New Jersey Defensive Driving Courses Provide Convenience for MVC Customers
Easy access to defensive driving courses to promote safer driving
 
(TRENTON, NJ) – In keeping with its commitment of promoting driver safety and providing the state’s motorists with enhanced customer conveniences, New Jersey Motor Vehicle Commission (MVC) Chief Administrator Sharon A. Harrington today announced that the organization has entered into partnerships with two groups that will offer online New Jersey defensive driving courses for New Jersey drivers.

The MVC-approved online New Jersey defensive driving courses, which are currently being provided by the Florida-based American Safety Council and the California-based organization I Drive Safely, cover the same material that is currently offered in a classroom setting. Motorists who successfully complete an online defensive driving course are eligible to have a two-point reduction on their driver record and qualify for a mandatory, three-year insurance discount.

“The New Jersey MVC is constantly looking for ways to utilize the Internet to provide services to all New Jersey motorists, and these New Jersey defensive driving courses are a perfect example,” Harrington said. “With these online courses, motorists will receive the same invaluable instruction as they would in a classroom, but will have the luxury of using their computer to log in and out of the course at their convenience.”

The online course pages, which feature text, graphics, animations and videos, are easy to navigate and offer motorists an interactive way to learn crucial driver safety information, such as traffic laws, the danger of alcohol- and drug-impaired driving and how to handle driving emergencies, among other topics.

Unique to the online course is that a motorist has no specific time period in which to complete the material. Motorists can log in and out of the course as many times as needed, as all completed sections will be saved. This option will allow a motorist to proceed through the course as his or her schedule permits.

The online New Jersey defensive driving courses are just the latest in a number of Web-based services offered by the MVC. In addition to the courses, motorists may use the MVC’s Web site, www.njmvc.gov, to renew a vehicle registration, request a driver abstract, pay surcharge or restoration fees, schedule a road test, or even order personalized license plates.

“It’s all about clicks, not bricks,” added Harrington. “As technology evolves, it’s important for the New Jersey MVC to not only provide face-to-face transactions, but to augment those customer services through the convenience of the Web and other outlets.”

The New Jersey Motor Vehicle Commission has proposed amendments and new rules relating to the addition of an online defensive driving school option to the already existing New Jersey defensive driving school regulatory scheme. The Commission’s proposed rulemaking implements the public policy as noted in N.J.S.A. 17:33B-45, N.J.S.A. 39:5-30.9 and N.J.A.C. 11:3-24.3  pertaining to insurance rate reductions and reduction of motor vehicle violation points for drivers completing defensive driving classes.

The proposed amendments to N.J.A.C. 13:21-24 include requirements for course providers to offer the same curriculum, quality and length of course as a traditional in-classroom course. Additionally, they will need to satisfy the requirements of the Chief Administrator proving that the course is secure and that the individual who completes the course is the individual that receives credit for the course.  Course providers will further be required to administer a proficiency examination with a passage rate of at least 80% in order for a student motorist to successfully complete the course.

The New Jersey Motor Vehicle Commission’s regulatory proposal was published on January 16th, 2007. The public will have 60 days from the date of publication to submit comments regarding the Motor Vehicle Commission’s regulatory proposal. Comments should be directed to Steven E. Robertson, Director, Legal, Legislative and Regulatory Affairs, Motor Vehicle Commission, 225 East State Street, P.O. Box 162, Trenton, New Jersey 08666-0162.