improve your anticipation of the dangers on the road, hone your reactions to them and improve your vehicle control skills, whether that’s a car, motorbike or heavy vehicle. Defensive driving courses are not advanced driving courses which take place at higher speeds on a racetrack, and they are not …

How much is NY defensive driving course?

The best cheap defensive driving course is offered by New York Safety Program for $23.95. The cost of the listed providers below range from $23.95 to $49.95. There are eight providers that offer defensive driving courses for under $30....Best cheap defensive driving courses in New York.ProviderCostEmpire Safety Council$44.95I Drive Safely$48.9510 more rows•Nov 16, 2021

How long is the NY defensive driving course online?

320 minutesNew York Defensive Driving Courses take 320 minutes to complete, as mandated by the state of New York. Since this course is 100% online you do not need to complete it all at once - you may log out and in as often as you need during the 30 day period you have to complete the course.

How long does it take to complete Texas defensive driving course?

6 hoursThe State of Texas requires defensive driving online courses to take a minimum of 6 hours to complete. In compliance with the state, our Texas Defensive Driving course is 5 hours of material with 1 hour of total break time, and may be completed at your own pace.

What are the 3 basic principles of defensive driving?

Find out more.3 Basic Techniques. BLR's Interactive CD Course: Defensive Driving highlights three basic defensive techniques that can help employees avoid the majority of traffic accidents.Two-second rule. Stay at least two seconds behind the driver in front. ... Pass to stay alive. ... Keep cool and alert in traffic.May 11, 2009

How do I take the defensive driving course in NY?

How Does the Defensive Driving Course NY Work?Step 1: Register for a New York DMV-Approved Course. Make sure that the course provider you choose is approved by the DMV to offer the program in the state. ... Step 2: Complete the Online Defensive Driving Course. ... Step 3: Submit Proof of Your Completion.

What is the easiest defensive driving course online?

#1: iDriveSafely iDriveSafely is my top recommended easiest online traffic school for 2022. They've been around since before online traffic school even existed.

How much is a defensive driving course in Texas?

$25.00When you need to take a Defensive Driving course, the state of Texas requires the minimum price be $25.00.

Who qualifies for defensive driving in Texas?

Defensive Driving Eligibility RequirementsSpeeding at or more than 25 MPH over the posted speed limit.No car insurance.Leaving the scene of an accident (hit and run)Passing a school bus.Construction zone violations.

Which online defensive driving course is best?

#1 Defensive Driving Course ProviderIDriveSafely is one of the oldest defensive driving brands in the business. ... IDriveSafely.com has an A+ rating with the Better Business Bureau (BBB). ... Take an IDriveSafely Course.Take a DriversEd.com Course.Take a MyImprov Course.Take ApprovedCourse Defensive Driving.More items...•Dec 21, 2021

What are 5 defensive driving strategies?

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.

How can I improve my driving skills?

Effective tips to improve your driving skillsLimit Distractions. First, you need to keep your car in good condition. ... Know Yourself. ... Be Aware of Your Surroundings. ... Learn from Experience. ... Make Time for Practice. ... Be Active on the Road. ... Follow Traffic Rules. ... Stay Alert.More items...•Aug 10, 2021

What are the 2 most important elements of defensive driving?

Defensive driving techniques to protect yourself on the roadKeep looking ahead.Check your mirrors.Stay alert and take breaks if needed.Avoid distractions.Be prepared for anything.Leave space and keep your distance.References:May 10, 2020

What is defensive driving?

A defensive driving course, or what some call traffic school, benefits all drivers, regardless of age or driving ability. A typical class, which includes online defensive driving programs, covers: Traffic crash statistics, including times when most crashes occur and age groups with the highest accident rates.

What is the danger of driving under the influence of alcohol?

The dynamics of a crash. This pertains to how speed, place of impact and size of vehicle affects the severity of the collision. An extensive look at safety equipment, addressing the importance of seat belts, head rests, air bags, and child safety seats.

How to avoid distraction while driving?

One of the most important defensive driving strategies is to stay focused and avoid becoming distracted. This means you should not use your cell phone or any other type of electronic device while you are driving. To avoid the temptation to do so, put them away.

What happens when you are driving?

When you are driving, you might notice a driver that seems upset at your driving. Perhaps they honked at you or are otherwise driving recklessly. It is important in situations like this that you don’t engage with a road-raging driver at all. This means you should even avoid making eye contact with them.

What to do if you see a hazard?

If you do see a hazard, you can take safe , preventative action to keep your current driving environment safe and avoid a collision. This might mean safely changing lanes, slowing down, or some other action. 2. Stay Focused on Your Driving and the Road.

How far back should you stay from the car in front of you?

This means that, based on your current speed, there should be at least three seconds of driving time between your vehicle and the vehicle that is in front of yours.

Is it dangerous to drive when you are sleepy?

This also means that you should pull over and rest if you are feeling tired. Driving when you are feeling sleepy can be just as dangerous as driving when you have had too much to drink.

Can you drive in the blind spot of another vehicle?

You never want to drive in the blind spot of another vehicle. If other people are not practicing defensive driving skills, they might be distracted, forgetful, tired, or lazy and not check their blind spot before they make a lane change.

Should you be relaxed when driving?

However, you should never get too relaxed about what it means to be driving a vehicle on the road. You should always keep both of your hands on the steering well, sit up straight rather than slouch, keep your focus on road conditions and other vehicles, and state generally aware.

