Driving safety courses—also known as defensive driving or traffic school—are designed to improve a driver’s knowledge, awareness, and attitude toward driving a motor vehicle. Laws vary from state to state but in many states a driver who has been issued a traffic ticket or citation may have the ticket or citation dismissed upon successful completion of a driving safety course—whether online or in person.
In South Carolina, driving safety courses, often referred to as defensive driving or traffic school, serve as educational tools to enhance a driver's skills and knowledge on the road. While laws differ across states, in South Carolina, drivers who receive a traffic ticket may be eligible to have their citation dismissed or the points reduced on their driving record upon successful completion of a state-approved defensive driving course. This option is typically available for non-criminal moving violations and is at the discretion of the court. The course can be taken online or in person, and upon completion, a certificate is provided which must be submitted to the court as proof. It's important for drivers to check with the specific court handling their traffic ticket to understand the eligibility requirements and procedures for course completion and ticket dismissal or point reduction.