Different Defensive Driving Courses
There are different defensive driving courses offered across the United States primarily for drivers to improve their driving skills, get rid of driving record, or get discounts on insurance premiums. Over the years, there have been an increasing number of driving schools that offer defensive driving courses because of the growing recognition for the importance of safety driving.
Defensive driving is premised on the fact that there are many possible hazards that one can encounter on the road and a driver must have heightened awareness to be able to respond quickly to these unknowns in order to avoid accidents. In a defensive driving course, are taught advanced skills that are not necessarily learned in basic driving classes. The ultimate goal of every defensive driving course is to train drivers to become more proactive so that they can avoid dangerous road situations and be able to handle properly the poor behavior of other drivers. Courses on defensive driving aim to impart to students specific techniques and basic rules to a safer driving experience.
In some states like in New York City, a defensive driving course is more commonly known as traffic school. Just the same, individuals are referred to take a defensive driving course or attend traffic school as a state-approved way to dismiss of a driver ticket violation.
Defensive driving courses may vary in their approach to teaching. Some stick to the traditional set-up where a lecturer, usually an experienced driver or a former police officer, meets the students at a set time often during a weekend morning or weeknights to accommodate people who are working. There are also available DVDs and VHS of instructional defensive driving courses that can be viewed at the individual’s own home at his most convenient time. The good thing is, this method is also recognized by the state provided that the person completes the required exam after completing the course on video.
Another revolutionary approach where different driving courses are now offered is through the Internet. A lot of the driving schools have put their courses online to offer alternative venues to drivers to complete the course on defensive driving. The courses may be taken wherever there is internet access. The defensive driving courses offered online today take advantage of multimedia technologies to deliver highly interactive lessons to the students. An online exam is usually given after completion of the online course.
The duration and coverage of defensive driving courses may vary from school to school and from state to state. Some of the topics that are taught in defensive driving courses include:
• The responsibility of driving
• Defensive driving strategies
• Traffic signs, signals, and roadway markings
• Safe driving practices
• Turning and passing
• Driving in the city
• Driving on the expressway
• Aggressive driving
• Point reduction
• Seat belt safety
• Children left in vehicles
• Airbags and children
• Safety equipment
• Backing safety
• Road rage
• Distracted drivers
• Traffic emergencies
• Avoiding accidents
• Seat belt usage
• Drowsy driver
• tailgating
• State statistics
• Wet road driving
• Weather conditions
• Hands on steering wheel
• Traffic safety problems
• Causes of traffic collisions in Texas
• causes of traffic death in nation
• Factors that influence driver performance
• Drivers communicating
• Law and dangers of speeding
• Driving on the shoulder
• Driver control
• Driving in varied environments
• Challenges of driving (weather, road conditions, etc.)
• Insurance Discounts
• Driving under the influence of drugs and/or alcohol
• Sharing the road
• Vehicle safety and maintenance
• Insurance liability
• Auto insurance requirements
• Mirrors, head lights and tail lights
• Blind spots
• Rail road crossing
• Understanding big trucks
• Country driving
• Traffic emergencies
• School bus safety
• Interstate driving
• Rules of the road
• Intersections
• Cell phone distractions
• National statistics
• Organ & tissue donations
• Wet weather driving
• Driving in bad weather
• Pedestrian safety
• Special skills for difficult driving
• Littering
• Hitting unattended car
• Perceptual skills
• Traffic laws
• Anatomical gift
• Physical forces that influence driving.
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