Remedial Driving Instruction Course in Ohio

SUMMARY: Driver Improvement Courses in Ohio

In Ohio, defensive driving courses or traffic school is referred to as a remedial driving instruction course. They are approved by the OH Bureau of Motor Vehicles (BMV). These courses are designed for drivers in the state of Ohio that have a traffic citation they would like to have dismissed, and have received either a court's or a judge's approval to complete a course. The purpose of the course is NOT to remove points from your driving record but rather to keep points from being applied to your driving record as a result of a traffic violation.

Ohio Defensive Driving Providers

In Ohio you can take your remedial driving instruction course from a certified driver training school, or you can take it from an approved online provider. If you attend a driver's training school in person, you'll be taught by a certified instructor, and you must be present for the entire course. In-classroom defensive driving courses are typically done on a Saturday or during the evening following school and work hours.

The online defensive driving course option is becoming more and more popular due to its flexibility. The required amount of hours must still be fulfilled, but you will be able to start and stop the course whenever you need to take a break.

If you opt for the online option, your course provider may specify a date that you must complete the course. If you do not successfully complete your course by the required date, you'll fail the course and you won't be eligible for a refund. Check with your course provider for specific information.

Ohio Defensive Driving Course Details

The Ohio BMV mandates that a remedial driving instruction course be a minimum of 8 hours in length.

Traffic school is divided into separate chapters all on different topics that teach you about the safe driving habits of being a responsible and more defensive driver.

Some of the main topics that you will cover during traffic school include:

  • The concept of crash prevention and the cost magnitude of traffic accidents.
  • The contributing factors to a vehicle crash.
  • Traffic laws and regulations and highway environmental factors.

Each chapter ends with a multiple-choice quiz and at the end of your course, you'll be required to take a final exam. You'll need to answer a pre-determined number of questions correctly in order to pass. These questions will be based on information you have covered throughout your course. Check with your chosen Ohio traffic school provider for more course information, including:

  • Course fees.
  • Options to retake the final exam, if you fail.
  • Course duration.
  • What is required to pass the final exam.

Reasons to Complete Ohio Traffic School

Ohio uses a point system to keep track of your driving history. Completing a defensive driving course in Ohio could allow you to:

  • Keep 2 points from being applied to your driving record after being charged with a traffic violation.
  • Reinstate your OH driver's license.

You may need to meet the following requirements to be eligible for a point reduction or traffic ticket dismissal:

  • You haven't completed a defensive driving course previously (this time varies by state).
  • You were not driving a commercial vehicle when you received your traffic ticket.
  • You have a valid Ohio driver's license.
  • You were not cited for multiple violations.

Once you receive a traffic ticket in Ohio, your local court may send you a notice to tell you if you are eligible to take a defensive driving course/traffic school to dismiss the ticket and prevent points being added to your driving record. If you do not receive a notice, or this option is not stated on your traffic ticket, you can always check with the local Ohio court handling your case.

In some cases, you may be able to receive an auto insurance discount upon completion of your defensive driving course. Check with your insurance company BEFORE you enroll.

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