Avoid Accidents with Defensive Driving Course

The term “defensive driving” has been adopted from the driving course launched by the National Safety Council in 1964. Defensive driving does not mean plodding along at a slow pace even on the highway, nor does it merely refer to safe driving. Defensive driving is a proactive approach that helps the driver avoid accidents by being able to anticipate potential dangers on the road, rather than merely reacting to situations as they come up. In an emergency, precious seconds might be lost while thinking about the best way to react to an unforeseen circumstance. This is where defensive driving comes in.

According to the National Highway Safety Administration, more that 41,000 deaths and 3,236,000 injuries are caused each year through motor vehicle accidents. Many states have now made it compulsory for individuals who have gathered a large number of points on their driving record to take defensive driving courses. So what is defensive driving?

Defensive driving basically refers to a set of strategies that a driver employs to ensure his own safety and to some degree the safety of others on the road. The following are some of the many aspects of defensive driving:

1. Always wear a seatbelt.
2. Stay within the prescribed speed limit.
3. Learn about your vehicle – its abilities and its limitations
4. Stay awake and alert. Sleepiness or distractions, such as cell phones, are major causes of accidents.
5. Practice anticipating the moves of others on the road. Even if you are driving safely, others might take risks. It is important to be able to think ahead and be prepared with a reaction.
6. Follow road signs and road markings.
7. Keep at least a three-second distance from the vehicle in front of you. This will give you the time and space required to react to hazardous situations.
8. Not only should you check for you own blind spots while driving, but also be aware of the blind spots of other drivers.
9. Always use the turn signal to let other drivers know your intentions.

Brushing up on your Defensive Driving skills also has added benefits. Many states reduce the number of points on one’s driving record and insurance companies offer an up to 10% discount on the insurance rates for drivers who have completed an approved defensive driving course.

The easiest way to complete the defensive driving and get a course completion certification is through an online course. There is good news for residents of New York, as of May 18, 2009 New York drivers can complete the online Defensive Driving and receive up to 4 points reduction as well as state mandated 10% Insurance Reduction. The National Point and Insurance Reduction Course, only one of four state approved online defensive driving courses, now brings the Improv Aware Driver . Improv Defensive Driving Course is the only humor base course that you can complete at your own pace. Based on a curriculum developed by the Improv Comedy Club, this course will keep you entertained and safe at the same time. It also happens to be one of the lowest priced Defensive Driving Courses in NY. Visit www.myimprovnewyork.com today to learn more about this unique NYS DMV approved defensive driving course.