Virginia 12-Hour Classroom RADEP Course

The Virginia 12-Hour Classroom Reckless and Aggressive Driver Education Program (RADEP) is an in-person driver education program for people who need additional training because of reckless, aggressive, or other serious driving behavior.

The complete classroom RADEP program is divided into two parts:

• Part 1 — 8-Hour Virginia Driver Improvement Course
• Part 2 — 4-Hour Reckless and Aggressive Driver Education Course

Together, the two parts provide 12 hours of classroom instruction.

Students may be taking RADEP because of a court requirement, an attorney's recommendation, or another traffic-related situation. If you were specifically told to complete a 12-hour RADEP course, 12-hour reckless driving class, or Reckless and Aggressive Driver Education Program, this is the classroom option to review.

IMPORTANT: Always follow the instructions provided by your court, attorney, or referring authority. Requirements can vary depending on your individual case.

What Is the 12-Hour Classroom RADEP Course?

RADEP stands for Reckless and Aggressive Driver Education Program. The 12-hour classroom RADEP course combines traditional defensive-driving education with additional instruction that focuses specifically on the behaviors and choices associated with reckless and aggressive driving. The program is designed to do more than review traffic laws.

Students examine how speeding, impatience, anger, stress, distraction, risk-taking, following too closely, and poor decision-making can increase the chance of a crash or traffic violation. The course also encourages students to look at their own driving habits and identify changes that can help them become safer, calmer, and more responsible drivers.

The complete classroom program includes:

• Part 1: 8 hours of Virginia Driver Improvement instruction.
• Part 2: 4 hours focused specifically on reckless and aggressive driving behavior.

Students must successfully complete the required portions of the program to receive completion documentation.

How the 12-Hour Classroom RADEP Program Works

The classroom RADEP program is completed in two (2) separate parts totaling 12 hours.

Part 1 — 8-Hour Virginia Driver Improvement Course

Part 1 provides the foundation of the program.

Students review important defensive-driving concepts and learn how to recognize and reduce common driving risks.

Topics may include:

• Defensive-driving techniques
• Traffic laws and safe-driving responsibilities
• Speed management
• Following distance
• Intersections and right-of-way
• Distracted driving
• Impaired driving
• Hazard recognition
• Crash prevention
• Driver attitudes and behavior
• Making safer decisions behind the wheel

Part 1 must be successfully completed before attending Part 2.

Part 2 — 4-Hour Reckless and Aggressive Driver Education Course

Part 2 focuses more closely on the behavioral side of driving.

Students examine why otherwise capable drivers sometimes make unsafe decisions and how emotions, habits, stress, impatience, and risk-taking can influence behavior behind the wheel.

Topics may include:

• Reckless driving
• Aggressive driving
• Road rage
• Anger and frustration
• Stress and impatience
• Speed and risk
• Personal responsibility
• Unsafe driving habits
• Decision-making
• Recognizing dangerous behavior before it becomes a pattern
• Strategies for responding more safely to difficult driving situations

The goal is not simply to tell students what they did wrong. The goal is to help students understand why unsafe driving decisions happen and what they can do differently in the future.

Who Should Take Classroom RADEP?

The 12-Hour Classroom RADEP Course may be appropriate for drivers who:

• Have been ordered by a Virginia court to complete RADEP
• Have been instructed to complete a 12-hour reckless or aggressive driving course
• Have been advised by an attorney to complete RADEP
• Need an in-person or classroom driver education program
• Have been charged with reckless or aggressive driving
• Have a serious speeding or other traffic-related case
• Prefer instructor-led classroom training instead of an online course
• Have paperwork that specifically requires classroom or in-person attendance

Not every traffic case requires RADEP. If you are unsure whether you need an 8-hour Driver Improvement Course, 12-hour RADEP Course, or another program, review your court paperwork carefully or contact your attorney or referring authority before registering. Do not choose a course based only on the name of your traffic charge. Your individual requirement is what matters.

What Will I Learn in the RADEP Course?

The classroom RADEP course is designed to help students understand both the driving skills and the human behavior involved in safe driving.

You will learn about subjects such as:

• Defensive Driving
• Learn how to recognize hazards early, maintain adequate space, manage speed, and make decisions that reduce the chance of a collision.
• Reckless and Aggressive Driving
• Understand the behaviors commonly associated with reckless and aggressive driving and why these behaviors can quickly create dangerous situations.
• Speed and Risk
• Learn why higher speeds reduce reaction time, increase stopping distance, and increase the severity of a crash.
• Anger, Stress, and Frustration
• Explore how emotions can affect judgment and how to prevent frustration with traffic or other drivers from controlling your decisions.
• Distraction
• Understand how phones, passengers, thoughts, emotions, and other distractions can reduce your ability to recognize and respond to hazards.
• Unsafe Driving Habits
• Learn how repeated risky choices can begin to feel normal simply because they have not resulted in a crash or citation.
• Something can feel safe because you have done it before and gotten away with it while still actually being unsafe.
• Personal Responsibility
• Drivers cannot control everything that happens on the road, but they can control their own speed, following distance, attention, attitude, and response to other drivers.
• Better Decision-Making
• Students learn practical ways to recognize developing problems, slow down their response, and make safer choices before a situation gets out of control.

The purpose of RADEP is not simply to complete 12 hours of class. The purpose is to help students leave with a better understanding of their own driving behavior and practical tools they can use every time they get behind the wheel.

Virginia Classroom RADEP Requirements

Please review these requirements carefully before registering.

