There’s nothing quite like the feel of cruising down your favorite road on a clear day with the perfect song on the radio. Driving gives us a sense of freedom and control, which is why earning a driver’s license is such an important rite of passage for many people. But getting behind the wheel also carries heavy responsibility.
Operating a vehicle often doesn’t happen under optimal conditions. We deal with bad weather, poor roads, confusing signs, mechanical failures, and sometimes even aggressive drivers. So we need to do our part to stay on top of current laws and continue to refresh our own skills regularly.
Taking an online defensive driving course is a great way to do that, with the ease and convenience of being able to take it from the comfort of your own home, or wherever you’d like. Defensive driving courses can help you build your own confidence and give you an opportunity to develop the skills to handle less-than-ideal driving situations before putting them into practice.
Plus, many drivers become eligible for an insurance discount after taking an online defensive driving course. And who doesn’t like saving money?
Defensive Driving for Mature Drivers
But what if you’re a mature driver with decades of driving experience under your belt? You might think that you’re already familiar with the rules of the road, and using the latest technology really isn’t on your daily to-do list. Is an online defensive driving course right for you?
Absolutely, if it’s a DriveSafe Online defensive driving course.
You see, DriveSafe Online develops defensive driving courses for the mature driver. These courses can be taken on phones, tablets, laptops, or desktop computers – you decide which screen is right for you. The video course will fill the entire screen so that you can easily view every aspect of the material.
Plus, you’ll enjoy simple navigation with limited buttons. The interface is intuitive and easy to use. You don’t need to be a computer programmer or IT expert to take a DriveSafe Online course.
Another advantage of the DriveSafe Online course is that it offers flexible pacing. Just like when you get behind the wheel of your vehicle, you’re in control with how fast you get through the online course. Pause, stop, and continue as many times as you need to, and you’ll always pick right up where you left off.
The content in the course covers everything you need to know to be safer driver. Review important rules to refresh your driving knowledge. Learn about the latest traffic laws and regulations. And discover life-saving tips and techniques to help you anticipate, identify, and avoid road hazards.
Just-in-time quizzes, interactive exercises, and end of chapter assessments incorporate the repetitive learning strategy. Through increased exposure to important material, you can improve your recall ability to enhance your understanding and be a safe and responsible driver.
State-Specific Courses
Driving laws and regulations vary from state to state, so DriveSafe Online has created state-specific courses to ensure that every mature driver gets the content that’s most critical. These courses meet each state’s requirement for course length and are designed to meet the criteria to earn you the maximum insurance discount possible.
For example, Connecticut and Pennsylvania mature drivers can save a minimum of 5% on their auto insurance premium after completing the DriveSafe Online Mature Driver Accident Prevention Course, while Minnesota drivers 55 and over are eligible for a savings of up to 10% over three years following course completion. Ask your insurance agent if your provider offers a defensive driving discount and find out how much money you could save on insurance.
Engaging Content with Real-World Scenarios
DriveSafe Online defensive driving courses for mature drivers cover a wide variety of topics to help you be safer and more knowledgeable when operating a motor vehicle.
Even when you’ve got years of experience in the driver’s seat, it’s helpful to refresh your knowledge on some of the driving techniques that often lead to issues and accidents. Here are just some of the topics that DriveSafe Online courses cover:
Common and updated driving laws
Do you know what laws have changed recently in your state? Without an understanding of current laws and regulations, you may be more likely to make errors in judgement or perform illegal actions. Knowing the laws and being able to act on them in real time is a crucial element in keeping yourself, your passengers, and other drivers on the road safe.
Backing strategies
Backing is a challenge for many drivers of all ages, and this topic is especially important for mature drivers. Backing accidents are some of the most common types of accidents due to a blind spot immediately behind the vehicle. You’ll learn tips and techniques for backing safely to avoiding backing accidents.
Vehicle technology
Every year, new advancements in technology are integrated into vehicles. If you’ve recently started driving a newer vehicle, you may be surprised or overwhelmed by the amount of technology available. DriveSafe Online courses address these technological advances so you can navigate them safely.
How aging affects driving skills
Mature drivers may have the experience to know how to respond correctly to road hazards, but other challenges may impact their skills. Older drivers may be impacted by failing eyesight, diminished hearing, slower reflexes, and stiff joints and muscles that can make it difficult to check blind spots or react quickly. DriveSafe Online courses identify strategies for adapting driving skills to the new realities that mature drivers face.
Signs of diminishing abilities
There are a number of warning signs that may indicate than a senior is approaching a point where it’s unsafe for them to continue driving, such as delayed responses, driving too fast or slow for road conditions, becoming easily distracted, and having reduced confidence while driving. You’ll learn about these warning signs and how to determine if they indicate that it’s time to stop driving.
Vehicle safety is an important topic, and one of the best ways to help you, your passengers, and other drivers stay safe on the road is to complete a DriveSafe Online defensive driving course today. Take a course demo to see why DriveSafe Online is quickly becoming the online defensive driving course of choice for senior drivers.
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.