New Student? Please Click Here to start our New York State DMV approved internet point and insurance reduction defensive driving program to reduce four (4) points from the accumulated points you currently have on your driver's license and receive 10% auto insurance rate reduction for next three (3) years.

Chapter 1 - The Traffic Safety Problem

The purpose of this point and insurance reduction program is to:

• Save lives.
• Reduce injuries.
• Make you a safer driver.

Costs of Traffic Crashes

Here is a statistic which every driver should find alarming: more than 40,000 people nationwide are killed in motor vehicle crashes annually. Following are some recent statistics to consider:

More than 40,000 people nationwide are killed in motor vehicle crashes annually.

In the United States

• 41,059 people were killed in traffic crashes in 2007. This is a decline of approximately 3.9% over 2006, which is the biggest drop since 1992.
• An estimated 2.5 million people were injured in traffic crashes in 2007.
• Three out of four crashes, and half of all traffic fatalities, occur within 25 miles of home.
• Speeding was a contributing factor in 32% of all fatal crashes in 2006. This also means that 68% of all fatal crashes that year occurred at speeds considered safe.
• Automobile crashes are the leading cause of death for those between the ages of 2 and 34.
• Automobile crashes are the leading cause of on-the-job deaths.
• Traffic fatalities cost the employers an average of nearly $160,000 in direct costs per employee death.
• The number of traffic fatalities is about two and a half times greater than the number of deaths caused by accidents in the home.
• The number of fatalities caused by automobile crashes is ten times greater than the number of fatalities caused by all other forms of transportation combined.
• Traffic fatalities cost taxpayers an average of $113.4 billion a year.

In New York State

• According to police reports, the three leading causes of traffic fatalities in 2006 were:
  • Unsafe speed
  • Failure to yield the right-of-way
  • Alcohol/drug involvement

The Impact of Impaired Driving

Driving while impaired or intoxicated has long been considered the number one traffic safety problem in the United States. In New York State, nearly 1/3 of all highway deaths were caused by drivers who were impaired or intoxicated by the use of alcohol or drugs. These may be grim statistics, but they do not even begin to illustrate the ongoing emotional and physical impact on the victims of impaired driving and their families.

No matter how well you can hold your drink, it is simply not possible to drive safely after drinking alcohol or taking other drugs. While it may be true that not every impaired or intoxicated driver will crash, each and every single one is dangerous, not just to him or herself, but to all others sharing the road as well.

The risk is even greater with young people because they have less experience with both alcohol and driving. Although drivers between the ages of 16 and 20 make up only about 7% of the total driving population, they account for over 13% of the drivers in alcohol-related fatalities. This is one reason why license revocation penalties for young drivers caught drinking are more severe.

The penalties for alcohol or drug-related violations are harsh and enforcement by the police is a priority.

The New York Driver Violation Point System

New York has a driver violation point system which helps to identify "persistent violators," or drivers who commit several violations in a relatively short period of time. Every traffic collision and violation becomes part of your record, although not those that take place out-of-state except in Ontario and Quebec. Points are added when you are convicted of a traffic violation, though the calculation of your point total is based on the date of the violation rather than the date of the conviction. All points for violations stay on your driving record as long as the convictions remain on the record. Though individual violations may not be serious enough to result in a license suspension or revocation, accumulating them may result in action being taken against you. The DMV looks at the last 18 months when calculating your point total, so the possibility is there if you persistently violate traffic laws. Here is what to expect:

• 7-10 points within 18 months: DMV will send you a warning letter.
• 11 or more points within 18 months: DMV will notify you by mail that your license will be suspended. You may request a hearing only to show that the convictions that resulted in the suspension were not yours (for example, a conviction wrongly connected by the court to you).

By taking a DMV-approved collision prevention course (such as this one), you are able to reduce your point total by up to 4 points and save up to 10% on automobile liability and collision insurance premiums. For the points to be reduced, the violation must have occurred within the 18 months prior to course completion. If there are no points on the record at the time of completion, you will only be able to use it for insurance reduction, not for future violations.

However, taking the course will NOT result in the removal or deletion of these points from your record. They just will not be counted toward future DMV action. Points on your record will remain there for about four years and then will usually be purged. If there are any serious violations, these may remain on your record for up to 10 years.

The following is a partial list of violations and the points that are assigned for each:

Do not call the DMV to inquire about point reduction. If you have any questions about reducing your points, you should call our office.

Also be aware that your insurance company may have its own point system. Point systems used by insurance companies are often different from the DMV point system, so do not confuse the two.