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Defensive Driving Course - Feedback
Margee & I just completed an on-line Defensive Driving Course recommended to us by our insurance company (Amica Mutual Insurance Co.).  The name of the course is "I Drive Safely" at Defensive Driving, Traffic School & much more.  The course cost $25 each for Texas drivers and the rate seems to be different for other States.  I was able to refer my wife which meant I will receive a $10 gift card to several places to include Target and Amazon.  This was a referral promotion by "I Drive Safely."

The course takes six (6) hours and is not difficult.  We completed the on-line course in 2 days but we could have taken up to 30 days as I remember.  This course will save us $167 a year on our two (2) cars and an additional discount on our RV insurance.  The insurance discount is effective for three (3) years which means we will save more than $500 on insurance.  And $500 is not chump change in our household!   Interestingly, this course actually helped us in several areas.

I hope this information is helpful.
Re: Defensive Driving Course - Feedback
Reply #1 –
That's excellent!
 In my opinion, defensive driving is most of what makes a good driver. The actual turning the wheel and knowing when to hit the gas or brake is only 5% of it. The rest is defensive driving.
 I had the good fortune of learning it early from my mother. She let me practice for my driving test in her Karman Ghia. It paid off hugely all my life. In my early 20s, I became an over the road big rig driver. Drove an 18 wheeler for years where defensive driving was continually tested before I traded that for an 18 wheeler in the sky! (retired pilot, heh).
 Been driving for over 50 years now and never have come close to an accident. It's all about anticipating what that other fool is gonna do.
 I try so hard to instill that driving philosophy in my kids and well...son has been in 3 accidents and my daughter 2...yeech

Graydon
Re: Defensive Driving Course - Feedback
Reply #2 –
Quote from: Ed & Margee  - 
Margee & I just completed an on-line Defensive Driving Course recommended to us by our insurance company (Amica Mutual Insurance Co.).  The name of the course is "I Drive Safely" at Defensive Driving, Traffic School & much more.  The course cost $25 each for Texas drivers and the rate seems to be different for other States.  I was able to refer my wife which meant I will receive a $10 gift card to several places to include Target and Amazon.  This was a referral promotion by "I Drive Safely."

The course takes six (6) hours and is not difficult.  We completed the on-line course in 2 days but we could have taken up to 30 days as I remember.  This course will save us $167 a year on our two (2) cars and an additional discount on our RV insurance.  The insurance discount is effective for three (3) years which means we will save more than $500 on insurance.  And $500 is not chump change in our household!  Interestingly, this course actually helped us in several areas.

I hope this information is helpful.

I just checked with USAA and was told I would save about $60 per year for 2 cars.

Chris
Formerly: 2002 30' IB
Re: Defensive Driving Course - Feedback
Reply #3 –
I was taught The Smith System of defensive driving yearly for 27 years.  I think some of it may have sunk in :)
My wife probably gets tired of me pointing out the errors and stupid moves other drivers are making on the road.  Many times it's allowed me to avoid accidents.
No, I'm not a perfect driver, probably too aggressive, but I'm constantly "looking for a way out".
2004 26.5 MB
Enjoying retirement traveling, Rzr riding, photography, and of course the 2 grand girls!
Re: Defensive Driving Course - Feedback
Reply #4 –
It seems that the course Ed attended was more useful than one I took a few years ago. A local community center offered a "Safe Driving for Seniors" class that consisted of 8 hours of 'instruction' on driving techniques, going through the DMV manual in preparation for taking the written test, and videos on what to do and not to do in particular 'on the road' situations.  About 25 old people showed up; the hook was a small break on one's insurance cost with a course completion certificate.

The course ran all day; the morning session was tolerable, not due to the course content, which was tedious and not helped along by a lot of questions from people who probably should have just bagged the course and handed over their keys, but because the instructor was also an 'old people' and grasped that elders tend to seize up if they have to sit too long. Let's just say that the horn of the taco wagon's arrival  was very welcome.

The afternoon session had fewer attendees; apparently the lure of a small insurance cost break wasn't enough to hold them. (The dropout could also have been a result of taco wagon patronage, of course.)  A few of the survivors went to sleep, doodled on their handouts, or knitted. After a few 'AV' glitches, the instructor shoved the tape (yes) into the player. The music roused a few of the nappers, and we were zipped into a time warp: Lee Iacocca in a 1980s model Chrysler! (Does nobody vet the course content for currency?!?) ) At this point, despite an almost overwhelming desire to flee, my childhood training that walking out while a 'performance' of any kind was in progress was rude and classless, kicked in and I watched the tape, remembering back in the day when I collected speeding tickets in my mother's Chrysler Imperial(s)!

