Delaware Defensive Driving was founded in 1992 by Bob Reeder, an educator, Marine Corps jet pilot, and driver’s education instructor whose lifelong passion for teaching inspired the creation of the Smart Defense® curriculum.
Bob believed defensive driving should be practical, engaging, and focused on helping drivers recognize hazards early, make better decisions, and avoid crashes before they happen. Together with his wife, Dot, he built Delaware Defensive Driving on a foundation of quality education, exceptional customer service, and a genuine commitment to helping Delaware drivers.
Those same principles continue to guide our company today.
University of Delaware
Bob’s Delaware story began at the University of Delaware, where he earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Physical Education and was a three-time football letter winner (#82).
It was also at the University of Delaware where he met his future wife, Dot, a Delaware native and fellow University of Delaware graduate. Their shared commitment to education and serving the Delaware community would eventually lead to the founding of Delaware Defensive Driving.
Bob’s experiences at the University of Delaware helped shape the leadership, teamwork, and dedication to education that would define the rest of his career. Those same values later became part of the foundation of Delaware Defensive Driving.
United States Marine Corps
Following graduation, Bob entered the United States Marine Corps.
As a U.S.M.C. Second Lieutenant, he completed flight school and earned his wings as a Marine Corps jet pilot. Flying military aircraft demanded discipline, preparation, situational awareness, and sound decision-making.
Every flight required careful planning and constant awareness of changing conditions. Rather than simply reacting to problems, pilots learn to recognize risks early and make thoughtful decisions before situations become emergencies. Those same principles later became an important influence on the Smart Defense® curriculum and Bob’s approach to defensive driving education.
A Career in Education
Bob spent much of his educational career at Dover High School, where he served as a physical education teacher, driver’s education instructor, guidance counselor, and assistant principal.
His years working with Delaware drivers gave him firsthand insight into the habits that lead to crashes—and the techniques that help prevent them. He believed defensive driving should be practical, memorable, and something drivers could apply every time they got behind the wheel.
That philosophy became the foundation of the Smart Defense® curriculum.
Building Delaware Defensive Driving
In 1992, Bob and Dot founded Delaware Defensive Driving, Inc. with a simple goal: to help drivers become safer through practical defensive driving education while helping them save money on their auto insurance.
Drawing on his years as an educator and Marine Corps pilot, Bob created the Smart Defense® curriculum and The D Team as a distinctive approach to teaching defensive driving. Through memorable slogans, recurring themes, colorful terminology, and practical real-world examples, he developed a teaching style designed to help students understand—and remember—the principles of safer driving. Built specifically for Delaware drivers, the course incorporates real Delaware roadways, intersections, and traffic situations to make the lessons more relevant and meaningful.
Thousands of Delaware drivers appreciated Bob’s engaging teaching style and his ability to explain defensive driving in a way that was easy to understand and remember. While Bob focused on developing the curriculum and educating students, Dot managed many of the day-to-day responsibilities that helped Delaware Defensive Driving grow into a trusted Delaware business.
Continuing the Mission
For more than three decades, Delaware Defensive Driving has proudly issued more than 175,000 defensive driving course certificates to Delaware drivers.
Today, Delaware Defensive Driving continues to operate as a family-owned Delaware business, helping drivers complete Delaware DMV-approved online defensive driving courses for insurance discounts, DMV point credit, court requirements, and safer driving.
Our online courses are designed to make the entire process simple, convenient, and easy to complete. Combined with friendly, responsive customer service, we’re proud to provide the quality, reliability, and local service that have defined Delaware Defensive Driving since 1992.
