Which defensive driving course should I take?

June 5, 2006 8:16 AM

I have to take defensive driving (which is approved by TX). What are the different online courses, which ones are the easiest to take? Emphasis on ability to do something else at the same time and light consequences for inattentiveness. What are the assorted pros and cons?
posted by JakeLL to law & government (8 comments total)

I took onlinedefensivedriving.com and it was easy. I found I was able to multitask on other things with no problems. Had no problems getting the certificate taken care of. I had a problem setting up my account and got a chance to call their support number (at 10 pm), and the girl there was helpful and friendly, and fixed it on their system immediately. So I'd use them again.
posted by rolypolyman at 8:37 AM on June 5, 2006

I took the online NSC course offered through Northwestern University. I would say you have to pay a certain amount of attention to do well, although you could probably pass without exerting too much effort. But the problem with the basic question is that most online courses that meet your criteria are crappy courses.

It's worth pointing out that Defensive Driving is an incredibly useful set of skills that may help keep you alive when dealing with all the schmucks on the road who haven't taken a course, or who took the course that allowed them to get an easy pass without paying attention.

I don't know why you have the take the class, but it's hard to imagine a situation in which you'll be better off by taking a course that you won't learn from.
posted by j-dawg at 8:59 AM on June 5, 2006

I can't imagine how a driving course taken online could actually improve your driving skills. If you can, take it in person. Defensive driving saved my life on at least two occasions (both times a deer wandered out of forest quite close to the road, at dusk, with pretty much no warning, and I was able to reflexively use the threshold braking techniques that had been drummed into me).
posted by joannemerriam at 9:24 AM on June 5, 2006

In Texas you can take Defensive Driving to get out of a ticket, basically. I took one that you rented from Blockbuster. It was a tape that you were required to watch--there is some mechanism that they can check to prove it was played. Then there was an internet test afterwards. I pressed play, did laundry, did the same for the second tape, then took the test. There were some trick questions about the tape itself, but not so many I couldn't pass. Call Blockbuster and see if they still have it.

I also took the 4-hour class that they conducted at the local Shoney's. Two hours each for two days, and a dinner buffet was included. Get up, get food at your leisure. I brought a notebook and doodled. The instructors can tell who it's worthless to call on, and they don't bother. Be that person.
posted by deadfather at 9:29 AM on June 5, 2006

JakeLL - Take the online class to beat the ticket, since I understand that's your priority. The first poster's one looks good.

To the other posters: In TX, taking defensive driving online is your 'get out of jail free card,' which only really works once. If you end up getting a 2nd ticket, you pay full bill usually... because by now you should 'know better'.

If you're at all interested in really improving your driving skills, I'd go get your M-class license. (If you don't already have it.) The awareness that they teach you for riding on two wheels with everyone literally out to kill you is incredibly valuable in defensive driving. And then you can get a $1000 beater bike and commute to work and back to save gas. :)
posted by SpecialK at 9:34 AM on June 5, 2006

In TX, taking defensive driving online is your 'get out of jail free card,' which only really works once.

Once a year, unless they changed it. The best part is, it actually gives you a discount on your auto insurance.
posted by deadfather at 9:37 AM on June 5, 2006

Look at TXDriving.com. The films are archaic, the "are you there" pop quizzes are annoying, but you can take the entire course with a glass of wine in hand. Its forty bucks without a coupon.

P.S.- this is very important: They will spam whatever email address you give them, so give them one you don't mind spammed. I know this because I gave them an email address of [e-mail] and that is the most spammed mailbox I own.
posted by crazyray at 11:15 AM on June 5, 2006

Yes this is for getting out of a ticket. I've done it twice before and both were completely useless, as well as inane. However I am intrigued at actually learning a new skill or two like the "threshold braking" that joannemerriam mentioned. Anyone know of a quality DD program in Houston?

(I'm assuming all the programs here are crap because they offer it to those who are just trying to get out of the ticket cheap.)
posted by JakeLL at 1:46 PM on June 5, 2006