The cost of driving goes up every year, so most drivers are willing to do almost anything to keep their costs down. That means that if they break a traffic rule, they have to go to traffic school. Drivers who go to traffic school don't get points added to their records, which is a necessary step to make sure that their already high insurance rates don't go through the roof.
Thanks to the internet, drivers today don't have to go to a traditional classroom traffic school like they did in the past. No need to look up street names or drive for hours. Just grab your favourite coffee (or tea) and pull up a chair to your computer to start. Now that there are online traffic schools like TrafficRelief, taking these courses is quick, easy, and much cheaper than it used to be. (Most traffic schools online charge between $17 and $50.)
But let's look at the following to give you a better idea of all the pros and cons.
Traffic school the old way
Interacting with others. Some people who don't like online traffic schools say that there's nothing like a classroom for traffic school or any school, and in some ways, they're right. If a student chooses a traditional traffic school, he or she will be able to talk to other students and the teacher. This is often the best way to learn for some people, especially those who do well in groups.
If the teacher is good, the biggest benefit of traditional traffic school may be the chance to talk to other people. A charismatic teacher can get students excited and make the whole day's class not only useful but also fun.
Immediacy. If a student has a question, he only needs to ask, and he will get an answer right away. Students don't have to wait for a return email or call an 800 number to get information that isn't clear. Instead, they can talk about it and get it straight away.
One session and it's done. Traditional traffic school requires students to show up on the day of class, participate throughout the day, take the final exam, and that's it, if they pass the final exam. There's no time to put things off or think, "Oh well, I'll do it tomorrow." Also, when the students take the final test, they will still remember what they have learned.
Certificate is given right away. Students who choose "walk-in" traffic school will get their certificate of completion right after the session, which is a bonus for those who waited until the last minute to take the course.
There are, of course, some bad things about walk-in traffic school. Mike P. Welch knows this better than anyone else because in August 2005, he took a traditional walk-in traffic course. Welch had to change his schedule to go to traffic school, and he also found that a lot of the information in the course was very old.
"The teacher made us watch a video from the 1970s, and a big part of it was about call boxes, which I didn't think was important because most people now have cell phones," he says.
Welch says that students also had to talk about their ticket violations in front of the whole class. Some students, like Welch, ended up feeling like the class was more of a punishment than a chance to learn.
Lastly, anyone who went to high school probably remembers that one or two annoying students who sat in the back of the class and tried to make the teacher mad and distract the rest of the class. It might be funny at first, but then it's just plain annoying. Students in walk-in traffic school may have to deal with things like this, which is a shame. "The other students were a bother. Half of the students didn't want to be there, which made it hard for them to learn "says Welch.
Welch has already decided, like thousands of other drivers before him, that if he ever gets another traffic ticket, he will go to an online traffic school.
Online Driver's Ed
Some people wonder what will happen to the traditional walk-in traffic school now that there are so many online traffic schools and defensive driving courses. There will probably always be traditionalists who insist that walk-in traffic school is the best. But more and more people are finding out how much better it is to go to online traffic school to meet their court requirements.
Saves time. Time is a rare and valuable resource, and most people just don't have enough of it. Students in online traffic school can finish the course at their own pace.
It's simple. There's no need to roll the dice and cross your fingers and hope against hope that the teacher will be fun and interesting. Students know that online traffic schools will give them clear, detailed instructions and easy-to-understand, complete course materials. A customer service rep can answer your questions quickly if you call them or send them an email.
It's convenient. You can finish traffic school at any time, even in your pyjamas or while sitting on the couch. It doesn't matter. Online traffic school is usually available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, so students can finish the course whenever they want.
It's not a problem. Students only need a computer and an Internet connection to take an online traffic course through an online school. It's easy and safe to sign up.
Like anything else, online traffic school does have some bad things about it. In some cases, students don't get their certificate right away, but most online traffic schools promise that the certificate will be sent the next day for an extra shipping fee. But in some counties, the completion certificate is processed electronically, and students only need to call the court to make sure the certificate was received. Calling the court will give you a list of the counties that process certificates electronically.
Those who choose online traffic school won't be able to get answers to their questions right away, but they will get answers within a few hours.
In the end, the best way for students to figure out which option is best for them is to carefully consider both traditional traffic schools and online traffic schools.
Some people won't choose online traffic school because they learn best in a place where they can talk to other people, like in a traditional traffic school. Still, some people will swear that online traffic school is easy and works well. When it comes down to it, a student's personality, needs, and preferences will determine which traffic school is best for them.
