Driver Training

The NSC developed the first driver improvement program in the nation in 1964.  That program, the Defensive Driving Course (“DDC”) has been taught to nearly 50 million drivers in the U.S., Canada, and abroad.  Since the original DDC program was developed, the NSC has expanded to include more than 30 other driver improvement courses.  Among those are numerous vehicle and/or driver specific courses based on the original DDC.

NSC’s driver improvement/driver education programs are designed and written by NSC staff with the assistance of our International Advisory Committee.  This committee is made up of safety, education, and driver education professionals.

The success of the Defensive Driving Course can be attributed to:

• Standardization – The DDC is a stable standardized program.  That means the DDC taught in Chicago is taught to drivers throughout the world.  The NSC certifies all DDC training centers and instructors to assure consistent, dependable training.
• Instructor Development – The NSC and its training centers use strict criterion to train only the best-qualified instructors.  Currently, the NSC has more than 10,000 certified instructors.
• Curriculum – All DDC programs are designed around proven driving techniques, with components addressing attitude change aimed at reducing human error-produced collisions.
• Updates – The NSC’s Defensive Driving Courses are updated and revised to keep all of the information, print and audio-visual, up-to-date and accurate.  Instructors are kept current on legislation, traffic law changes, current teaching techniques and other pertinent information through bi-monthly newsletter and other publications.
• Approved Training Centers – Across the world, DDC is taught through more than 1,200 NSC-approved training centers by 10,000 NSC certified instructors.

The NSC’s programs are accepted in more states than any other driver improvement or driver education program for point reduction, insurance discount, ticket dismissal, corporate training, and driver re-training.  These courses are offered in all fifty states and many foreign countries around the world. 

All NSC DDC instructors are required to attend an Instructor Development Course for each curriculum they are certified to teach.  The NSC does require its DDC Training Centers to conduct annual update seminars for its instructors to ensure they are up-to-date on current issues, legislation, and curriculum changes.  In addition, all instructor credentials must be renewed with the NSC on an annual basis.