Virginia Defensive Driving Course
A complete Virginia defensive-driving course built around the driver as the vehicle's most important safety feature. Across ten chapters you'll cover the choices behind every trip, driver fitness and fatigue, Virginia's rules of the road and right-of-way, special driving skills and conditions, the physics of stopping and traction, perceptual skills, handling driving emergencies, protective systems and Virginia's occupant-safety laws, and alcohol, impairment, and Virginia's DUI and implied-consent laws. Watch each chapter's video, pass its quiz to advance, then pass the 50-question final exam to earn your certificate.
What you'll cover
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Chapter 1: Every Trip Begins With a Choice
The choices behind every trip: the Safe Four, staying alert on familiar roads, defensive-driving mindset, and the SAFE START Check.
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Chapter 2: The Driver — Your Most Important Safety Feature
Why the driver is the vehicle's most important safety feature: the See–Think–Decide–Act process, fatigue, the professional driver mindset, and the DRIVE self-check.
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Chapter 3: The Rules of the Road
Right-of-way rules, safe lane changes, approaching intersections, distracted driving, and the defensive-driving attitude of avoiding the crash.
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Chapter 4: Special Skills for Driving
Handling bad weather, heavy traffic and lane changes, rural-road hazards, accessible parking rules, and habits that support both safety and fuel efficiency.
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Chapter 5: The Physics of Driving
Tire traction, the three parts of stopping distance, how speed multiplies kinetic energy and crash severity, hydroplaning recovery, and the limits of safety technology.
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Chapter 6: Perceptual Skills
Scanning versus staring, the perception–decision–reaction chain before braking, what slows reaction time, judging motorcycles, and choosing safe gaps.
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Chapter 7: The Driver — Fitness, Impairment, and Making Safe Decisions
Fitness to drive in body, mind, and mood: recognizing fatigue, checking over-the-counter medications, responding safely to impaired drivers, and making responsible choices.
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Chapter 8: Driving Emergencies
Recognizing collision traps, braking with ABS, crash-scene priorities, pre-trip inspections, and recovering from blowouts and stuck accelerators.
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Chapter 9: Protective Systems
Seat belts and airbags, Virginia child-safety-seat law, driver-assistance technology, bicycle helmet fit, preventing hot car deaths, and organ donation through the DMV.
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Chapter 10: Alcohol and Driving
How the body clears alcohol, its effect on judgment, Virginia's 0.08 BAC and under-the-influence DUI laws, the under-21 0.02 rule, and planning a sober ride.
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Final Exam & Certificate
Covers all modules. Score 71% or higher to earn your certificate.