Safety driving courses are classes that you may sign up for that teach defensive driving tactics. These courses teach strategies to help drivers identify and avoid potential hazards on the road that may ultimately lead to a collision. The course will teach you to make safe, well-informed decisions about different road conditions and situations. 

Benefits of a Safe Driving Course

Depending on which state you live in and which state the course takes place in, the benefits from a safety driving course can vary. Mainly, safety driving courses are designed to help drivers remove points from their license that they have accumulated. 

The driving license point system is different for each state, but in general, if you have too many points gathered on your license some consequences may be license probation or suspension, and higher insurance rates, as well as new insurance companies being less likely to insure you. In most states, points acquired on your driver’s license expire after a certain amount of time. However, driving violations can remain, even after the points from the same incident have expired. Check with the DMV to find out how many points you have on your driver’s license. 

Another benefit from completing a defensive driving course is that it helps with your insurance rates. Insurance companies will offer lower rates to drivers without points on their license. Some insurance companies also offer additional discounts to drivers who complete safety driving courses without points on their license. 

What is in the Course?

Driving courses differ slightly from state to state, but all contain similar material. Mainly, they teach how to plan for and react to dangerous situations on the road caused by various factors. 

Traffic Crashes

Automobile collisions and accidents are very dangerous and can happen at any time, regardless of the season or road conditions. Traffic crashes are the cause of death and injury to thousands of people each year. Almost half of these crashes are alcohol or speed related. A defensive driving course will teach you to identify situations that may lead into a collision, and how to handle the situation to keep yourself and others safe. 

Personal Factors

These cover things that may distract you from the road within your own mind. A lot of drivers don’t realize that the majority of their distractions come from themselves, often in their own thoughts. Psychological factors such as stress, fatigue, or road rage can easily distract you from nuances on the road and may lead you to making a bad decision. These courses will help you create a positive attitude about driving and increase your road focus. 

Alcohol

It’s no secret that drunk driving is a dangerous threat that has taken many lives. While it’s pretty clear cut that no one should drink alcohol and then drive while under its influence, these courses will teach you how alcohol affects the body, decision-making, and driving ability. 

Parts of a Collision

An automobile collision may seem straightforward, as in “a car hits another car or something else,” there are more parts and pieces to an automobile accident than what happens to the car. The first impact is when a car collides with another object. However, there is a second impact, where the people and things inside the car collide with each other. This is why seat belts are important, because you’d probably much rather be stopped by your seat belt than the windshield. Understanding the different parts of a crash can help you avoid them in the future. 

Safety Equipment

Seat belts are the obvious, most common piece of safety equipment in your car that you should already be using. Though you might not consider them right away, airbags and child car seats are helpful safety equipment as well. Even things like a properly adjusted headrest can reduce your risk for injury during a collision. 

Need More Info?

Safety driving courses will also go over state traffic laws and crash prevention techniques. If you need more personalized information, visit the DMV, but if you want to know more about automobiles, auto loans and safety, check out our resources page or call 888-535-2762 today!