A defensive driving course is designed to help people operate a motor vehicle with the skills to avoid an accident in a situation where one may occur. Defensive driving teaches advanced skills and awareness not initially taught to new drivers. The goal of a defensive driving course is to train individuals to be a proactive driver in order to avoid dangerous road situations or the poor conduct of other drivers.

Drivers usually enroll in defensive driving courses to brush up on skills or to qualify for car insurance discounts. Most often individuals are referred to defensive driving courses after being ticketed for a moving violation or having been in an accident. Depending upon the laws of the municipality, the documented completion of a defensive driving course can allow for a dismissal of the ticket.

The main benefit of defensive driving is its power to reduce or keep points from showing up on a driving record. Individuals with tickets also experience higher insurance rates, so a nominal fee for completing a defensive driving course online makes for an easy choice to keep rates down. Defensive driving not only saves money but also improves overall skills and awareness, making you a safer driver.

Defensive driving courses are taught across the United States and are sometimes called traffic schools, depending upon the regional area. Changes in technology and the economy over the past two decades, have turned the defensive driving course into a private industry giving drivers a choice.