What is Traffic School? | Traffic School vs Drivers Ed

Driver’s education or driver’s ed is the common term for the school that teens and adults attend to learn how to drive for the first time. The basics of driving are taught, and at Varsity Driving Academy, defensive driving is an added bonus. However, there is another term floating around out there: traffic school. Many people wonder what traffic school is and whether they need to attend it or driver’s education. However, there is a major difference between the two, which is very important.

What is Traffic School? | Traffic School vs Drivers Ed

Finding out what this course is and how it can help you in specific situations is important, but the goal is to avoid the need altogether. Driver’s ed is where teens and adults go to learn how to drive. Everything is covered, from how to start the car to what to do in the event of an accident.

Driver’s education is important because it teaches drivers what traffic laws are and how to obey them. At Varsity Driving Academy, lessons go even further by teaching the most important driving technique, defensive driving.

However, there is something called traffic school, and you wouldn’t be alone if you asked yourself what that is.

Why Do I Need it?

Traffic school is essentially a rushed version of driving class. During class, you will lightly go over the basics of driving laws in your area and take a small test at the end to verify you’ve learned what was taught.

Most traffic schools can be finished in a couple of hours or less, and they serve a specific purpose in California. While this course does teach the basics, it is not an option for receiving your license for the first time. For Teens, driving school is mandatory before getting a driver’s license.

What is Traffic School For?

In the state of California, traffic schools serve a few different purposes. One of the most common reasons people attend this course is to dismiss a ticket. When people receive a ticket, often for the first time, the option of going to traffic school is put on the table.

Once the person completes traffic school, the ticket they received is dismissed. Another common reason to attend traffic school is to avoid getting points added to your driving record. In California, there is a points system, if you get 4 points in 12 months, 6 points in 24 months or 8 points in 36 months your driving privileges may be revoked.

There are different points given depending on the driving law that is broken, but attending an extra course could help you avoid getting points on your record.

Traffic School vs Driving School

What is traffic school? Traffic school is a review of the basics of driving that is meant as a refresher course in the event that you get a ticket or points on your record. Driver’s ed is an in-depth look at what it means to drive, how to do it safely, and how to follow the laws.

The goal of driver’s ed is to teach people everything there is to know about driving. This course and driver’s ed are totally different things and have totally different uses. However, this course is a great refresher course.

In fact, adults should be using updates every so often as a refresher and they may even be able to restart their habits to exchange them for safer ones.