Got my well-deserved certificate; $20 off my insurance, or $2.50 per hour. No more courses; I get almost daily  'driving survival skills' training just leaving my driveway.  ;)

One 'course' I can recommend for new RVers who may be unfamiliar with driving large vehicles is the 'hands-on in your own rig' instruction given by The RV School.

RV School

I took this course when I picked up my 2003; even though I had driven large vehicles, I learned an amazing amount from a great instructor and gained skills and confidence. A 'plus' to the 2-day, 8-hour instruction was that it took place for four hours each day on the L.A. freeway system, surface streets, parking lots, and 'tight fit' situations. Well worth the cost!

As ever, YMMV!  ;)




2003 TK has a new home
Re: Defensive Driving Course - Feedback
Reply #5 –
My previous experiences with Defensive Driving Classes for insurance discounts was as described by Joan.  So for the last many years, we just never considered that as worthwhile.  However, while discussing our new auto & home insurance rates with Amica, they suggested that class and quoted us that annual discount.  After we took the class, I called Amica to find out how to email them a scanned copy of the training certificate and to verify the discount.  And the discount was still that $167 per year for two (2) cars and for two (2) people.  I emailed the scanned copy of the certificate and within 6 hours an Amica customer service person called me to say thank you and that the discount has been applied to our insurance rates.  We've done the same thing with our RV insurance company, but we waiting to see how that discount applies since we paid the premium a year in advance for an additional discount.
Re: Defensive Driving Course - Feedback
Reply #6 –
Last year I took a high performance driving class, on a motorcycle, at Willow Springs International Raceway.  At the end of the course, those of us who passed all of the skills were given a certificate and advised that several insurance companies might give us a discount for the extra training.

I presented my certificate to my agent at AAA and explained what the course entailed.  Although the nice lady was polite, the bottom line was "Not a Chance."  I guess I'm going to have to take one of their "Defensive driving for those who should no longer be behind the wheel" classes.

Darn.  There probably won't even be any 100+mph sections either...
2014 27 MB
Towd: Either the Jeep Wrangler or trailer containing the BMW R1200GS and 2 E-bicycles
Happy wife=Happy life
Re: Defensive Driving Course - Feedback
Reply #7 –
Quote from: Blueox25  - 
Last year I took a high performance driving class, on a motorcycle, at Willow Springs International Raceway.  At the end of the course, those of us who passed all of the skills were given a certificate and advised that several insurance companies might give us a discount for the extra training.

I presented my certificate to my agent at AAA and explained what the course entailed.  Although the nice lady was polite, the bottom line was "Not a Chance."  I guess I'm going to have to take one of their "Defensive driving for those who should no longer be behind the wheel" classes.

Darn.  There probably won't even be any 100+mph sections either...

AAA is pretty particular about what courses they accept.  Based on recent interactions with them, I think their customer service has slipped. We used to have our home insurance with them but they would not insure us in our present location . . . something about living in a wildland fire area.  So we switched our home to USAA.

I am becoming less and less enamored with them but they continue to give us the best price on auto insurance so we continue with them, sigh.
Greg & Victoria
2017 Mid-Bath  “Nocona” towing a manual 2015 Forester
Previously a 1985 TK
SKP #61264
Re: Defensive Driving Course - Feedback
Reply #8 –
Quote from: Blueox25  - 
I guess I'm going to have to take one of their "Defensive driving for those who should no longer be behind the wheel" classes.

Darn.  There probably won't even be any 100+mph sections either...

Here is the online AAA program that will get you a discount on insurance, Harold.  Free for those that meet certain qualifications, $49 otherwise:

Drivesharp

Yeah, pretty sure you'll need to stay in the slow lane on this course, lol!


Greg & Victoria
2017 Mid-Bath  “Nocona” towing a manual 2015 Forester
Previously a 1985 TK
SKP #61264
Re: Defensive Driving Course - Feedback
Reply #9 –
Darn.  There probably won't even be any 100+mph sections either...

Shame...You can easily exceed 100+mph coming down off the grapevine in Calif in your LD
 
Re: Defensive Driving Course - Feedback
Reply #10 –
"Here is the online AAA program that will get you a discount on insurance..."

I suggest checking with one's insurance company before assuming that completion of a 'driving course', particularly an online 'driving' course, will result in a discount on coverage costs.

YMMV, as always.

2003 TK has a new home