what to expect in a defensive driving course

What should you expect to learn on a defensive driving course?

• How to apply defensive driving techniques
• A system of vehicle control (e.g. ...
• Rapid identification of hazards – looking far enough ahead and understanding what’s going on
• Improved vision and visibility while driving – scanning, road positioning
• Minimising distractions – dealing with your phone and any technology in the vehicle

More items...

Full Answer

What do you learn in a defensive driving course?

The skills you learn in defensive driving can help you stay safer on the road and may make you as much as 90% less likely to die in a motor vehicle accident. In your defensive driving course, you’ll learn about preventing accidents, avoiding distractions, dealing with reckless drivers, and more.

Is it too late to take a defensive driving course?

It’s best to take a defensive driving course before a ticket ends up on your driving record, but if you weren’t able to, it’s not too late to keep points from accumulating on your license. In many states, defensive driving courses can still help you reduce the number of points you have.

What are the most important defensive driving strategies?

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. This also means that you should pull over and rest if you are feeling tired.

Does a defensive driving course remove points from your record?

It completely depends on your state and your court. Generally, the answer is no. A defensive driving course will TYPICALLY offset points from your public driving record, in the form of a reduction or a credit (again, this is highly state- and court-dependent), rather than remove the violation from your record completely.

What are the 3 basic principles of defensive driving?

Pass to stay alive. Speed up to get around the other vehicle. Get back into the right lane as quickly as possible. Do not pass unless you can see far enough ahead.

What should the defensive driver expect?

Defensive driving means protecting yourself from more than just other drivers. It's about thinking ahead and anticipating hazards so you can avoid accidents before they happen.

What are 5 defensive driving techniques?

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.

Is defensive driving course good?

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.

What is 2 seconds rule in driving?

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.

What are 2 defensive driving techniques?

10 Key Defensive Driving Techniques You Need To KnowAlways Be Prepared. ... Stay Focused on Your Driving and the Road. ... Always Keep an Eye on Your Surroundings and Scan Far Ahead. ... Always Try to Predict a Possible Risk. ... Stay Safely Distant From the Vehicles Around You. ... Don't Drive in the Blind Spot of Another Vehicle.More items...•

What is the most important skill of defensive driving?

Scan your surroundings regularly Remaining aware of what's happening around you is the best way to be able to anticipate what other drivers might do and take timely action to stay safe. This is the fundamental principle of defensive driving.

Where are the drivers blind spots?

Blind spots can occur when the A-pillar (also known as the windshield pillar), side-view mirrors or interior rear-view mirror block your view of the road. Cargo, headrests and additional pillars in the rear of the vehicle can also create blind spots.

What is the most important factor in defensive driving?

Awareness is key to defensive driving, ensuring you are aware of potential hazards and other road users' actions around you, enabling you to take pro-active action to avoid an incident. To enable you to anticipate hazards, look 15 seconds ahead, giving yourself time to react.

What is the following distance?

Following distance is the space between your vehicle and the vehicle in front of you while driving. It's important for all drivers to maintain a safe following distance, so that they have time to safely stop in case the vehicle in front of them brakes abruptly.

What is the average drivers reaction time?

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.

What is defensive driving course online?

Defensive Driving Course Online (4-hour and 2-hour course) The course presents real-life driving situations, hazard recognition scenarios and defensive driving techniques to motivate drivers to change risky driving habits and behaviors to avoid collisions and traffic violations.

Online Defensive Driving Course Expectations

Online defensive driving courses typically cover important driving-related topics including:

No In-Person Classes

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.

Use of Technology

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.

Sign up for an Online Defensive Driving Course Today

When you take a DriveSafe Online defensive driving course, you can expect to see the best content at an affordable price.

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.

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.

Why do companies require drivers to complete a defensive driving course?

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.

What is a trailer control system?

Information, position, speed, gear acceleration; or course, mirror, signal, brake, gear, acceleration; or right place, right speed, right gear) How all the vehicle’s safety devices work together ( seat belts, air bags and any technology in the vehicle) How a trailer affects handling.

Can you use your own vehicle for a skid pan?

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. The facilities available can affect the cost. Using a skid pan or a specialist facility with different road surface types will generally be more expensive.

What is defensive driving course?

Defensive driving courses can teach you how to be more alert, aware, and safe on the road. And while they’re great for getting you out of a sticky situation on the road, they’re also useful for sticky situations with tickets, insurance, and more.

How to improve defensive driving skills?

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. They offer an updated understanding of what you need to know as a driver in your state, including traffic laws specific to your state.

Why is defensive driving important?

Defensive driving benefits every driver on the road. It makes our streets and highways safer with drivers who are more aware and understand defensive driving techniques that can prevent accidents. But defensive driving courses are beneficial for many drivers, including: drivers that need to reduce license points.

How often do defensive driving discounts apply?

Defensive driving discounts generally require that you earn a passing grade and will only apply once every few years to a single vehicle.

What is the fatality rate for drivers under 25?

In fact, a recent study shows that while the national fatality rate for drivers under 25 is nearly 13 per 20,000. At the same time, graduates of a defensive driving program have a fatality rate of just 1.1 per 20,000 — 90% less than the national average.

What does impaired driving mean?

Impaired driving is anything that interferes with your ability to drive safely, and it can mean driving drunk, under the influence of drugs, while drowsy, or while distracted.

What happens if you take defensive driving?

Often, if you take a defensive driving course, it’s as if your ticket never happened — and a great way to redeem your status as a good driver. You can keep the ticket off of your record, avoid accumulating points, and even save money on the fine.

How can I become a better driver?

If you want to know how to become a better driver, you’ll want to learn to not just focus on the car that is right in front of you. Instead, you should be aware of your general surroundings and look further ahead for potential hazards. You should also get in the habit of using your mirrors to keep an eye out for potentially dangerous situations occurring behind you.

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.

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.

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.

How to keep a safe distance from vehicles beside you?

To keep a safe distance from vehicles beside you, be sure to drive in the center of your lane. It’s also important to understand where the blind spot of other vehicles might be and to avoid driving there.

When to switch lanes when tailgating?

If you notice that a vehicle is tailgating you, you’ll want to switch lanes when it is safe to get away from their vehicle. If you are in a situation where you are unable to switch lanes, you can lightly on your brake so that they can become aware that you are about to slow down so they can pass.

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.

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.

How many sittings do you need to take court courses?

If you take it in person in a classroom-type setting, you may be required to complete the course in one sitting, depending on how long it runs. Online courses can typically be completed in installments at your own pace.

Can you offset points on your driving record?

It completely depends on your state and your court. Generally, the answer is no. A defensive driving course will TYPICALLY offset points from your public driving record, in the form of a reduction or a credit (again, this is highly state- and court-dependent), rather than remove the violation from your record completely.

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 happens if you have 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.

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.

How much does a defensive driving course reduce insurance premium?

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.

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.

Does North Dakota require insurance for 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. This can be a considerable savings for many drivers, especially parents with teen drivers included on their insurance policy.