Everyday Blog

Defensive driving has become a popular sector of the education market in many states with Texas and Florida leading the surge. States have incentivised the private sector to develop these tuition based training facilities, by offering what amounts to moving violation credits. In many jurisdictions, this means you can have that speeding ticket wiped out in exchange for going to school. More and more of these ticket academies even offer internet defensive driving classes.

Ticket income is a major cash cow for most states. To give a share of this up in exchange for education indicates the schools really work. There has been mounting pressure for more and better driver education for two primary reasons. The death rate from automobile accidents has gotten out of control … especially in the under 25 age group. These deaths and the accompanying collision costs, are putting a big dent in insurance companies profitability as well as their ability to provide affordable insurance.

If you have had your license for anything more than a month, you already know what kind of foolishness goes on out on the road. Let’s be honest… you are really good at seeing other people do stupid things, so this article isn’t about whether you know right from wrong, is it? The goal is to remember what’s right and correct it, when it’s our turn to do something stupid.

The key to achievement in any pursuit, is to adopt an attitude of pride. Are you proud of your driving skills? Like many other things in life, defensive driving is a matter of your attitude.

Driving a car is one of life’s ultimate freedoms. You can go virtually anywhere. Speed is exhilarating even under the speed limit. The rush of freedom emotions can cause drivers… especially younger ones… to lose track of their environment. It’s important to remember there are a lot of other people out there on the road with you.

When you realize that many of those other drivers you are out there with are amateurs and may well represent a serious danger to you and your passengers… is usually when the light goes on and you start to change your driving habits for the better.

For you to make that transition from amateur to pro easily and quickly, you simply need to admit that bad drivers… possibly including you… represent a real threat to your health and wellbeing. Not to put too dramatic a point on this, but the risks are quite genuine and very much include that line between life and death.

There is a definite relationship between how well you drive and how long you live. There is also a specific correlation to how high your insurance premiums are. If you can live longer and pay less then you’re a winner and a great example to your fellow drivers. Could it be that Texas defensive driving courses help here?