This defensive driving course is a 6 hour online theory program, designed for those who already have a driver’s license. It’s possible you used to have a driver’s license in Halifax, and you were given instruction to complete a defensive driving course or a driver improvement program. if you’ve received demerit points on your driving record, this drivers education course helps reduce or remove them from your driving abstract. Taking this course can take away the limitations associated to 5N driver’s license level. The required time line to get your full class 5 license however varies, depending on when you first got your license, in case you are a new driver. To learn more GDL from Access Nova Scotia, please click here.

Brave Driver Training offers this program as an online, self-paced, LMS based format 6 hour driver improvement program. It can be done on a laptop or a mobile, based on your availability and location. A student going through this course must be from Nova Scotia, this is important! You may be completing driving lessons in-vehicle with a driving instructor or just taking the 6 hour defensive driving course by itself. The Defensive Driving Course is an established, proven program designed to help you become a more effective defensive driver, even if you already know how to drive a car.

Drive Improvement Program Certificate: By completing the 6 hour online, asynchronous defensive driver program, you will officially be certified. Our driving school and our defensive driving program is province approved, and therefore you’re able to present our certificate at Access Nova Scotia. By doing so, your limitations associated to a 5N are removed and your demerit points reduced or completely removed altogether. We’re able to provide this certificate in printed or digital form, and remember you can complete this course in the privacy and comfort of your home.

Graduated Driver Licensing System:

When a new driver first passes their road test in Nova Scotia, they receive a 5N license. After 2 years, if their record is clear of any violations, they move to a 5R (restricted) license. After 2 more years, given the same conditions of demonstrating good driving behavior, they can have their full 5 license (without any letters or limitations). However, you can only move to a full license, if you have either completed the 6 hour defensive driving course, or the 35 hour driver education program. Without driver education, you will always have a 5N license despite passing your road test and being able to drive.

What is Defensive Driving and why is it important:

Defensive driving is the practice of driving mindfully and consciously, in order to reduce dangers associated to driving. This may be your driving, or errors that other drivers can make. When you drive defensively and exercise defensive techniques, you reduce the likelihood of a collision. Driving collisions are costly on the pocket, but more importantly, they put us and others at risk. Driving defensively makes you and others feel safe, and you save on costs related to vehicle maintenance and fuel consumption, because you will be driving smoothly and steadily. In short, defensive drivers are the heroes who save the day despite other drivers making critical driving errors.

Awareness is everything:

Fast and slow driving are both extremes. A person who drives very cautiously, may be blocking or delaying traffic. The key to defensive driving is to exercise more awareness, so you can see potential hazards. When you notice the actions of other road users in time, you react to avoid a collision. In this 6 hour defensive driving course, we learn where to look and why. In addition, you will be given the driving tools necessary to manage better control of your vehicle. 

According to Shell business consumers, here are some safe driving tips to get you started:

• Keep up-to-date with the law and rules of the road;
• Do not drive if you are feeling tired or emotional, whether angry or upset;
• Maintain a three second gap when following other vehicles;
• Ensure other road users are aware of your intentions – signal early and clearly;
• Eliminate distractions such as mobile phones, food and drink;
• Minimize unnecessary lane changes;
• Ensure you have plenty of time to make your journey; and
• Adapt your driving to road and weather conditions.