Been there myself—had a client once who upped his deductible to save a few bucks, then hit a deer two weeks later. Talk about bad timing... Defensive driving might be dull, but predictable savings beat gambling any day. Glad you're sorted now.
Yeah, defensive driving courses can be decent for savings, but honestly, I still wonder how much difference they really make on the road. I mean, a deer jumping out is pure bad luck—no course prepares you for that. But hey, if it knocks down insurance costs, might as well grab the discount. I did one online last year; boring as hell, but saved me enough to justify the hassle... at least for now.
"I mean, a deer jumping out is pure bad luck—no course prepares you for that."
True, random wildlife encounters are tough to predict... but defensive driving does sharpen reaction times and situational awareness. Curious though, did your course cover handling unexpected obstacles specifically, or was it mostly general safety stuff?
Yeah, deer are definitely unpredictable... had one jump out on me a few years back, and even with quick reflexes, it was a close call. Defensive driving courses do help sharpen your instincts, though. Mine didn't specifically cover wildlife scenarios, but we did practice sudden braking and swerving around obstacles—mostly cones and stuff. It wasn't exactly the same as a deer leaping out, but I think it helped me react faster when it actually happened. Did your instructor mention anything about nighttime driving or rural roads? Seems like that's when wildlife encounters happen most often...
"Did your instructor mention anything about nighttime driving or rural roads? Seems like that's when wildlife encounters happen most often..."
Mine did briefly touch on nighttime driving, emphasizing reduced visibility and reaction times. Honestly, after nearly clipping a deer on a rural highway last summer, I'm extra cautious now—especially around dusk. Defensive driving definitely sharpens your awareness.