Complete Both Required Parts. The full classroom RADEP program consists of:

• Part 1 — 8-Hour Driver Improvement Course
• Part 2 — 4-Hour Reckless and Aggressive Driver Education Course

Both parts are required to complete the full 12-hour classroom program.

Complete Part 1 Before Part 2

The 8-hour Driver Improvement Course must be completed before the 4-hour RADEP portion.

Students who have not completed Part 1 cannot move forward with Part 2 through our classroom program.

Register for Each Part Separately

If you are registering for the complete 12-hour classroom RADEP program with Driver Training Solutions LLC, you must submit:

• One registration for Part 1

&

• One separate registration for Part 2

Do not place both parts on the same registration form.

Attend the Entire Class

• Students must arrive on time and remain for the required instructional period.
• Missing part of a required classroom session may prevent completion of that portion of the program.
• Bring Identification
• Bring a valid driver's license or other acceptable photo identification to class.
• Follow Your Court's Instructions
• Courts and individual cases may have different requirements.

It is the student's responsibility to make sure the course selected matches the instructions provided by the court, attorney, or referring authority. If your paperwork specifically requires classroom or in-person RADEP, register for the classroom program rather than assuming another format will be accepted.

Classroom RADEP Classes in Hampton Roads

Driver Training Solutions LLC provides Virginia classroom RADEP classes serving the Hampton Roads region.

Students attend from communities throughout the area, including:

• Virginia Beach
• Chesapeake
• Portsmouth
• Norfolk
• Suffolk
• Hampton
• Newport News
• Isle of Wight
• Franklin
• Smithfield

And surrounding Hampton Roads communities

Class locations and dates vary according to the current schedule.

You do not necessarily have to attend a class in the city where your traffic case occurred. However, always make sure the program you select satisfies the requirements given to you.

Looking for an Upcoming Classroom RADEP Class? Review our current schedule to find available 8-hour Driver Improvement / RADEP Part 1 classes and 4-hour RADEP Part 2 classes.

CLICK HERE TO VIEW CLASSROOM RADEP SCHEDULE

CLICK HERE TO REGISTER FOR RADEP PART 1 — 8-HOUR COURSE

CLICK HERE TO REGISTER FOR RADEP PART 2 — 4-HOUR COURSE

Classroom RADEP Frequently Asked Questions

How long is the complete classroom RADEP course?

The complete program is 12 hours. It consists of an 8-hour Driver Improvement Course followed by a 4-hour Reckless and Aggressive Driver Education Course.

Do I have to complete Part 1 before Part 2?

Yes.

For our classroom program, the 8-hour Driver Improvement Course is completed first. Students then complete the additional 4-hour reckless and aggressive driving component.

Is an 8-hour Driver Improvement Course the same as 12-hour RADEP?

No.

The 8-hour Driver Improvement Course represents the first part of the complete classroom RADEP program.

A person who is required to complete the full 12-hour RADEP program also needs the additional 4-hour reckless and aggressive driving component.

What if I already completed an 8-hour Driver Improvement Course?

Your situation may be different from someone who has not completed any portion of the program.

Before registering for only the remaining 4 hours, verify exactly what your court or attorney requires and whether your previous 8-hour completion will be accepted toward that requirement.

Is classroom RADEP the same as a 12-hour reckless driving class?

People use several different names when referring to this type of program, including:

• RADEP
• 12-hour RADEP
• 12-hour driving class
• Reckless driving class
• Aggressive driving course
• 12-hour reckless and aggressive driving course

RADEP is an acronym for Reckless and Aggressive Driver Education Program.

Always rely on the actual instructions provided in your case rather than an informal course name.

Do I receive a certificate after completing RADEP?

Students who successfully complete the required program receive completion documentation for the course completed.

Follow the instructions provided by your court or attorney regarding when, where, and how your completion certificate must be submitted.

Can I take RADEP before my court date?

Some students complete driver education before court after consulting with their attorney.

Whether doing so is appropriate or beneficial in a particular case is a legal question. If you have an attorney, ask your attorney before registering.

Driver Training Solutions LLC provides driver education and does not provide legal advice.

What should I bring to class?

Bring your driver's license or another acceptable photo ID along with any course information or documentation you have been instructed to bring.

Review your class confirmation message before arriving for any additional instructions.

What if I am not sure which RADEP course I need?

Do not guess.

Review your court paperwork or contact the court, your attorney, or the authority that instructed you to complete driver education.

Determine whether you need:

An 8-hour Driver Improvement Course

The full 12-hour classroom RADEP program

Only the additional 4-hour RADEP component

An online RADEP option

Once you know the requirement, select the course that matches it.

Register for a 12-Hour Classroom RADEP Course

Ready to complete your Virginia 12-Hour Classroom RADEP Course?

The full classroom program includes:

• Part 1 — 8-Hour Virginia Driver Improvement Course
• Part 2 — 4-Hour Reckless and Aggressive Driver Education Course

Remember that each part requires a separate registration.

Step 1

Choose an available 8-Hour Driver Improvement / RADEP Part 1 class.

CLICK HERE TO REGISTER FOR PART 1

Step 2

Choose an available 4-Hour Reckless / Aggressive RADEP Part 2 class.

CLICK HERE TO REGISTER FOR PART 2

Need Help Before Registering?

If you are unsure which class you need, verify your requirement before registering. For questions about our classroom schedule or registration process:

Driver Training Solutions LLC

Call: 757-235-4994