Perhaps someone is a very safe driver but had an “off” day. Or maybe someone made a mistake while driving and does not know what the options are. If a person has received a moving violation they do not need to feel helpless or worried. Many U.S. states offer the incentive to complete an approved defense driving school also known as traffic school that can help mask traffic tickets from a driving record and simultaneously improve a person’s driving skills. Some of these same states offer mandated insurance discounts upon completion of attending defensive driving school. States that have the biggest incentives are California, Florida, Arizona, Texas, New York, New Jersey and Nevada.
Although taking the course can cost close to the price of a ticket, a violator’s driving record can be saved by either completely removing the violation or significantly reducing the consequences. This will in turn help one’s automobile insurance premiums. Traffic violators are typically offered the chance to take traffic school only if she or he has not attended a course within a certain period of time prior to the violation. This prevents violators from abusing the system because of their recklessness, allows drivers to put what they learned into practice and encourages students to pay more attention to safe driving habits.
When attending defensive driving school, students will learn how to reduce the risk of collisions by anticipation situations that could be dangerous, regardless of certain conditions or the negligence of others. Specific driving techniques and a variety of general rules are taught that go beyond the basic mechanics of driving and rules of the road.
In 1964, a driver safety program was created called the Driver Improvement Program. It included defense driving school course. Today there are different ways violators can choose to take the courses. One way is through signing up for an online traffic school. Complete the coursework and receive either a successful or unsuccessful status. The online version of traffic school has become one of the most popular ways of dismissing a citation in states like Texas, California, Arizona and Alaska. Because of the convenience of online traffic school, most licensed traffic schools have an online curriculum available to drivers. Traffic violators may also attend defensive driving school the traditional way in a live classroom setting with an instructor who is available to answer questions immediately. The third alternative is taking defense driving school by renting or buying a CD or DVD of the course. Besides the United States a few other provinces and states offer this means of instruction in Australia, Europe and Canada.
In all three traffic school options, successful students will then receive a course certificate. Traffic violators must then take the certificate to court in order to provide proof of successfully completing a course in order to have any points or traffic tickets on a driving record removed or dismissed. Most traffic violations such as rolling a stop sign and speeding are able to be removed in this fashion.
Traffic school is available for more than just insurance discounts and ticket dismissal. It covers all traffic safety parameters for students ages 13 and up including aggressive driving, driver improvement and point reduction.