How Many Points Does a Defensive Driving Course Remove in Georgia?

The purpose of defensive driving courses is to prevent accidents by teaching drivers to anticipate hazardous situations and adjust their driving behaviors, according to the Georgia Department of Driver ServicesRegulated Programs Driver Improvement Program Dds.georgia.gov (DDS).

Many states, including Georgia, use defensive driving programs to help drivers reduce the number of points on their driving records. In Georgia, drivers who are guilty of certain traffic violations receive "points" on their licensesPoints And Points Reduction Dds.georgia.gov. 

Some violations, such as texting while driving or child safety restraint violations, earn the driver as little as one point. Other violations, such as aggressive driving or speeding 34 mph or more over the speed limit, carry six points. If you end up with 15 or more points on your license, the state of Georgia will suspend it.

With over 36,000 traffic fatalities across the United States in 2018Roadway Fatalities 2018 Fars Press Releases, it's not surprising that state governments want drivers to improve their defensive driving skills. That's why Georgia offers drivers the opportunity to remove some of the points from their driver's licenses by taking a defensive driving course.

Benefits of Defensive Driving Course GA

If you're considering signing up for a Georgia defensive drivingGeorgia Driversed.com course, you probably want to know what you'll get out of it. As we mentioned above, one benefit of these courses is their impact on your driving record.

"If you have points on your license, going to a defensive driving course can erase seven points from your license," says Kirk Brisette, Ph.D., CEO and co-founder of DriveSmart Georgia. "This can only happen once every five years. Be careful out there."

In addition, defensive driving courses can help improve driver safety. After taking one of these courses, you could potentially have:

• Decreased risk of motor vehicle accidents and traffic violations.

• Reduced insurance premiums (if your policy allows for that).

• Lower vehicle repair or replacement bills as a result of fewer collisions.

• Improved confidence and peace of mind.

Who Should Take a Georgia Defensive Driving Course?

Sometimes, Georgia might require you to take a defensive driving course as a result of one or more traffic violations.  But there are also people who register for these courses even though they are not required to by law.

The most common reason for taking a defensive driving course, aside from being legally required to do so, is to improve driving skills for new drivers, especially teens. 

"Mom and Dad may feel more comfortable with this extra learning," says Dr. Brisette. "It is an awesome way to get assimilated to potentially dangerous situations on the road. However, that is beyond classwork and a person would need to look up a facility that provides the hands-on instruction."

Here's the bottom line. Defensive driving courses prevent accidents and save lives. They do this by teaching drivers to anticipate hazardous situations and adjust their behaviors accordingly. With so many traffic fatalities, it's important that state governments, drivers, and parents of new drivers do everything they can to ensure everyone is safe on the road.