Defensive Driving Tips and Techniques

No one wants to go to traffic school – after all, eight hours in a stuffy room, sitting on uncomfortable chairs and watching outdated, gory videos of the devastating results of reckless drivers isn’t exactly an ideal way of spending a Saturday afternoon.

Sure, sometimes an instructor is fun and witty, making the experience bearable, maybe even enjoyable. But, most people aren’t willing to relinquish a whole day. Time is simply too precious a commodity.

Mike P. Welch knows all too well the realities of some walk-in traffic school experiences, having completed traffic school in August of 2005. In addition to an uncomfortable facility, Welch had to contend with disinterested fellow students and grossly outdated course materials. “The instructor had us watch a video that was from the 1970s and a big segment was on call boxes, which I felt was irrelevant, considering the majority of the population now has cell phones,” he says. Instead of fostering an atmosphere of learning, “half of the students didn’t want to be there and were distracting to the learning process,” Welch says. “I didn’t appreciate the social stigma of having to reveal my violation in front of a classroom of people.

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Since the advent of the internet, defensive driving courses have been much easier to access.  Gone are the days of searching through the phone book for a driving school, investigating each option and trying to make an informed decision.

Internet defensive driving courses have changed all that.  Potential driving students simply log on to their favourite search engine, type in their location and “defensive driving courses” or “driving schools”, and wait for a list to display.  Most online traffic schools provide courses which can be taken online, with only a computer and browser required.  Learning and testing is done online in the comfort of your own home, at a time suitable to busy schedules.  What could be more convenient?

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iDriveSafely’s innovative defensive driving programs are particularly suited to drivers with busy schedules. If you have no driving school in your area, they will suit you down to the ground. The courses are delivered online via the web. This means that all a driver needs to complete a defensive driving course is a driver’s licence and a PC with a basic web browser and internet connection. There is no software required, although some courses use the free Macromedia Flash plugin which can be installed during registration.

Taking a defensive driving course from iDriveSafely.com means no teachers, no classroom and no workbooks. The courses are all State approved, and are selected according to the particular state where a student resides. Some the available courses include:

1. Defensive Driving – Ticket Dismissal
2. Defensive Driving – Insurance Discount
3. Seatbelt Safety Course
4. Child Safety Course

Each defensive driving course has a combination of text, graphics, animations, and videos – all designed to prevent boredom during the learning experience. Instead of listening to a teacher deliver the course face-to-face, students have the ability to move through the course at their own pace. This allows the student to revisit those sections which need reinforcing, and skip through parts which may already be familiar.

Most of the courses are 6-8 hours long with the average cost between $30 and $40. Once a student finishes the course, the next step is to complete an examination. A typical final examination is 25 questions, but could be longer depending on the requirements of the relevant state or county. Individuals who complete a Traffic School course with iDriveSafely will receive an official Certificate of Completion. iDriveSafely offers free standard certificate delivery as well as multiple express delivery options.

Besides improving defensive driving skills, there are other benefits to taking one of iDriveSafely’s driving courses. In some states, driving record demerit points can be dismissed by successfully completing an approved driving safety course like this one, and some insurance companies also offer discounts.

Individuals who prefer to learn face-to-face might not like the way the courses are delivered via the web. Some people like to have the opportunity of asking questions and watching live demonstrations by real people. Those with no computer or internet experience might also consider the method of course delivery a little daunting.

You can visit the iDriveSafely website for more information about their innovative defensive driving programs.