Traffic school

Traffic school is the generic common term for remedial courses in Road-traffic safety and safe driving practices. In the United States, these are offered as part of pre-trial diversion programs to Moving violation offenders by traffic courts, in the interest of improving general safety. To offset the oppression suggested by the compulsory nature of traffic school, some businesses present themselves as a "comedy traffic school" where they attempt to have instructors who are, to some degree, entertaining.

Incentive

Opting to take the course may cost the violator anywhere from slightly less than the fine for the violation to significantly more. However, successful completion will usually either completely remove, or significantly reduce, the effect on the violator's driving record, which in turn will at least reduce the effect on the violator's Automobile insurance premiums. Typically, a traffic violator will be offered the opportunity to take such a course only if he or she has not done so within a specified number of months prior to the violation; this keeps frequent violators from abusing the system to avoid the consequences of their recklessness, while encouraging participants to pay attention, and to put what they learn into practice.

Purpose

The term does not have the same meaning in every state of the U.S. In some states traffic school is an in class or in person school along with a corresponding internet or online school providing some of the following courses:

Although the course objectives sound different, the primary goal of a person taking these courses is to:

  1. Dismiss a traffic ticket issued by police or highway patrol
  2. Remove points on his or her driving record
  3. Learn the driving safety techniques of that respective state
  4. Practice driving with a driver improvement program
  5. Gain an insurance discount

Programs are offered through many channels:

1. Internet - Unlike traditional in class schools, this can be more convenient although not as personal.

2. Classroom - Traditional, offers a live, face to face experience to the user, as he/she will listen directly to a live instructor and can get any questions answered immediately.

3. CD/DVD/On Demand - Another home study method of completion and presentation.

In addition to the United States, a few states and provinces in Canada, Australia and Europe also have this type of traffic school in place, but compared to other countries the United States course is taken on a large scale.

In some states, these courses are court mandated and in some it is DMV required.

The providers who offer these courses are usually certified by respective state road/traffic safety bodies, such as:

Traffic school not only deals with ticket dismissal and insurance discounts, but also teaches or provides courses for:

Traffic school covers all traffic safety related courses for all segments and ages above 13.

Internet Traffic School

Today, in many states like Arizona, Alaska, California, Texas, etc., internet or / web traffic school has become a more and more popular way to dismiss citations. In California, the pioneer of approving this method, all state courts currently allow most traffic violations (such as speeding, rolling a stop sign, etc.) to be removed in this manner. Many states soon followed and now also offer internet traffic school in one form or another, the main incentive is for people to do be able to complete traffic school in a more flexible manner. In fact, now the majority of eligible students in the states that have licensed traffic schools through the internet complete their requirements through some type of online curriculum.

References