After two citations in as many months from law enforcement officers in and around Columbus, I was forced to acknowledge that my driving skills needed adjusting. I signed up for the Mississippi Defensive Driving and Traffic School. The course could either be taken online or in a classroom. The access to this course was reliable and easy. Although more time was given, I was able to complete the course over a week’s duration.

The course was extremely informative and challenging. I was encouraged to think of aspects of driving that I had never considered before. I also learned some laws in Mississippi I did not know. I discovered that my speeding habit was swayed by, in part, my setting up impossible schedules to arrive at my destination on time. Tunnel vision is dangerous, and I have learned to use peripheral vision to gain a broader perspective of the road.

The instructor was encouraging, helpful and respectful. I had begun the course feeling guilty and a little like a criminal. Throughout the course the instructor went to great lengths to motivate me and cultivate responsibility while giving me a personal sense of achievement.

I would like to express my appreciation for every staff member I encountered, from the officers on the road to the office staff. Everyone was very kind and courteous. I would also like to encourage members of the public to consider taking this course. It has been remarkably helpful.

So, I take to the roads of Mississippi in general, and Columbus in particular, with a greater sense of my role in keeping our roads safe.

Joan Sheppard

Columbus