Court Ordered Defensive Driving Course

Defensive Driving Course:
Our Defensive Driving Course is designed to be a comprehensive driver improvement program, with a basic 4 hour curriculum and a Comprehensive 8 hour curriculum, both offering practical knowledge and techniques to avoid crashes, and to choose safe, responsible and lawful driving behaviors.
We have chosen the Washington States Department of Licensing’s Defensive Driving Course and Curriculum. This comprehensive program meets both Level 1 and Level 2 requirements and offers practical knowledge and techniques to avoid crashes, and to choose safe, responsible and lawful driving behaviors.

What is Defensive Driving?
Defensive Driving is essentially driving in a manner that utilizes safe driving strategies to enables motorists to address identified hazards in a predictable manner. These strategies go well beyond instruction on basic traffic laws and procedures.
With defensive driving classes, students learn to improve their driving skills by reducing their driving risks by anticipating situations and making safe well-informed decisions. Such decisions are implemented based on road and environmental conditions present when completing a safe driving maneuver.

Benefits of Defensive Driving!
The number one benefit of taking a Defensive Driving Course is a BETTER DRIVER!
The benefits of taking a defensive driving class vary with each Jurisdiction, In some Jurisdictions taking a defensive driving course can mean, the complete removal of, or setting aside of the infraction, or a reduction in time or fine imposed.
Often benefits include a reduction of points on your driver’s license following a ticket and the assurance that insurance rates will not increase, or provide a reduction of up to 10% in your insurance rates for a period of three to five years.
Just as the benefits of defensive driving classes vary with each Jurisdiction, so do the requirements. While most basic defensive driving classes are four hours long, some can be as long as eight hours.

What’s Included in a Basic Defensive Driving Course?
The contents of our Defensive Driving Course will be adapted to the needs and provisions of each jurisdiction we serve and are designed to train the referred based on the laws of our state, and local jurisdiction.
The sections below provide a basic outline of the information that is typically covered in our Defensive Driving Courses.

Traffic Crashes!
Losses from traffic crashes have both social and personal impacts. Approximately 41,000 die annually as a result of traffic collisions, with an additional 3,236,000 injuries. About 38% of all fatal car crashes are alcohol related with another 30% attributed to speeding, in Washington state it is estimated as much as 30% may be attributed to fatigued driving.
The causes of these crashes, emotional impact and cost in dollars spent on car crashes will be covered in our defensive driving course. The goal of good defensive driving is to reduce the risk of these accidents by properly educating students to exercise caution and good judgment while driving.

Psychological Factors!
On the roadways, drivers have to deal with several factors that can affect their driving. Though some of them are beyond the control of the driver, psychological factors can be controlled by the driver if he knows what to look for and how to handle it. Our defensive driving courses will focus on how drivers can overcome negative psychological factors such as unneeded stress, fatigue, emotional distress and road rage. We will also offer instructions for developing a positive attitude behind the wheel and increasing your focus on the driving task.

Human Factors – DUI!
Driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol continues to impact thousands of American drivers each year. While the specific effect of each drug on your body takes place in differing stages, the effect of drivers operating a vehicle while under the influence is disastrous. A major component of our defensive driving course is education about the role that drugs and alcohol play on Washington’s roadways. Topics will include the Washington’s limits on blood-alcohol level, how your judgment, inhibitions, motor skills and senses are affected by drugs and alcohol and the consequences of being found guilty of driving under the influence.

The Dynamics of a Crash!
Vehicle crashes are almost always a preventable result of a series of events. The combination of speed, place of impact and size of object being impacted can determine the severity of the crash. In every accident, however, the act of one vehicle hitting another vehicle or other object is not the only collision that can occur. The concept of the second collision, in which the driver and other passengers collides with the windshield, seat or other object within the car when not wearing a seat belt can be just as dangerous as the initial collision. Our defensive driving course will address the issue of vehicle crashes and second collisions by listing the elements of a crash and illustrating how the forces of impact can be limited or avoided altogether.

Safety Equipment!
Approximately half of all deaths that are result of an automobile crash could have been avoided if the victim had been wearing a safety belt properly. Of course safety belts are only the most commonly thought of vehicle safety equipment. Items such as air bags, child safety seats and head rests all serve to protect drivers and passengers and reduce the risk of injury or death in the event of a crash. Our defensive driving course will offer tips on how to use these devices properly and ensure the students safety when traveling the roadways.

Crash Prevention Techniques!
The key to any good defensive driving strategy is knowing how to avoid traffic crashes and recognize potential hazards before it’s too late. Students will learn crucial crash prevention techniques that include:

Scanning the roadway and adapting to surroundings.
Employing the four-second rule for following distances.
Knowing your vehicle’s stopping time and distances.
Being aware of reaction times and distances.
Environmental hazards.
Vehicle emergencies.
Sharing the road with other drivers, riders or pedestrians.
Passing and necessary clear distance.
Right of way.
Speed adjustments and railroad crossings.
State Traffic Laws!

The final portion of our defensive driving curriculum requirements will be a study of our state and local traffic laws & ordinances. While for many students this portion serves as a mere refresher course, state and local traffic laws are not always known by all students.