A breakdown of the 2024 Arizona Supreme Court impact study on the Defensive Driving Program — the largest analysis ever conducted on the program’s effectiveness.
2024 Arizona Supreme Court Research
Arizona Defensive Driving: Proven to Make Roads Safer
31.9%
Fewer repeat violations for DD graduates
110,720
Drivers studied in matched cohorts
84.6%
Of graduates had zero repeat violations
The Largest Study Ever on Arizona Defensive Driving
In August 2024, the Arizona Supreme Court’s Administrative Office of the Courts released its first-ever comprehensive impact study on the state’s Defensive Driving Program. The study — conducted by the Research and Statistics Team — analyzed 110,720 defensive driving graduates against a matched comparison group of 110,720 drivers who did not take the course.
The results were clear: Arizona’s defensive driving program works.
Source: “Defensive Driving Impact Study,” Research and Statistics Team (Humberto Cisneros, Richard Rivera, Heather Chee, Oscar Sosa), Administrative Office of the Courts, Arizona Supreme Court. Issued August 15, 2024.
Key Finding: 31.9% Fewer Repeat Violations
Drivers who did not participate in the defensive driving program had 31.9% more traffic violations within 12 months of their initial citation compared to those who completed the course.
| Group | Re-offense Rate (12 months) | Drivers Who Re-offended |
|---|---|---|
| Defensive Driving Graduates | 15.4% | 17,070 of 110,720 |
| Non-Participants | 20.3% | 22,508 of 110,720 |
Beyond Tickets: Preventing Serious Offenses
The study didn’t just look at minor traffic violations. It tracked every type of subsequent offense — and the differences for serious violations were dramatic.
DUI Prevention
Drivers who skipped the defensive driving program were 112% more likely to receive a subsequent DUI within 12 months.
| Group | Subsequent DUI Rate |
|---|---|
| Defensive Driving Graduates | 0.4% (464 of 110,720) |
| Non-Participants | 0.9% (985 of 110,720) |
License Suspensions and Revocations
Non-participants were over 10 times more likely (1,025%) to have their license suspended or revoked for criminal traffic violations.
Criminal Traffic Offenses
The comparison group had a 2.2% criminal traffic re-offense rate — more than double the 1.0% rate among defensive driving graduates. This includes DUI, criminal speeding, reckless driving, racing, and leaving the scene of an accident.
No-Insurance Violations
Non-participants were 160% more likely to be caught driving without insurance (2.1% vs 0.8%).
Online Courses Are Just as Effective as In-Person
One of the study’s most important findings for modern drivers: online defensive driving courses produce the same outcomes as classroom courses.
| Course Format | Re-offense Rate |
|---|---|
| Online | 15.4% |
| In-Person | 15.5% |
The difference is statistically negligible. In 2023, 61.2% of Arizona defensive driving students chose online courses, up from 53.7% before the COVID-19 pandemic.
The Course Works in English and Spanish
| Language | Re-offense Rate |
|---|---|
| English | 15.6% |
| Spanish | 15.2% |
Virtually identical. Spanish-language courses are equally effective at reducing subsequent violations.
Impact by Age Group
The program reduces violations across every age group, but the biggest impact is on drivers ages 35–44, where non-participants re-offended 43–46% more than course graduates.
| Age Group | DD Graduate Rate | Non-Participant Rate | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| 16–18 | 25.0% | 28.9% | 15.5% more |
| 19–24 | 21.3% | 27.4% | 28.7% more |
| 25–29 | 17.2% | 23.6% | 37.2% more |
| 30–34 | 15.8% | 21.7% | 37.9% more |
| 35–39 | 14.2% | 20.4% | 43.5% more |
| 40–44 | 13.2% | 19.3% | 46.0% more |
| 45–49 | 13.4% | 17.2% | 28.5% more |
| 50–54 | 12.4% | 16.2% | 31.1% more |
| 55–59 | 11.0% | 15.1% | 37.5% more |
| 60+ | 8.9% | 11.1% | 25.1% more |
Impact by Gender
| Gender | DD Graduate Rate | Non-Participant Rate | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Female | 12.9% | 17.7% | 37.0% more for non-participants |
| Male | 17.3% | 22.3% | 28.9% more for non-participants |
Men have higher re-offense rates overall, but women see a larger relative benefit from taking the course.
Impact by Location
| County | DD Graduate Rate | Non-Participant Rate | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Maricopa (Phoenix metro) | 15.8% | 21.1% | 33.4% more |
| Pima (Tucson metro) | 14.1% | 19.1% | 34.9% more |
| Rural Counties | 15.0% | 18.8% | 25.5% more |
Study Methodology
The study used rigorous statistical methods to ensure reliable results:
- Sample size: 110,720 defensive driving participants matched against 110,720 non-participants
- Baseline year: Calendar year 2020
- Follow-up period: 12 months from initial qualifying violation
- Matching criteria: Urban/rural county, month of baseline violation, gender, and age
- Matching method: SAS statistical software matching algorithm to reduce selection bias
- Data sources: Arizona Supreme Court’s Defensive Driving Database and court case management databases
- Total records analyzed: 6.5 million limited jurisdiction court filings screened down to the study sample
What This Means for You
If you’ve received a traffic ticket in Arizona and you’re eligible for defensive driving, the data is clear:
- You’ll be a safer driver. 84.6% of graduates had zero repeat violations within a year.
- You’ll dramatically reduce your risk of serious offenses. Graduates were far less likely to receive a DUI, lose their license, or commit a criminal traffic offense.
- Online works just as well. Take the course on your own schedule and get the same benefit.
- It works regardless of your age, gender, or location. Consistent benefits across every demographic.
Your ticket isn’t just a legal problem to make go away. It’s an opportunity to genuinely become a safer driver — and the Arizona Supreme Court’s own research proves the program delivers on that promise.
Ready to dismiss your ticket and become a safer driver?
All data on this page comes from the “Defensive Driving Impact Study” published by the Research and Statistics Team of the Administrative Office of the Courts, Arizona Supreme Court, issued August 15, 2024. The study was conducted by Humberto Cisneros (Senior Statistical Analyst), Richard Rivera (Senior Statistical Analyst), Heather Chee (Junior Statistical Analyst), and Oscar Sosa (Research and Statistics Intern).
The Arizona Defensive Driving Program is authorized by A.R.S. §§ 28-3391 through 28-3399 and administered under ACJA § 7-205. Defensive Drivers Institute is certified by the Arizona Supreme Court (School ID 583).
