Aggressive driving refers to operating a vehicle with willful and wanton disregard for other road users. Common aggressive driving behaviors include making sudden lane changes, tailgating, and failure to yield right of way. According to a National Safety Council study, these acts play a contributing factor to at least 50% of all road accidents.
When someone is convicted of aggressive driving, they may face several punishments, which could include an aggressive driving course. Read on to find out more about this course and how our Los Angeles Car Accident Attorneys with El Dabe Ritter Trial Lawyers can help you if you have been injured in an aggressive driving accident.
California Defensive Driving School or California Traffic School
If you get charged with a traffic violation in California, the Los Angeles California Motor Vehicle Department (DMV) assigns points to your driving record, depending on the infraction. These points may add up over time and could present some serious consequences if they hit a certain margin. Some of the reasons you may get points include:
- Aggressive driving behavior, such as tailgating and making sudden lane changes
- Speeding
- Failure to yield right of way
- Driving while intoxicated (DUI)
If you receive points or a speeding ticket, you may choose to take a defensive driving course to remove the points and violations from your driving record. The defensive driving school must be fully accredited by the state for your points to get removed.
Aggressive Driving Course
An aggressive driving course is a driver improvement class, which usually lasts 8 hours and could be court-ordered for a driver convicted of aggressive driving. Depending on the court order, the classes may be taken online or in person. Some of the reasons a driver may be required to take an aggressive driving course include:
- Having multiple speeding violations within a short period
- Receiving a citation for drag racing
- Driving 20 miles per hour or more over the legal posted limit
- Receiving an aggressive driving citation
A driver may also be required to take the course as part of a pre-trial requirement if they accept a plea bargain. The purpose of the course is to introduce the driver to the reality of accidents among aggressive drivers so they can change their driving habits. Additionally, the class may teach the impact of attitude on a driving environment and stress and time management.
Benefits of an Aggressive Driving Course
The primary goal of an aggressive driving course is to ultimately improve safety on the roads by teaching drivers to watch their stress, attitude, and response. Taking the class allows drivers to operate on public roads with more confidence, refresh their driving law knowledge, and learn how to avoid accidents.
Additionally, the driving course may help a driver save money in the long run. This is because it helps reduce or eliminate the surcharges associated with traffic violations.
Talk to a Los Angeles Car Accident Attorney
While it is almost impossible to control what happens on the road, you can learn how to control your reaction by taking an aggressive driving course. The skills you achieve will help you the perils of dangerous driving and the accidents that result from them.
At El Dabe Ritter Trial Lawyers, our Los Angeles Car Accident Attorneys are dedicated to helping you get the best possible outcome from your case. If you have been injured in an aggressive driving accident, contact us today at 888-540-0836 to discuss your legal rights.