New York Online Defensive Driving Now Available
Just in time for Memorial Day weekend traffic tickets, New York drivers now have the option of completing a defensive driving course on the Internet. That’s great news for New Yorkers who are facing a possible driver license point suspension, as the course reduces up to four points on their driving record from tickets they have received within the past 18 months.
The course is available from New York Online Training and can be taken directly from their website, www.newyork-defensive-driving.com. It’s completely online, meaning no driving to a class site or driving to a testing location to take a final exam.
In addition to the point reduction, a New York driver can save 10% on his or her auto insurance premium. This insurance reduction benefit remains in place for 3 years and applies to the base rate of collision and liability premiums. New York State law requires that auto insurance companies give a discount of at least 10% to any driver who completes online New York defensive driving.
In the past, if a New York driver wanted to receive an insurance reduction, he or she would have to locate an agency offering a six-hour accident prevention course in a classroom. For the past two decades, the DMV and insurance companies would only accept a certificate from a classroom-based driver training agency. That has all changed within the past week, as the New York State DMV has approved a number of new online defensive driving programs that are equivalent to the traditional classroom courses.
A New York DMV press release announced this week that several companies had been approved to participate in the Internet Point Insurance Reduction Program (IPIRP). The first four companies approved were I Drive Safely, USA Training, Improv, and American Safety Council. Several more courses are expected to be released within the next few months, as DMV completes its review process.
Numerous blog posts, press releases, and news feeds about the new online traffic school programs have flooded the Internet over the past week. One reason this is such a hot news topic is that New York is one of the largest markets in the country for online defensive driving. The pilot IPIRP program has been in its “pre-release” phase for nearly three years now, making the new Internet defensive driving courses a highly anticipated service for New York drivers.
Convenient defensive driving options for New Yorkers couldn’t have happened at a better time. A GMAC report released earlier this week reveals that New York drivers rank worst in the nation for knowledge of road rules. The online New York accident prevention courses that are now available will make it much easier for New York drivers to brush up on their defensive driving skills, which could lead to a reduction in the number of crashes and fatalities on New York roadways.
