Is Online Traffic School Right For You?
If you've recently received a traffic ticket, you may be considering attending traffic school to lessen the cost of the ticket or ensure that you don't receive points on your driver's license. While going to traffic school once meant spending a day or more in a crowded classroom, now there are convenient online options as well. But is online traffic school the right choice for you? Take a look at the advantages and disadvantages of online traffic school to find out if it's the best way for you to take care of that traffic ticket.
Advantages of Online Traffic School
Without a doubt, the biggest advantage of going to traffic school online is that it's convenient. You don't have to drive or find a ride. You don't need to get a babysitter for your kids. You don't have to worry about what to wear or how you look. You can work at your own pace and at whatever time of day suits you best.
However, there's another advantage of online traffic school that's not as obvious. If you're someone who is easily distracted, you may find a classroom full of students, many of whom may not really want to be there and are too disruptive to your concentration. With an online class, you can work in a quiet room in your own house that's set up to your liking – you could block out all the noise, or play music quietly if that helps you think. You can study in whatever way works best for you.
Disadvantages of Online Traffic School
On the other hand, online school has its disadvantages. While some people do better away from the classroom setting, you might feel that you're missing out on insights that you could get from interacting with a teacher and other classmates. It can be difficult or even impossible to ask questions if you need more explanation on a topic. And if you're not a natural self-starter, it can be hard to motivate yourself to complete an online course with no teacher to guide you.
What's more, if your online course is not locally based, you may miss out on discussion of local traffic laws conditions that directly affect you when you drive. In a traditional classroom, an instructor familiar with the local traffic conditions can make the course content much more relevant to your driving experience.
If you do choose an online course, make sure that they're certified by your traffic court or DMV, and check reviews of the course to make sure that previous students have been able to get their completion certificates on time after completing the course. That way, you'll be sure that the time and money you spend on the course will be worthwhile.
For more information, talk with both online and physical driving schools in the area, such as Central California Safety Council, to get a feel of what would work best for your needs.