Metro Safety Council ™
Florida Defensive Driving School
Florida Defensive Driving School
| FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS |
Q. I just received a traffic citation, what should I do?
A. You should take a "Basic Driver Improvement (BDI)" course as soon as
possible. If you failed to take the course points will assessed against your driving
record and you insurance cost may increase.
Q. How many times can I take the BDI Course?
A. You may take the BDI once a year but no more that five (5) times in a lifetime.
Q. What would happen if I took the course more that one time a year or more that
five times in a lifetime.
A. You would not receive credit for the course and you could be charged with
fraud.
Q. Can I be required to take the BDI course if I don't want to?
A. YES! It is then referred to as a "Traffic Collision Avoidance Course or T.C.A.C.
If you run a traffic light or you are involved in an injury crash where you are shown
at fault, the DHSMV will send you a letter requiring you to take the BDI Course.
There may be other violations that could cause you to take the BDI course. It is
advisable to immediately sign up and take the BDI course to avoid the letter and
keep the point off of your record. If you receive a letter from the DHSMV, you will
be required to take the course and the points will not be removed.
Q. Will the traffic school or safety or council deliver the certificate of completion
to the clerk of court?
A. No! It is the responsibility of the student to turn it in by the deadline set by the
clerk of court in the county the citation was received. The school electronic
notifies the Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles when the
certificate of completion is printed and that does not constitute notification of the
clerk of court.
Q. My insurance company will forgive me a chargeable crash or one ticket. Why
should I take the course?
A. You may feel that you are being charged to much for your insurance and would
like to change companies. You may find that when you try, the new company will
charge you a higher rate because of the chargeable crash or the traffic ticket.
You may have to remain with your same company or pay a higher rate.
Q. If I sign up for a BDI course and I do not take it within the time allowed, what
will happen?
A. Your license will be suspended, you will probably be required to complete the
course to have your driving privilege restored, you will have points assessed on
your record and pay additional fees.
Q. How do I know if a school is legitimate?
A. If you received a letter or postcard in the mail the school is probably legitimate.
Schools obtain a mailing list from the clerk of courts office and must be approved
by the clerk to obtain that list. Metro Safety Council uses letters because we feel
a traffic ticket is no ones business but yours. We never disclose a students name
or other information. We will only verify that we held a class on a particular day.
Q. What is the best way to take the BDI course?
A. You may take the course as follows and all are recognized by the Department
of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles.
1. Live in a classroom setting
2. Online from a traffic school or safety council
3. Use a video tape or compact disk
Metro Safety Council recommends the live classroom. You receive your
certificate immediately after the class and there are no other charges (only the
class fee).
Some online classes will show a low price and then add additional fees that may
not be disclosed when you register. You may have to pay a certificate fee, a
shipping fee and a so-called state seal fee. A shipping fee for overnight may be as
much as $29.95 or more. Metro Safety Council discloses our fees on our website
UPFRONT.
You will be required to take a test at the end of the course of approximately 40
questions.
Video tapes and CD's are more than just watching the video. At certain points you
will be required to call an 800 number and take a test. You will then have to wait
for your certificate and may be charged addition fees to receive the certificate of
completion. Because of the hassle with video and CD's, Metro Safety Council
does not offer them. Most people end up taking the live class and they lost the
money paid for the video or CD.
A. You should take a "Basic Driver Improvement (BDI)" course as soon as
possible. If you failed to take the course points will assessed against your driving
record and you insurance cost may increase.
Q. How many times can I take the BDI Course?
A. You may take the BDI once a year but no more that five (5) times in a lifetime.
Q. What would happen if I took the course more that one time a year or more that
five times in a lifetime.
A. You would not receive credit for the course and you could be charged with
fraud.
Q. Can I be required to take the BDI course if I don't want to?
A. YES! It is then referred to as a "Traffic Collision Avoidance Course or T.C.A.C.
If you run a traffic light or you are involved in an injury crash where you are shown
at fault, the DHSMV will send you a letter requiring you to take the BDI Course.
There may be other violations that could cause you to take the BDI course. It is
advisable to immediately sign up and take the BDI course to avoid the letter and
keep the point off of your record. If you receive a letter from the DHSMV, you will
be required to take the course and the points will not be removed.
Q. Will the traffic school or safety or council deliver the certificate of completion
to the clerk of court?
A. No! It is the responsibility of the student to turn it in by the deadline set by the
clerk of court in the county the citation was received. The school electronic
notifies the Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles when the
certificate of completion is printed and that does not constitute notification of the
clerk of court.
Q. My insurance company will forgive me a chargeable crash or one ticket. Why
should I take the course?
A. You may feel that you are being charged to much for your insurance and would
like to change companies. You may find that when you try, the new company will
charge you a higher rate because of the chargeable crash or the traffic ticket.
You may have to remain with your same company or pay a higher rate.
Q. If I sign up for a BDI course and I do not take it within the time allowed, what
will happen?
A. Your license will be suspended, you will probably be required to complete the
course to have your driving privilege restored, you will have points assessed on
your record and pay additional fees.
Q. How do I know if a school is legitimate?
A. If you received a letter or postcard in the mail the school is probably legitimate.
Schools obtain a mailing list from the clerk of courts office and must be approved
by the clerk to obtain that list. Metro Safety Council uses letters because we feel
a traffic ticket is no ones business but yours. We never disclose a students name
or other information. We will only verify that we held a class on a particular day.
Q. What is the best way to take the BDI course?
A. You may take the course as follows and all are recognized by the Department
of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles.
1. Live in a classroom setting
2. Online from a traffic school or safety council
3. Use a video tape or compact disk
Metro Safety Council recommends the live classroom. You receive your
certificate immediately after the class and there are no other charges (only the
class fee).
Some online classes will show a low price and then add additional fees that may
not be disclosed when you register. You may have to pay a certificate fee, a
shipping fee and a so-called state seal fee. A shipping fee for overnight may be as
much as $29.95 or more. Metro Safety Council discloses our fees on our website
UPFRONT.
You will be required to take a test at the end of the course of approximately 40
questions.
Video tapes and CD's are more than just watching the video. At certain points you
will be required to call an 800 number and take a test. You will then have to wait
for your certificate and may be charged addition fees to receive the certificate of
completion. Because of the hassle with video and CD's, Metro Safety Council
does not offer them. Most people end up taking the live class and they lost the
money paid for the video or CD.
Telephone:
Winter Haven:
(863) 875-5772
Lakeland:
(863) 646-4862
Tampa:
(813) 379-6167
Winter Haven:
(863) 875-5772
Lakeland:
(863) 646-4862
Tampa:
(813) 379-6167
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |