What exactly is defensive driving? You hear the phrase everywhere when it comes to road safety, but even if you still remember your time in driver’s ed, there’s no guarantee that they bothered to spell out the meaning of the words. They probably taught you the basic techniques (at least the ones they’re required by law to present), but there’s a good chance they didn’t bother explaining the why behind it all.
The basic principle of defensive driving is this: assume all the other cars around you are about to make a mistake. If a vehicle has the turn signal on, don’t drive in front of it until after you see it start to slow down and turn. You should keep your distance and avoid tailgating the car in front of you because you need that space to react and hit the brakes if the other car should hit something or slow down suddenly. After all, your car is going too fast and weighs too much for risk-taking to be any sort of a good idea.
The why of defensive driving helps explain all the techniques and ties them together neatly, but not every driver’s ed program will say as much. Fortunately, these days you have alternatives, and an online course could turn out to be just the defensive driving school you’re looking for.
What Makes An Online Course Different?
When you decide to visit an online defensive driving school instead of a local institution, there are definitely a few differences that go beyond the obvious. For one thing, taking an online course means being able to go through the material at your own pace and according to your own schedule. Depending on your state’s laws, you may have to put in a certain number of hours while using the website, but even then, you get to decide when to put in those hours.
Then there’s the fact that an online traffic school or driver’s ed course has a different format from the in-person variety, which means they can’t get away with using the same course plan set down decades ago and lean heavily on videos that are almost as old. Instead, they can present the age-old material in a new way, and even take advantage of being online by using animations, interactive questions, and new, original videos that are natural extensions of the lessons.
But What’s The Catch?
Like everything else, the idea of an online defensive driving school isn’t without its drawbacks. In the first place, there’s the problem of having too many options: there are only so many traffic and driver’s ed schools in your area, but you can choose any of the schools that are online and licensed to operate in your state (and beyond, if you come across a site that intentionally makes it difficult to find out which states accept its certification).
As such, you may find yourself looking between several courses that vary significantly in quality, and it’s not always easy to determine which one is best. After all, while the material is highly regulated and traffic laws are never all that fun to begin with, it’s still easier to get through if it makes full use of the medium rather than just being a transcribed textbook with a few quiz questions thrown in at the end.
Why Visit TSC?
Here at Traffic School Critics, we provide exactly what our name implies: a critique of each traffic school we can find online, not to mention every driver’s ed course on the internet. We go through all the dull hours of road safety at each defensive driving school so you don’t have to, or at least so that you can choose one of the few that are actively worth the money.
In fact, if a school can meet our highest standards, which includes over five years of operation, 24/7 customer service with several contact options, and an unblemished reputation with the Better Business Bureau, we give it our TSC certificate of approval. And even without our certificate, the sites that earn four or five-star ratings are probably worth your attention.
Defensive driving isn’t especially hard to understand, but it helps to go to a defensive driving school that bothers to explain what it means and why you should apply its practices. And when you visit Traffic School Critics, you make it that much more likely that you’ll find an online school that can do just that.
Getting Some FAQs Straight
Before you get to search for your defensive driving school “soulmate”, we’re going to go over some FAQs. This way, you know what to expect before, during, and after your time in an online or in-person defensive driving school:
What are the benefits of attending defensive driving classes?
- You become a better and safer driver
- Mask your ticket
- Save $$$ on your next auto insurance policy
- Your license won’t get suspended
- You have a higher chance of getting hired
What are the requirements to enroll in defensive driving classes?
- Personal identification
- Partial payment or full payment of your chosen course
- Student account in your chosen online defensive school (if you choose to take classes online)
Can I take defensive driving classes online?
Yes, you can! However, it’s best to ask your local DMV if they’re authorized in your state.
Also, make sure that the school you choose meets all the standards and requirements in your state to avoid any headaches.
How long do defensive driving classes last?
- Online: 4 – 6 hours (self-paced)
- In-person: 6 – 8 hours (scheduled)
Are online defensive driving classes better than in-person classes?
That depends on you. If you like the convenience of being able to take classes any time and anywhere, then online defensive driving schools are for you.
If you’re into the more traditional route, then go for the in-person classes.
How much are online defensive driving schools?
Expect to pay around $20 to $150 depending on the school you choose.
How soon can I get my Certificate of Completion?
Most schools give it to you on the day you complete all your courses and pass your exam. If you’re lucky, your school will forward your certificate to the DMV directly for you! Just make sure to follow it up.