First time for New York traffic school on the web

Last week, the New York DMV announced the availability of online defensive driving classes for the first time. This means that New York drivers now have to choose between a live class or an internet version. The news of the new online courses was closely followed by a GMAC study that ranked the nation’s drivers according to their basic knowledge of traffic rules. New York drivers placed … you guessed it … last. That online defensive driving course just keeps getting better.

Most states, including New York, already recognize the benefits that defensive driving courses can provide by reducing deaths, injuries, and property damage in traffic accidents. While states like California, Florida, Texas, and Virginia have provided an online option for driver training for years, New York has traditionally offered its accident prevention course only through DMV-approved classroom agencies.

In New York, the state-approved 6-hour defensive driving course is known as the Points Insurance Reduction Program, or PIRP. Most drivers who attend a PIRP course do so to collect a 10% reduction in their insurance premium. The reduction is mandatory, which means that New York State law requires insurance companies to grant a discount of at least 10% to any licensed driver who completes the accident prevention course. The course will not prevent your rates from increasing from fines and violations you may have received, but it will make a considerable dent in a typically high New York auto insurance rate.

In addition to the insurance reduction benefit, New York drivers who attend a PIRP course receive a point reduction on their driving record. When the course is completed and its completion is reported to the DMV, the DMV will remove up to four points from your record for any offenses committed in the past 18 months. Unfortunately, the point reduction only applies to past violations and cannot be used as a credit against points accumulated in the future.

As with any type of government-regulated program, PIRP comes with its own special rules and restrictions. Drivers who are interested in insurance or point reduction can visit the New York DMV website to view brochure C-32A, which provides complete details about the PIRP course. The C-32A brochure is also available at any local New York licensing office.

The web-based version of the PIRP course is called the Internet Point Insurance Reduction Program or IPIRP. IPIRP courses are equivalent to traditional instructor-led classroom courses, but there are some significant differences between the two. For starters, web courses stand out for their convenience. You are not required to drive to a classroom for any reason (not even to take a final exam). This could be a huge factor for New Yorkers who want to take the course but prefer to avoid congested traffic, inclement weather, and high gas prices.

Second, online courses include safety measures that are not part of the classroom experience. The DMV has required all IPIRP sponsors to use some form of biometric security measures OR require supervised testing at a physical location before their courses are approved. All courses that have been approved to date use some form of biometrics, which can range from facial scanning to fingerprint scanning or other technologies. However, all courses that were initially approved use a form of biometrics known as keystroke analysis. Clients of the Internet PIRP course will need to submit a sample of their handwriting online to use as a benchmark against which all additional samples are tested.

Another big difference between the Internet PIRP and the classroom model is that the online version does not use a live instructor. If students have a question about the material, they can call or email the company offering the course, but they can’t raise their hands, ask a question, and get an immediate response. Obviously, this is a disadvantage for students who want a more hands-on experience or quick access to a seasoned professional.

On the other hand, online defensive driving courses must meet strict content guidelines established by the DMV, so all students will receive the same instruction each time the course is taught. The DMV requires that certain topics be covered, such as New York traffic laws, how to deal with aggressive driving, and the consequences for drivers who choose to drink and drive.

IPIRP is a five-year pilot program that officially began with the launch of the first approved courses last week. Over the next several years, the DMV will study the programs closely to determine if they are having a measurable positive effect on people’s driving. Since the future is uncertain, New York drivers may want to take advantage of defensive driving online while they can.