On August 6th, a defensive driving test will be taught for interested drivers. Hosted by USD 379 and certified by AAA, the Driver Improvement Program is hosted multiple times a year. District employees must become certified before driving students; however, the test is open to all experienced drivers, said Tim Kaufman, instructor and district bus driver.
Kaufman said it’s a good way for drivers to hone their skills, and potentially earn a discount on their auto insurance. The four-hour class includes videos, live instruction, and a certification process. In addition, some attendees are court-ordered after being involved in an accident.
“There are no accidents when we drive, there are collisions,” said Kaufman. “Nothing dropped out of the air and happen, something causes a crash to take place,” Kaufman said the class covered some of the main causes of collisions and how to avoid them.
Some of those include staying off of technology, understanding a vehicle’s limitations, and dealing with distractions in or outside the vehicle. The latter is especially important for bus drivers, he said, as there are likely always distractions taking place within a school bus.
Finally, he said driver fatigue is an important part of the class; drivers learn how to get enough rest and learn to stay off the road if they are dangerously tired.
The certification stands for three years, at which case drivers can re-take the class to continue discounts with their insurance provider. Farm Bureau does offer a reduced fee, though the number varies with a variety of factors for each customer. Shelter Insurance offers a flat-rate discount, between 7-8%, during the three-year certification. Agent Wendy Petit said the discount is good for all vehicles in the home if one driver completes the DIP course.
Kaufman said the course is good to stay up on, as driving continues to change.
From advancements in vehicle technology, to the roads themselves.
“Today’s roads have changed; 20 years ago there was no such thing as a round-about and now they have diamond intersections,” he said. “Those can be hard if you’ve never encountered them.”
