Many changes are coming to Defensive Driving programs. Most of them date back to the mid 60s and do not reflect current culture or needs. A large market has become court required classes. AARP has a big one they use for seniors. There are many on-line programs. Only a few short years ago there was only one program in Texas. Now there are hundreds. I went into a small grocery store in Brackettville Texas. On the door was a big sign about a program that their chain was promoting. They gave me a DVD and a book at no cost. I could take the course on my own but would have to pay if I wanted a certificate. The certificates are needed if someone has gotten a ticket.
High schools and some colleges are developing their own programs. Some of these programs are written by students not old enough to drive. What is good about these local programs is that they can easily deal with local conditions and local problems. The problem with the big national programs is that they were filmed in locations and with conditions that do not fit most communities.
Cowboy Safety now has a program that is for individual drivers and has a driving policy component. The video is not localized but it is fairly short and does have some situations that are quite similar everywhere. Rather than being an extension of driver training this new program deals with behavioral issues and local conditions. It deals with ways that our eyes deceive us. It deals with why the better built highways may not be the safest. There is plenty of discussion and there is a conscious attempt to not make it like a class. This is not easy to do so there is no guarantee. Cowboy Safety organizers do stay as long as needed to work with individuals who want extra help. There are planned follow-ups and there is some material in the works so that the participants do not forget their new insights.
Here's one for you. Do you know the length of the white lines on the interstate and how much space is between each one? Be in for a surprise when you find out how long and when you find out why they are the length that they are. Please don't stand on the interstate with a measuring tape!
Yes you are right. Now a days a number of driving schools with a chunk of state specific courses came into the picture compared to past.
Posted by: Online Defensive Driving Course | July 07, 2010 at 12:08 AM