New Mexico Defensive Driving Course

Certain motorists may be eligible to complete a New Mexico traffic school program. In general, drivers request to take a defensive driving course in order to get a traffic citation dismissed. However, different county courts are responsible for deciding whether or not a violation qualifies for dismissal. In addition, a judge may require residents who have received certain violations to take a driver improvement class. Furthermore, new state employees who will be operating government vehicles may also need to complete a course.

Depending on their county of residence, motorists can complete an NM defensive driving course online or in a classroom setting. These options are based on availability within a county and the discretion of a county judge. During these courses, drivers will learn about safe driving behaviors that they may have forgotten from their drivers education classes. Residents who successfully complete a driver improvement course in New Mexico may qualify to receive several benefits, such as dismissing a ticket, lowering auto insurance rates and improving driving habits.

Who can attend traffic school in New Mexico?

There are several circumstances under which motorists can attend traffic school in New Mexico. First, residents seeking to dismiss a citation through a defensive driving course must first receive the approval from their county court. This is because not all violations qualify for a dismissal.

Other residents will be required to participate in a driver safety program in NM. For example, motorists may be mandated to take a class if they:

Are new state employees who will operate a government-owned vehicle.
Had their license suspended due to the accumulation of points.
Received a violation for driving while intoxicated (DWI).
Have accumulated multiple traffic tickets.

Types of Defensive Driving Courses in New Mexico

Several types of defensive driving courses in New Mexico are available to state motorists. Residents who qualify to enroll in a driver improvement course to dismiss a ticket citation can choose between completing the program online or in person. However, it is important to note that certain cities in NM may only offer one of these methods. For instance, Rio Rancho residents are only allowed to complete the course in person at the court.

Driving safety courses for moving violations are approximately six hours long in Bernalillo County, which concentrates the largest population in the state. Moreover, classes for offenses such as aggressive driving last seven hours. Furthermore, motorists who received a DWI and court order to attend a DMV traffic school must take a 12-hour class. Because the lengths and types of available courses in NM counties and cities may differ, it is imperative to receive confirmation from your local court regarding which classes you may take.

Classroom vs. Online Traffic School in New Mexico

Both in-person and online traffic schools in New Mexico offer unique benefits to motorists. A defensive driving course online affords residents the freedom to either complete it in one sitting or through multiple sessions. As an example, iDriveSafely offers convenient programs for residents who would prefer to complete these classes in an online setting. Through this service, motorists can also obtain a ticket dismissal at an affordable price.

On the other hand, a classroom environment does not permit motorists to complete the NM driving safety course at their own pace. However, it is a great option for those who wish to finish the class in one sitting. Moreover, in-person courses typically accommodate multiple drivers, so they are ideal for residents who feel comfortable in classroom settings.

How to Enroll in a New Mexico Defensive Driving School

Drivers may enroll in a New Mexico defensive driving school through a variety of ways. First, motorists must receive confirmation from their court in order to register, unless they are completing the class for an insurance discount or work requirement. Then, it is necessary to verify which traffic school courses are approved by the court in your county. While certain schools offer online registration methods, other institutions may require motorists to enroll in person at a physical location.

Residents who are authorized by a court to complete an NM defensive driving class online can easily do so through iDriveSafely. This provider offers a fully online traffic school that is approved by the New Mexico Department of Transportation. Overall, these courses cost less than $30 and offer unlimited retakes of quizzes and final exams.

Benefits of Completing Traffic School in New Mexico

Motorists can obtain several benefits from completing a traffic school in New Mexico. For example, participants in defensive driving courses may be able to:

Get a traffic citation dismissed.
Lower their car insurance premiums.
Fulfill a court order.
Learn how to become safer drivers.

Dismiss a Traffic Ticket

New Mexico residents who wish to dismiss a citation typically search for online driving school for tickets. However, it is important to note that not all motorists will be approved by a judge to enroll in these programs.

On the other hand, drivers who receive approval can finish a course in a few hours and get their ticket dismissed in a matter of weeks. Completing an online course through iDriveSafely can save motorists money and time.

Obtain a Car Insurance Discount

Several auto insurers award discounts to residents who participate in a driver improvement program in New Mexico. However, prior to enrolling in a course, motorists should verify whether such discounts are offered by their particular insurance company. For instance, certain insurers only offer this discount to drivers who are older than 55 years of age and who register for the class voluntarily.

Fulfill a Court Order

In certain instances, residents will be mandated to complete a driving safety course in order to fulfill a court order. Motorists who have received DWIs or multiple traffic violations in a short amount of time are the most common recipients of such court orders. Failure to enroll in a defensive driving course may result in additional fines and penalties.

Learn Safe Driving Knowledge and Skills

One of the benefits of completing a driver improvement course is increasing a motorist’s understanding of vehicle safety procedures. Certain drivers may not be entirely aware or familiar with practices that allow them to stay safe on the road. In those cases, defensive driving classes can correct negative habits by teaching better strategies.

New Mexico Defensive Driving Class Curriculum Details

A defensive driving class in New Mexico consists of various sections. While not all traffic schools teach the same curriculum, many share similarities in the types of information that they provide. For instance, safe driving entails being aware of state traffic laws. Thus, driver safety programs are likely to cover this section. Other topics that may be covered during a defensive driving program include:

Impaired driving
Emergencies
Vehicle maintenance
Highway driving

New Mexico Defensive Driving Certificates

After successfully passing all the tests given by a program, residents will be issued an NM defensive driving certificate of completion. Overall, these certificates will validate a motorist’s completion of a driver safety program. Furthermore, these certificates are typically sent by mail.

Afterward, recipients must submit their certificates in person or by mail to the proper county court. Otherwise, drivers may receive a penalty for not submitting a certificate of completion by the court’s pre-determined deadline.

New Mexico Traffic School vs. Drivers Education

Unlike NM traffic schools, drivers education classes are for residents who wish to obtain a license to drive. A drivers ed course teaches new motorists about state road rules and safe driving techniques. These programs also require new drivers to spend a certain number of hours behind the wheel in order to pass the class.

On the other hand, drivers who already hold a license may be allowed to attend a driving safety school. The purpose of these courses is to assist licensed motorists to improve their knowledge and skills. Furthermore, these classes must either be required by a court or requested by a resident who was issued a traffic ticket.