Yeah, I was pretty skeptical about these courses at first—figured it was just another box to tick for insurance discounts. But honestly, after my son took one, I noticed he started checking mirrors more often and actually signaling before lane changes (miracle, right?). Didn't fix everything overnight, but like you said, it's those subtle habits that matter. Plus, saving a bit on insurance doesn't hurt either...
Glad it worked out for your son, but honestly, my experience was a bit different. My daughter took one of those courses last year, and while the insurance discount was nice, I didn't notice much change in her driving habits. She still forgets to signal half the time and tends to brake way too late for my comfort... Maybe it's more about the kid's personality or how seriously they take the course rather than the course itself? Either way, at least we're saving a few bucks on premiums.
"Maybe it's more about the kid's personality or how seriously they take the course rather than the course itself?"
You're probably onto something there. I've had a similar experience myself—my nephew took one of these defensive driving courses, and while the discount was definitely welcome, the actual improvement in his driving was pretty minimal at first. What seemed to help him more was when we spent some time together going over basic driving habits step-by-step. I took him out in my old Mustang (brave, I know...) and patiently walked him through signaling early, braking smoothly, and anticipating traffic flow. After a few weekends of consistent practice, he really started to get it.
It seems like the courses are great for theory and the insurance savings, but nothing beats hands-on practice and patience. Maybe try casually pointing out good habits when you're riding together—sometimes a gentle reminder from someone they trust can make all the difference. Either way, glad you're saving some money at least... every bit counts when you've got young drivers on your policy!
Yeah, I think personality plays a big role. My daughter did one of those courses too, and honestly, she treated it more like homework—just something to get done. Didn't see much change until she had a close call in traffic one day...that shook her up enough to start taking driving seriously. So maybe it's less about the course itself and more about when it finally clicks for them. Glad you're saving some cash though, every bit helps these days.
Personality definitely matters, but I've seen the courses help a lot of drivers—even the skeptical ones—over the years. A few quick thoughts from my experience:
- Defensive driving courses often reinforce good habits subtly, even if it doesn't feel like a big change at first.
- Sometimes it takes an actual scare (unfortunately) to really drive home how important safe driving is.
- Glad your daughter's okay after that close call...those moments can be real wake-up calls.
- And yeah, saving money on insurance never hurts these days. Congrats on that!