How long is a defensive driving course?

You can generally expect to spend anywhere from 6-8 hours in your course, with some being shorter (3 or 4 hours) and some being much longer (10 or 12 hours).

Why do you need defensive driving?

In short, a defensive driving course refreshes your driving knowledge and teaches you to drive defensively, giving you a better foundation to make safe, quick decisions while behind the wheel.

Can you take defensive driving if you have a CDL?

For most states the answer is no. There are some states that will allow you to take a defensive driving course if you hold a CDL but you were not operating a commercial motor vehicle at the time of your violation. It is best to check with your licensing agency or the agency in which you received a violation.

What is defensive driving course?

What is a defensive driving course and how can it help your driving? A defensive driving course takes your driving one step further to improve your anticipation of the dangers on the road, hone your reactions to them and improve your vehicle control skills, whether that’s a car, motorbike or heavy vehicle.

What happens if you lose your license?

In some countries, a defensive driving course can help you save money on insurance or allow you to access preferential deals from other suppliers.

What Will I Learn In A Defensive Driving Course?

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.

Defensive Driving in a Nutshell

When we talk about defensive driving, there are really only two factors that you can control.

Making Defensive Driving Work for You

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.

Defensive Driving is a Good Idea for Everybody

Whether you’re a new driver or a seasoned veteran, there is always something new to be learned by taking a defensive driving course. If you’re taking the course for an insurance discount or to get a traffic ticket dismissed, a defensive driving course can be your ticket to more responsible driving practices.

Why is defensive driving important?

Defensive Driving courses are an important step to take to learn how we can consciously reduce the dangers that are associated with driving. With so many options available, it is important to find the best defensive driving course for your specific needs. The course helps you learn how to anticipate possibly dangerous scenarios ...

How long is a driving course?

Most online driving courses can last anywhere between four and six hours so make sure you can set the time aside to complete it promptly. If you are looking to take the course to help dismiss a traffic violation, you will have to request permission from the court whether in person or through the mail.

Is iDriveSafely a legit company?

The truth is, no defensive driving course is going to be fun and iDriveSafely is no exception, but the point is they are a legit company with a legit updated course that works across all devices and they provide real customer support if something goes wrong .

Is Aceable a defensive driving course?

Well, Aceable is a newcomer to the defensive driving course world. As such, they simply aren’t certified in many states yet, but that list is growing. To see if your state has been added to their certified list, you can check here.

Is defensive driving bad?

In some states, there are literally hundreds of online defensive driving courses available. Unfortunately, most of those courses are ridiculously bad. As in, they are run by a single person out of their home and the defensive driving course hasn’t been updated in many years kind of bad. Trust me, some of the defensive driving programs out there have very fancy looking websites, but once you get started and need help with all the bugs and errors you’re receiving, good luck!

How to take defensive driving class?

Other Important Things to Remember 1 Make sure that you take the class, pay the fines and submit your documents before the ticket's due date. Failure to do this can result in additional fines and points on your record and will invalidate the course. 2 Sign your certificate of completion before it is submitted to the courts. Unsigned certificates are not valid. 3 Keep all receipts concerning the defensive driving course in a safe place. This includes proof you took the course, payment receipts, and receipts from the clerk of the court that the documents were received. 4 Confirm that the court has received your certificate of completion and confirm the dismissal of the ticket from your record.

Where to take a certificate of completion?

Take your Certificate of Completion to the court address on the notice you received as well as the receipt for the ticket fine. Pay the ticket BEFORE you submit all your documents to the court.

Can you take defensive driving online in Texas?

If You Take a Texas Defensive Driving Class Online. Ensure the court will accept an online Texas defensive driving certificate BEFORE you take the class online. The online course must be approved by the state of Texas, and you can ask your local clerk of the court to find out what online schools are acceptable.

Can you get a defensive driving ticket dismissed in Texas?

Submitting them late can result in the ticket not being dismissed. Once the class is completed and you have learned about defensive driving, Texas insurance companies will view you as a safe driver.

Why do you need to take defensive driving classes?

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.

What is defensive driving?

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.

What are the advantages of defensive driving?

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.

How to keep your driving record clean?

And if you are unable to drive, you’ll need to allocate money for cabs, buses, and any other transportation needs. Completing a defensive driving course is a fast and effective way to keep your driving record clean. Check with your insurance agent, state DMV, or court clerk where you received the ticket to learn if DriveSafe Online® course satisfies your court requirements.

Does insurance cover defensive driving?

In some states, including North Dakota and Pennsylvania, state authorities require insurance companies to provide discounts to drivers who successfully complete a defensive driving course.

New York Defensive Driving Eligibility

The first thing you'll want to do when considering completing a New York Accident Prevention Course is ensure that you meet the Eligibility Requirements. When it comes to the requirements for their defensive driving course, NY is very lenient. All that is required is that you:

How Does the Defensive Driving Course NY Work?

The process to complete a New York Accident Prevention course is quite simple. There are only a few easy steps before you are ready to reap the rewards of becoming a better, safer driver:

What Do You Learn in a New York Defensive Driving Course?

When it comes to the curriculum in a defensive driving course, NY has specific topics that should be covered. These include:

How to Get Started

Now that you know how a New York defensive driving course works and what you'll learn, there is nothing left to do but get started. You can Enroll Now and be on your way to less driving record points and insurance rate savings in just a few minutes!