why do a defensive driving course

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.Mar 6, 2021

What is the ultimate objective of defensive driving?

Driving defensively means a driver must do everything possible to prevent a collision. The ultimate goal is to save lives.

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

Does defensive driving reduce ticket cost Texas?

Potentially Saves Money: Speeding tickets in Texas can cost a person around $150. If you take defensive driving for a speeding ticket, the court fees will cost you around $100 and defensive driving will cost around $25, saving you around $25.

What are the 4 A's of effective defensive driving?

In the past, some have called the topics in this lesson Aggression, Alcohol, Accidents and Awareness.Jun 21, 2017

What it means to be a defensive driver?

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 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.

What are the five elements of defensive driving?

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.Jun 22, 2016

What is the main ingredient of defensive driving?

The main ingredient of defensive driving is attitude. To be a defensive driver, you must always drive with genuine concern for your own safety and that of others. Defensive drivers are not quick to lose their patience or temper, but are not timid or overcautious either. They are confident and make good decisions.

Can I just pay my ticket and not go to court Texas?

If you do not want to appear in court, you have the option of paying your fine by mail or by paying in person at the Justice Court as directed on your citation or summons.

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.

How long is 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.

Why do people take defensive driving classes?

The primary reasons people take defensive driving courses include: 1 Remedying a traffic ticket or infraction 2 To avoid suspension of your driver’s license 3 Reducing and/or avoiding an increase to car insurance payments 4 To reduce insurance premiums 5 As part of training for a fleet job 6 General interest in improving driving habits

What is defensive driving?

The basic idea of defensive driving is using your knowledge and understanding of the rules and risks of the road to proactively protect yourself to help prevent accidents rather than reacting to dangerous situations when they arise.

How to be a safe driver?

Recognize that driver safety affects everyone. Identify your personal driving behaviors and tendencies. Recognize that every behavior is a choice. Define risky driving behaviors. Identify the Six Deadly Choices that lead to the majority of crashes. Identify what’s in your control.

What are the most common causes of accidents?

A: A majority of accidents occur because of six primary decisions people make. Those include speeding, violating the right of way, distracted driving, turning improperly, and driving left of center. Loading...

Traffic Crashes

Losses from traffic crashes have both social and personal impacts. Approximately 41,000 die annually as a result of traffic collisions, with an additional 3,236,000 injuries. About 38% of all fatal car crashes are alcohol related with another 30% attributed to speeding.

Psychological Factors

On the roadways, drivers have to deal with several factors that can affect their driving. Though some of them are beyond the control of the driver, psychological factors can be controlled by the driver if he knows what to look for and how to handle it.

The Dynamics of a Crash

Vehicle crashes are almost always a preventable result of a series of events. The combination of speed, place of impact and size of object being impacted can determine the severity of the crash. In every accident, however, the act of one vehicle hitting another vehicle or other object is not the only collision that can occur.

Safety Equipment

Approximately half of all deaths that are result of an automobile crash could have been avoided if the victim were wearing a safety belt properly. Of course safety belts are only the most commonly thought of vehicle safety equipment.

Crash Prevention Techniques

The key to any good defensive driving strategy is knowing how to avoid traffic crashes and recognize potential hazards before it's too late. That's why defensive driving courses tend to present a lot of information on crash prevention techniques.

State Traffic Laws

The final portion of many state defensive driving curriculum requirements is state-specific traffic laws. While for many students this portion serves as a mere refresher course, state traffic laws are not always known by all students.

Defensive Driving Courses

SafeMotorist.com Driving Safety Articles:#N#This article was written by SafeMotorist.com defensive driving staff writers and reviewed for accuracy by defensive driving instructors. All articles are based on current traffic laws and defensive driving practices.

Why is defensive driving important?

Remember you and the other road users around you are only human; and humans make mistakes. A defensive driver does not just concentrate on his or her own actions, but anticipates the likely actions of other road users.

How to be safe driving?

Safe driving tips. Keep up-to-date with the law and rules of the road; Do not drive if you are feeling tired or emotional, whether angry or upset; Maintain a three second gap when following other vehicles; Ensure other road users are aware of your intentions – signal early and clearly;

How to prevent distracted driving?

Ensure other road users are aware of your intentions – signal early and clearly; Eliminate distractions such as mobile phones, food and drink; Minimise unnecessary lane changes; Ensure you have plenty of time to make your journey; and. Adapt your driving to road and weather conditions.

Why is defensive driving important?

Because it lessens the natural fear that many drivers have, it reduces the chances of getting involved in a car accident.

What is defensive driving?

By driving defensively, you are taking preventive actions that reduce your risk and the risk of others driving near you. Here are 5 defensive driving tips that all drivers should be aware of whenever they decide to hit the road to drive anywhere.

How to drive defensively?

That includes focusing on how close your vehicle is to the car ahead of you and always make sure you are at a safe enough distance to stop safely. Sometimes, it is necessary to come to a fast stop and there may not be enough room for you to brake safely.

Can you use a cell phone while driving?

If you are using your cell phone while driving, you won’t be paying full attention to your driving and you certainly won't be paying sufficient attention to the other drivers around you. Too many people underestimate the risk of using cell phones while driving, but they are extremely distracting.

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 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).

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.

How Do You Know If You Qualify?

In order to qualify, you cannot have taken a course in defensive driving in the past year. You must prove this to the court by providing them with a certified copy of your personal driving record. Speeding tickets, and most other minor moving violations, can be dismissed if you attend a course on defensive driving in Texas.

Why Take the Defensive Driving Course Rather than Pay the Fine?

If you pay your fine and do not elect to attend a defensive driving course, that ticket will be on your driving record. If that happens, you could have the state, as well as your insurance company, after your money.

Completion of the Texas Defensive Driving Course

Once you have completed the course, the school for driver safety will send you a certificate of completion by mail. You can take this to court or present it to your insurance provider. It may take as long as 15 business days for your certificate to arrive, so don’t wait until the last minute to take the course.

What are the benefits of defensive driving?

Benefits of Taking a Defensive Driving Course. Besides helping you get your ticket dismissed and reducing the points on your driving record , taking a defensive driving course has other benefits. Some of the most notable ones include: Makes you a better driver. Defensive driving courses equip you with the knowledge and techniques you need ...

Why is it important to keep a clean driving record?

Keeping a clean driving record is helpful since getting multiple tickets on your record can trigger insurance rate increases and in some cases surcharges from the state.

How to contest a speeding ticket?

Contest it in court. Go to traffic school / defensive driving. As mentioned, most of the time (depending on the infraction) you will have the option of taking defensive driving for a speeding ticket or other moving violation (aka Traffic School).

Do you need to repair a damaged car?

You’ll need not only to repair your damaged vehicle but foot medical bills as well. Depending on your state, there are other benefits you get for completing a defensive driving course. Be sure to check with your local authorities for other benefits of taking a defensive driving course.

What happens if you make a mistake behind the wheel?

Unfortunately, mistakes made behind the wheel can often be very costly, with ticket fines, court fees, increased insurance premiums, and countless other possible expenses.

Can a lapse in judgment tarnish your driving record?

You don't want a momentary lapse in judgment to tarnish your good driving record. Depending on what your court and state allows, traffic school may help you either prevent or offset points added to your driving record due to a traffic ticket.

Can you reduce your fines in traffic school?

In some states, however, your traffic court may be willing to reduce your fines if you agree to take a traffic school class. Before your court appearance, contact the court clerk to inquire as to whether traffic school is ever a possibility in your situation.