topic Re: Are You a Defensive Driver? in Community Chat

Are You a Defensive Driver?

flickerbulb — Sat, 14 Jan 2017 15:37:45 GMT

I noticed on my car insurer's website that I could earn a discount if I completed a Defensive Driver course.

There were links to a couple of online courses, but I went to my state's DMV and found one there.

It cost $14.95 and it had a page of information with 8 practice questions on each page. It has a timer and it MADE you stay on the page for around 35 minutes for each section.

I am a fast reader so I just let the timer tick away. It took six hours and then you need to pass the final exam.

I called my insurance company and told them I completed the class. They immediately gave me a $56 discount for the six month policy. It is good for three years!

It was a good review of the rules of the road and discussed impaired driving and car maintenance.

So, if you have some time, complete a DD course and save some $$ on your insurance!

Re: Are You a Defensive Driver?

151949 — Sat, 14 Jan 2017 16:14:47 GMT

We have AAA insurance - I wonder if they offer this discount? I wonder if they offer the course? I will check it out.Thanks OP.

Re: Are You a Defensive Driver?

deedledeedeedle — Sat, 14 Jan 2017 16:34:21 GMT

Yes, I do drive defensively. I am continually trying to anticipate what other drivers and pedestrians around me will do. It is exhausting sometimes, especially in rush hour. Some days, however, usually at the end of a long work day, I put my car in "auto pilot" and barely remember the drive home . Fortunately that doesn't happen often, but it does happen.

dee

ETA: I, too, have AAA & will check into possible credit if course is passed.

Re: Are You a Defensive Driver?

Bri21 — Sat, 14 Jan 2017 16:17:02 GMT

Everybody should do this.

So many bad drivers on the roads.

Re: Are You a Defensive Driver?

flickerbulb — Sat, 14 Jan 2017 16:23:01 GMT

I just went to the DMV website to check on the status of my DL.

Apparently, these courses are required to electronically submit the results to the state's DMV, so the notation will be added to my license information too.

I will check next week to see if it was updated.

Re: Are You a Defensive Driver?

kaydee50 — Sat, 14 Jan 2017 16:23:30 GMT

Yes, my DH and I have taken this course, low cost and it does save money on car insurance. I believe it has to be repeated every 3 years to keep the discount valid. Very worthwhile.

Re: Are You a Defensive Driver?

151949 — Sat, 14 Jan 2017 16:34:47 GMT

@deedledeedeedle It used to really worry me when I would be leaving work exhausted and I'd drive home then when I got there I could not remember driving home. I would be so glad I was home, safe & sound, but it was scary that I could barely recall getting there.I must have been a pretty good "auto pilot" driver, because clearly my mind was not on it.

Re: Are You a Defensive Driver?

SeaMaiden — Sat, 14 Jan 2017 16:39:11 GMT

Six hours? That is too long for $56 for me.

Re: Are You a Defensive Driver?

Moonchilde — Sat, 14 Jan 2017 16:41:19 GMT

I was never able, in evening rush hour traffic, to let the auto-pilot thing happen on the way home -- you had to pay close attention every second. But it definitely occurred on my way TO work at 6:30 in the morning. More days than I want to think about!

Re: Are You a Defensive Driver?

flickerbulb — Sat, 14 Jan 2017 16:47:50 GMT

@SeaMaiden

$56 x 6 (6 months for 3 years) = $336 less the cost of the course.

It really took well under an hour, if that. You had to wait for the timer to run out.

Re: Are You a Defensive Driver?

GCR18 — Sat, 14 Jan 2017 16:50:17 GMT

Yes, I like to think I'm a defensive driver. My car insurance is up for renewal in February. I'll have to look through the stack of papers the agent sent. Thanks for the tip.

Re: Are You a Defensive Driver?

grandma2pkmh — Sat, 14 Jan 2017 16:54:24 GMT

@flickerbulb I took the AARP driving test for a discount on insurance. It was at least a 6 hour course. No skipping ahead, had to see, hear & read each item. I felt some (ok most) were just plain silly. They "talked" like we were 15 year olds getting behind the wheel for the first time. There was no way to fail the test and you got your certificate for just going through the test. But for 25.00 and a premium discount I guess it was worth the agony.

