Safe2Drive Blog

3/25/2024

Elderly Drivers: Maintaining Mobility and Safety Through Driver Improvement Courses

by Courtney Conley

Most adults appreciate the freedom and independence that driving affords them. It enables them to stay connected with loved ones, run errands, and engage in activities that enrich their lives. However, as we age, changes in our physical and cognitive abilities can impact our driving skills. This is where driver improvement courses for mature drivers come in handy. These courses can play a vital role in increasing road safety while helping mature drivers to drive safely for as long as possible.

How Aging Affects Driving

Age-related changes like losing vision, slower reflexes, and reduced flexibility can affect a mature driver’s ability to drive safely. Medications and underlying health conditions can also affect your driving skills. Some specific challenges mature drivers may face include:

  • Vision: Decreased vision, impaired night vision, and difficulty judging distances.
  • Hearing: Reduced ability to detect crucial traffic cues like sirens and horns.
  • Cognitive Decline: Slower reaction times and difficulty multitasking, making it more difficult to avoid hazards in time to avoid a collision.
  • Physical Limitations: Difficulty maneuvering the vehicle comfortably and safely due to reduced flexibility and strength.

How Mature Driver Improvement Courses Can Help

Taking a mature driver improvement course can benefit mature drivers in the following ways:

  • Enhanced Skills: Refreshing existing driving skills and introducing new defensive driving techniques.
  • Safer Driving: Reducing the risk of collisions for mature drivers by addressing age-related challenges.
  • Increased Awareness: Providing mature drivers with a better understanding of their abilities and limitations behind the wheel.
  • Insurance Discounts: Qualifying mature drivers for discounts on car insurance premiums upon course completion, depending on your insurance company.

Tips and Tricks for Mature Drivers

Here are some safety tips for mature drivers:

  • Regular Vision and Hearing Checks: Mature drivers should maintain good vision and hearing through regular checkups and corrective measures.
  • Family Communication: Have open conversations between family members and mature drivers about driving habits and support for alternative transportation options, and mature drivers recognizing when to limit driving or seek alternative transportation.
  • Doctor Involvement: Keep your medical team in the loop by having doctors assess a mature driver’s fitness to drive and recommend appropriate courses of action.

Mature driver improvement courses provide a valuable resource for mature drivers to maintain their mobility and safety on the road. By adapting to the changes that come along with age, these courses can help mature adults remain connected, independent, and safe on the roads.

Interested in learning more about traffic safety?

Are you looking for defensive driving and traffic school courses? Do you want a discount on your auto insurance? Do you know a teen who’s ready to take an online driver education course?

Safe2Drive is here to help! We offer convenient online courses for drivers of any age! Visit our website today to learn about the online courses we offer in your state.

Most adults appreciate the freedom and independence that driving affords them. It enables them to stay connected with loved ones, run errands, and engage in activities that enrich their lives. However, as we age, changes in our physical and cognitive abilities can impact our driving skills. This is where driver improvement courses for mature drivers come in handy. These courses can play a vital role in increasing road safety while helping mature drivers to drive safely for as long as possible.

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3/20/2024

Overcoming Traffic Violations: How Traffic School Can Help Clear Your Record

by Courtney Conley

Traffic school, sometimes called defensive driving, provides drivers with the opportunity to dismiss their ticket, potentially reduce fines, and remove points from their driver record, and hopefully get them back on the road as safer, more defensive drivers.

The Benefits of Traffic School

One of the main benefits of traffic school is a legal one: by completing a course, drivers may be eligible to have points removed from their driver record. This is a huge help for drivers who may have collected a lot of points on their record. Each state has a threshold for how many points you can accumulate before your license is suspended or even revoked.

Beyond point reduction, traffic school can save you heaps of money in the long run. If you take traffic school to dismiss a ticket or remove/hide points on your driving record, insurance companies won’t see them and can’t raise your rates because of them.

Additionally, traffic school can be a great way to freshen up your knowledge on safe driving practices. You’ll revisit the rules of the road, learn about new traffic laws, and gain insights into defensive driving techniques. This can help you avoid future violations and become a safer, more confident driver.

Can I take traffic school to dismiss my ticket or remove points from my record?

Whether or not you can take traffic school to dismiss a ticket or reduce points on your driving record depends on various factors, including the following:

  • What State You Live In or the Court That’s Dealing with Your Case: States have different rules on whether you can take a traffic school course to remove points or dismiss a ticket. Rules also differ from court to court. It’s best to check with your court and see if you’re eligible.
  • The Severity of the Violation: Often, you cannot take traffic school for major traffic violations such as a DUI. However, for things like minor speeding tickets, traffic school can be a great way to dismiss a ticket or reduce/hide points on your driving record and keep your insurance rates low if your state or court allow you to do so.
  • Whether You’ve Taken Traffic School Before: Some states limit the amount of times you can take traffic school to dismiss a ticket or have points removed from your driving record.

Traffic violations don’t have to define your driving record. By taking advantage of traffic school courses, you can get back on the road with a clear driving record and the confidence to keep it that way.

Interested in learning more about traffic safety?

Are you looking for defensive driving and traffic school courses? Do you want a discount on your auto insurance? Do you know a teen who’s ready to take an online driver education course?

