Defensive Driving

The NYSUT Member Benefits Corporation-endorsed Defensive Driving Program is sponsored through the National Safety Council. (Note: UFT offers its own Defensive Driving classes for UFT members.)

Benefits of the program:

• If you are the principal operator of a vehicle, you will receive a minimum 10% reduction in the base rate of your auto liability and collision insurance premiums each year for 3 years.

• You may receive a reduction of up to 4 points on your driving record.

You may take the course as often as you wish, but you may take it only once every 3 years for insurance reduction benefits, and once every 18 months for point reduction.

How to access the program:

You have two options; you can take the course online at your convenience or in a classroom setting in a course arranged by your local leader.

1) Online. This option offers convenience and savings. NYSUT members and their family members who are licensed in New York state can take this course at the Member Benefits-reduced price of $21.95 per person, a savings of $18 per course fee.

• Before you can participate online and receive the discounted pricing, you need to get the unique NYSUT Member Benefits Access Code. To retrieve this code, login to our Member Center by clicking here. You can also call Member Benefits at 800-626-8101 to get the Member Benefits Access Code. Note: each family member will need to register for and take the course separately.

• If you already have the access code, click here for the National Safety Council online course.

The course is good for 30 days from purchase. There is a bookmarking feature, so you can take breaks between sessions and come back to the course whenever you want. The course uses Flash Player. It is easy to view and works smoothly even through a 56k+ modem. There is a multiple-choice test at the end. It is not timed. You may retake the test at no additional charge.

Upon successful completion of this course, an official National Safety Council Certificate of Completion will be mailed to you the next business day. Your successful completion status will also be electronically transmitted to the NYS Department of Motor Vehicles. If you are eligible, the DMV will automatically apply the point reduction to your driving record.

The online site provides options for new student registration and returning student (course already in progress). New students will need the NYSUT Member Benefits Access Code to receive the discounted pricing and to register for the online course.

For Frequently Asked Questions about the online course, click here.

2) Classroom setting. The program is a 6-hour multimedia presentation that reviews defensive driving techniques. If you're interested, please contact your local leader. Local leaders can make arrangements with Member Benefits for a class to be presented to you and your colleagues. For more information, call Member Benefits toll-free at 800-626-8101, weekdays from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Eastern Time, or use the Contact feature at the bottom of this page.