When you’re on the road, you can do everything right as a driver and still find yourself at the mercy of those who share the road with you. While many people are conscientious drivers who abide by the law and safety requirements, there are enough aberrant drivers on the road to warrant defensive driving techniques that can protect you from the recklessness of others. You may have taken defensive driving as a young driver, or maybe you are required to update your defensive driving skills for a new job or to fulfill insurance requirements. Regardless, it never hurts to update your defensive driving education by taking a defensive driving course in Wichita, KS.

While there are many good defensive driving courses open to the public, they aren’t all created equally. It may be difficult to decide on a school if you’ve not taken a defensive driving course in years. However, there are some best practices you can use that will help you select the perfect driving course to meet your needs. Keep reading to learn how to select the best defensive driving course for you.

Get Recommendations

You may be surprised how easy it is to get recommendations from others about driving schools. You can ask your family and friends if they’ve participated in a defensive driving course they can recommend. You may also be able to ask your auto insurance agent or the local police department for recommendations. They may have an insider’s view of the best schools in your area.

Read Reviews

In the age of the internet, actionable information about driving schools near you is only a few keystrokes away. Make sure you read plenty of online reviews regarding defensive driving course providers in your area. While not all the reviews may be reflective of the quality of instruction, you should be able to glean enough information to know if a defensive driving course seems well suited to your educational needs and learning style.

Online or Hands-On?

Technology also provides a high-tech venue for defensive driving content through online learning modules. However, many people prefer the real-world instruction they can only receive while behind the wheel. By participating in a defensive driving course that provides both classroom instruction and behind the wheel practice, you can get the most well-rounded defensive driving training available.

Determine Your Goals

Another important consideration when selecting a defensive driving course is to define your goals. What do you hope to accomplish through the course? Are you motivated to improve your driving skills, or are you required to attend a course for your job? By determining your goals, you can fine-tune your selection criteria to find schools with programs that match your needs.

Learning Style

Your learning style also will dictate how much of the course you absorb, so research schools to determine the teaching style, what media are used for instruction, and how you’ll practice your skills. For example, if you’re a hands-on learner, you’ll want a school that includes time on the road to hone your newly acquired tactics. If you are a tech-savvy student, you may prefer a heavy dose of video instruction and work in simulators. Make sure the course’s instructional style dovetails with your learning preferences.