What is a Defensive Driving Test?

A defensive driving test is a test that assesses a person’s knowledge of defensive driving techniques. Defensive driving is commonly defined as a mastery of skills beyond the fundamentals of driving a car, with a focus on road safety and efficiency. It’s a way of driving that focuses on taking proactive measures to avoid accidents and spotting potential hazards on the road before they become problems. Defensive driving tests are frequently given as part of a defensive driving course.

Defensive driving tests, as well as the courses that include them, can be beneficial for a number of reasons. Students who take these tests may be able to help reduce the costs of a traffic ticket. Students who pass a defensive driving course may qualify for lower insurance rates.

Defensive driving tests are available in a variety of formats and from a variety of sources. A government agency may administer a defensive driving test to residents of a specific area in order to assess risk and provide safety. A third-party service may offer defensive driving test options to consumers to help them save money on insurance and other expenses. Defensive driving tests may be administered specific companies to assess drivers and those who will be working on the road professionally.

For students who are just learning to drive, a defensive or other driving test may be part of a basic requirement. A comprehensive defensive driving test system assists in ensuring that new drivers receive the necessary training before getting behind the wheel. These types of tests and other types of learning about what happens on the road are common among high school students.

Other defensive driving test options are available online to help people quickly assess their own knowledge of road safety. Other types of driving tests are conducted unusual individuals. As a public service, the GMAC, a captive finance company for General Motors, administers its own annual defensive driving test. This test is run the company in collaboration with the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety.

The general content of a defensive driving test will be relevant to how the best drivers keep themselves safe. When taking a defensive driving course, you may be asked when it is safe to pass another vehicle on a specific type of road. Sight distances, right of way in traffic, and maintaining a safe following distance are all topics that are frequently covered in defensive driving tests. Other topics to consider include impaired driving, aggressive driving, and driving while using cell phones and other devices.