Safe2Drive is here to help! We offer convenient online courses for drivers of any age! Visit our website today to learn about the online courses we offer in your state.

Traffic school, sometimes called defensive driving, provides drivers with the opportunity to dismiss their ticket, potentially reduce fines, and remove points from their driver record, and hopefully get them back on the road as safer, more defensive drivers.

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3/12/2024

From Classroom to Highway: The Evolution of Driver's Education

by Courtney Conley

Traffic collisions and fatalities are as old as automobiles themselves. The first traffic fatality on record in the US occurred in New York in 1899, and it certainly wasn’t the last. In 2021, there were 39,508 fatal collisions in the US.

Drivers weren’t always required to take a class before they were permitted behind the wheel, but eventually, driver education courses began becoming mandatory for high schoolers who wanted to drive. School districts in Pennsylvania and Michigan started to offer driver education courses at the end of the 1920s. More school districts in more states followed suit, which inspired Professor Amos Neyhart of Penn State to develop the first standardized driver education curriculum in 1934. This was necessary because the requirements were super inconsistent in courses until then.

By the mid-30s, the American Automobile Association (AAA) started offering courses to high school students and advocating for its inclusion in public school curriculums. When the 1950s rolled around, many public high schools in the US were offering driving courses as part of the curriculum. These classes usually focused on traffic laws, safe driving techniques, and vehicle maintenance tips.

Of course, there’s more to driving than laws and techniques. Driving curriculum in the 1960s started including more of the psychological components of driving, like fatigue, elevated emotions, and substance impairment. This was a huge development that compelled schools to emphasize a responsible driving attitude.

By the end of the century, many public schools had cut their driver education programs, instead partnering with private driving schools. One benefit of this was the emergence of online driver education courses. Online courses offer a flexible and accessible alternative to traditional classroom instruction, allowing students to access materials from the comfort of their homes. Some online courses, like those offered by Safe2Drive, include videos and games to help keep students engaged and promote enhanced learning outcomes.

Online driver education has made learning to drive easier and more convenient in a few ways. It caters to the different ways people learn. Students can learn at their own speed and go back over tricky topics as many times as they need. Additionally, online classes are often more accessible. Adults don’t need to drive students to a classroom when they’re taking an online driver education course.

Looking to the future, it’s likely we’ll start to see more advanced technologies in the realm of online education, including in driver’s education courses. By embracing innovation while preserving the core principles of road safety and practical driving skills, driver’s education will continue to play a vital role in shaping safe and defensive drivers for generations.

Interested in learning more about traffic safety?

Are you looking for defensive driving and traffic school courses? Do you want a discount on your auto insurance? Do you know a teen who’s ready to take an online driver education course?

Safe2Drive is here to help! We offer convenient online courses for drivers of any age! Visit our website today to learn about the online courses we offer in your state.

Traffic collisions and fatalities are as old as automobiles themselves. The first traffic fatality on record in the US occurred in New York in 1899, and it certainly wasn’t the last. In 2021, there were 39,508 fatal collisions in the US.

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3/5/2024

You're a Car Owner. Of Course You're Spending Too Much on Car Insurance!

by Courtney Conley

Car insurance costs are through the (sun)roof. Anyone who drives a car has to have car insurance, and it’s not something you want to skimp on--just ask anyone who has been in a collision! Here are three ways to keep your car insurance payment down.

1. Drive like someone who shouldn’t have to pay too much for car insurance.

No one wants to waste money--and that includes car insurance companies. If you’re collecting speeding tickets and recording TikToks while driving, it’s only a matter of time until you’re going to do something reckless to cost your insurance company a lot of money. Of course they’ll charge you as much as possible each month! If you don’t want to be seen as a walking red flag, make sure your driving record reflects that. Follow traffic laws, put your phone down, and do your best to keep you and those around you safe.

2. Be upfront about how much you drive.

One of the questions you’ll need to answer when you’re getting your insurance policy is how much you drive (i.e., your annual mileage). If you work from home, or otherwise aren’t putting tons of miles on your car, you might consider opting for a usage-based insurance plan that charges you based on your driving distance. This can be a great option and save a lot of money, but only if you’re realistic about how much you’re going to drive. Only go for this if you’re really going to have a low mileage .

3. Take advantage of discounts.

Who doesn’t love a coupon? In addition to shopping around for the best prices, pay attention to additional offers you may qualify for. Insurance companies often offer discounts for drivers who fit certain criteria such as: good students, clean driving records, and having a car with great safety features, just to name a few. Many insurance companies offer discounts to drivers who opt to take an insurance discount course like the ones offered online by Safe2Drive.

With insurance costs on the rise, it’s well worth your time to do what you can in order to get the best price possible.

Interested in learning more about traffic safety?

Are you looking for defensive driving and traffic school courses? Do you want a discount on your auto insurance? Do you know a teen who’s ready to take an online driver education course?

Safe2Drive is here to help! We offer convenient online courses for drivers of any age! Visit our website today to learn about the online courses we offer in your state.

Car insurance costs are through the (sun)roof. Anyone who drives a car has to have car insurance, and it’s not something you want to skimp on--just ask anyone who has been in a collision! Here are three ways to keep your car insurance payment down.

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