Online defensive driving courses, also commonly referred to as traffic school or accident prevention and driver improvement courses, can be a huge benefit for all drivers — from a rookie driver still in high school to a much more seasoned and even professional driver and everyone in between. The information learned in these courses can help the standard passive driver be prepared for what challenges may lie ahead of them while on the road.
It’s not often that you come across something that can both make you safer and save you money. And it’s even rarer when accessing that something only requires you to take out the phone that you have in your pocket right now. An online defensive driving course can give you all of that.
In this article, you’ll see how a defensive driving course benefits different types of drivers in different ways. You’ll also learn about the advantage of taking an online course opposed to taking one in person. And why DriveSafe Online®, one of the most popular online defensive driving courses, is your best option to expand your defensive driving knowledge.
Who should be interested in a defensive driving course?
Driving is at its toughest when you’re just starting out. Statistics show that driving is more dangerous for teens who just got their driver licenses than for anyone else.
More than half of all road traffic deaths occur to drivers aged 15-44 according to The Association for Safe International Road Travel, a non-profit, non-governmental organization whose mission is to improve safety on the road. Road crashes are the leading cause of death of people aged 15-29. Each year 400,000 people aged 25 or younger die on the roads. On average, that’s 1,000 vehicle-related deaths per day.
With added threats of distraction like inattentive driving due to smartphone use, those numbers will continue to rise as the years go on.
Defensive driving courses like DriveSafe Online can set a foundation for new drivers that they can build on. If they’re able to review safe driving information upfront, it’s more likely that they’ll make better decisions while on the road.
Senior Drivers
Those among us who have the most experience behind the wheel have just as much reason to take an online defensive driving course as someone who just got their license.
Over time, changes to the driving experience can catch senior drivers off guard. Laws of the road are subject to change often as do features and technology updates on newer models of car.
If you aren’t keeping up with those changes, you’re more likely to find yourself in less safe positions while out on the road. According to AAA, senior drivers are more likely to be injured or killed in traffic crashes due to age-related vulnerabilities. Medical conditions like heart disease, diabetes, and other illnesses also make it more difficult for older drivers to recover from any injuries. Seniors are the second most vulnerable group for vehicle crash-related deaths just behind teens.
Today’s seniors are also in a unique position. In 2009, 33 million licensed drivers were over age 65, which was a 20 percent increase from 1999. By 2030, 70 million Americans in the U.S. will be over age 65 – and 85 to 90 percent of them will be licensed to drive. There’s no getting around the fact that more and more seniors will be on the road as time goes on.
It’s good that you have a foundation of good knowledge from your years of experience behind the wheel, why not continue to strengthen it with more knowledge and expertise to keep you sharp when you’re trying to get where you want to go?
Also, many drivers aged 55 or older who pass an online defensive driving course like DriveSafe Online may qualify for an insurance discount.
Business Owners
If you run a business or organization that requires employees to drive a car–whether it’s just one driver or a whole fleet–having a driver safety program that includes an online defensive driving course is a must.
Car wrecks on the job can cost businesses serious cash. It’s estimated that vehicle crashes cost employers more than $60 billion annually in medical care, legal expenses, property damage, and lost productivity. That doesn’t even include an increase in the cost of worker’s compensation, social security and health, and disability insurance. And the more drivers you have under your employ, the greater the risk of an incident whether major or minor.
However, a lot of those accidents can be avoided if employees are properly trained and prepared for the road. A thorough online defensive driving course like DriveSafe Online educates employees, reinforces their driving knowledge, and promotes an ongoing message of safety that can decrease the risk of vehicle accidents. As the head of a business or organization, you will be able to have peace of mind knowing that your employees are well prepared, and your company’s assets are more secure.
Cost Conscientious Drivers
Accidents happen. You get caught speeding, you forget to use your turn signal, you cause a fender-bender or other little things that happen to all of us that end up costing us more each month in tickets and insurance payments.
Nearly 41 million speeding tickets are written each year. If you choose to speed, you have a one in six chance of getting pulled over.
Your first speeding ticket could raise your insurance premium by 18 percent. A second ticket could raise it to 34 percent.
Various online defensive driving courses can help you remove points from your driving record, dismiss your ticket, or help lower your car insurance premiums up to 10 percent per year.
Keep in mind that every state has its own set of standards and regulations, and each court may implement its own requirements for dealing with traffic violations. Check with your insurance company, insurance agent, and local authorities to find out if you qualify.
Safety Conscientious Drivers
Sometimes it’s not all about the bottom line. The dangers of driving are many, and it takes only one unfortunate incident to permanently affect your life and the life of the other drivers around you.
According to the Association for Safe International Road Travel, 1.3 million people die each year in car crash-related incidents, which averages to 3,287 a day. An additional 20-50 million people are injured each year.
Driving is perhaps the most dangerous thing you do on an everyday basis. It becomes even more dangerous when people don’t have their full attention on their driving.
That’s why you must know how to spot bad driving situations and avert any catastrophes before they happen. The more information you have on how to keep yourself and others around you safe on the road will only end up saving lives in the long run. Online defensive driving courses like DriveSafe Online will give you the tools and information you need to be a safer and more thoughtful driver.
Why take an online defensive driving course?
It used to be that if you wanted or needed to take a defensive driving course, your entire day was dedicated to taking that course.
You had to drive to a classroom and sit for hours to watch and listen as proper defensive driving techniques were taught to you.
But now these safe driving courses are available online on your computers, smartphones, and tablets from companies like DriveSafe Online. That means you can cook dinner, do laundry, or wait at the doctor’s office while completing your online class.
And you don’t have to complete it all at once either. Instead of committing an entire day to completing the course, you’re able to space out your time going through the class over several days so you can fit learning into your busy schedule.
Why should you choose DriveSafe Online?
While there are a lot of online defensive driving courses to choose from, it’s important to remember that not all courses are created equal.
DriveSafe Online is one of the most popular online traffic schools for drivers of all ages. Unlike some other online courses, DriveSafe offers mobile-friendly full-screen videos that cover real-life traffic situations, narrated animations that demonstrate how to properly perform driving maneuvers, unique drone footage to give new perspectives on traffic safety, interactive exercises that put learners in realistic decision-making scenarios, and a comprehensive assessment and completion certificate which satisfies court and DMV requirements. All these features are included in one affordable price.
It is beneficial for every driver to take an online defensive driving course. The habits that it could change could save money, worry, and most importantly, lives.
Patrick M. is Editorial Director for the always expanding DriveSafe Online library of courses. With over two decades of experience developing award-winning training, he now focuses on innovating online driver safety training. Pulling from his background in journalism, he steers the wheel behind the creation of top-tier content that promotes a better journey—whether on the digital highway of learning or the real roads we travel every day.