Re: Are You a Defensive Driver?

Pook — Sat, 14 Jan 2017 17:34:08 GMT

AAA has a course for driver's over a certain age - not sure what it is 55 or 60 and you get a discount on completion. My SO took it and said simulators are used also. He said there is no pass or fail and that there were many who obviously should not be driving taking the course and I think it should be mandatory retesting for those ones. I wouldn't mind being retested every so many years in order to get my license renewed.

I did take a defensive driving course through my job years ago.

Re: Are You a Defensive Driver?

millieshops — Sat, 14 Jan 2017 18:14:01 GMT

I've had a defensive driving discount on my insurance for as long as it has existed - I don't remember when it started, but certainly I've benefited for more than 20 years.

It's been worth hundreds of dollars over those years because the areas of NY and FL where I live are high-cost areas for liability insurance. Well worth the few hours and the few dollars - and, yes, each time I am reminded of something I wasn't always paying sttention to.

Re: Are You a Defensive Driver?

Catty2 — Sat, 14 Jan 2017 20:51:58 GMT

I am definitely a defensive driver, especially this time of year when snowbirds are here to get away from winter weather.

Re: Are You a Defensive Driver?

gizmogal — Sat, 14 Jan 2017 21:05:34 GMT

Agree with almost every point @grandma2pkmh made about the AARP online driving course. Although I had no trouble hearing or reading each screen or video, the format was dull and silly and overly slow. Extremely annoying, but the price was acceptable, I didn't have to leave my house, the course was accepted for a 3 year discount in NY state by The Hartford Insurance Co. and worth the nuisance. Took me two days to knock off the 6 hours and premium savings was worth my time.

I doubt if any any version of this type of course delivered online is fun or fascinating, and the hours required are set by Federal law to cover approved curriculum and can't be avoided. But you do it in any spare time, work at your own pace in comfort, and get the discount for 3 years.

Re: Are You a Defensive Driver?

hckynut — Sat, 14 Jan 2017 21:28:31 GMT

(thread title)

I started driving in 1955 and have driven many miles? These years include towing race cars and trailers on 2 lane highways.

My record over those 62 years? I have not had 1 single accident(wreck) when I was the driver. No insurance company has paid a penny to repair any of my many vehicles over those years for a driving accident.

My 1970 Mustang Mach I, was however the victim when the 1975 tornado ripped through all areas of our city. I was fortunate that I had parked on the East side of the building, as my Mustang was only damaged by debris. Those parked on the West side? All piled on top of each other like they would be at a vehicle crushing yard.

Defensive Driving? Been one since I paid for and drove my very first car. Racing young taught me to respect the power of motor vehicles and the damage they could cause to people/property, and myself.

ETA--My auto insurance has every discount available for my record. My wife and I also took the Defensive Driving Course which gave us another 15% discount every year for taking that course.

hckynut(john)

Re: Are You a Defensive Driver?

VaBelle35 — Sat, 14 Jan 2017 22:11:35 GMT

I'm definitely a defensive driver. Especially on the routes I take every day, I get a sense of the stupid things all people do and plan accordingly. Mostly this has to do with right turns and merging.

I don't think my insurance company has this, but I've never looked.

Re: Are You a Defensive Driver?

CelticCrafter — Sat, 14 Jan 2017 22:39:57 GMT

I did it about 6 months ago for the insurance discount.

You don't have to sit there for 6 hours straight, you can spread it out over days.

When I set it up, I had to call a number for voice recognition and not only did I have to sit at the computer for the 6 hours, every so many pages or hours, I had to call in and repeat numbers for the voice recognition before it would let me move on. It was a P.I.T.A.

I told my husband, when it expires in 3 years, he can do the next one. I crossed that off my bucket list and added it to the list of never doing that again!

Re: Are You a Defensive Driver?

Kachina624 — Sat, 14 Jan 2017 22:40:14 GMT

This deal has been around for 30-40 years. Many corporations and other organizations offer this course to their employees/members, often given on a Saturday for about 6 hours.