Defensive driving is a term that not everyone really understands. Everyone likes to think they’re a reasonably safe driver, maybe not perfect, but overall they do a good job. And that’s true. Most of the time, a driver who is involved in a crash has a clean driving record and was not doing anything wrong. Think about it: Aside from shared liability cases, generally half the drivers in a car accident are not at fault.
Fortunately, though, there’s something you can do even if you’re already a good driver: You can take a defensive driving course to learn techniques to prevent the accident that isn’t your fault. While it is not possible to control the actions of other drivers, he can control how he reacts to them and begin to anticipate them more accurately so that he is not in the lane when they swerve or in the intersection when they run the red light. , or he stopped in front of them when they slammed on the brakes a few seconds too late.
It’s more convenient than ever to get this type of education by participating in an online defensive driving program. These courses are also used to satisfy court-ordered traffic school or supplement a good driver discount program in some areas, but anyone can take the course at any time, simply to become a more skilled defensive driver.
To take an online driver safety course, simply do some research and find one of the many online schools that offer defensive driving classes. Because you are not taking the course to meet the specific requirements of any governing body, you can select any defensive driving course you like, so be sure to look at the reputation and overall “feel” you get from the school. That will guide you in finding the right provider for you.
Once you’ve chosen a school, there’s usually a small fee, between $20 and $40, give or take, to register and complete the class. You can complete this transaction entirely online and then go directly to the course material. There you will find tips for safe driving, as well as the latest information on changing laws and general knowledge on driving techniques. For example, many experts no longer recommend the “10 and 2” hand position on the steering wheel, because with power steering and column airbags, a lower position is safer and more comfortable. You’ll also find out what the laws are in your area, for things like using cell phones while driving, and where it’s illegal to smoke in the car with a passenger under the age of 18 present (California recently enacted this law).
You can wait until a judge orders you to drive defensively, or never take it and hope for the best. Or you can take advantage of the convenience of online delivery methods and register to brush up on your driving skills, possibly avoiding an accident that would otherwise be lurking around the next corner.