A Minnesota DUI or DWI charge can lead to several court, probation, licensing, and treatment requirements. Depending on the circumstances of the offense and the results of a substance use assessment, one possible recommendation is participation in a Driving With Care class.
Driving With Care is a nationally recognized impaired-driving education and treatment program for people whose alcohol or drug use while driving resulted in legal consequences. The program combines education, cognitive behavioral strategies, personal reflection, and practical exercises designed to reduce the likelihood of another impaired-driving offense.
Driving With Care classes are generally delivered in person through approved local providers. When attending an in-person program is not practical, some participants may be permitted to complete an online DUI class instead. Online Alcohol Class offers flexible, self-paced DUI and DWI classes that can be accessed from anywhere with an internet connection.
What Is the Driving With Care Program?
Driving With Care was developed by Anjali Nandi, Kenneth W. Wanberg, David S. Timken, and Harvey B. Milkman. The second edition is structured as a three-level education and treatment program for individuals convicted of driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs.
Rather than placing every participant in the same course, the program allows providers to match individuals with an appropriate level of education or treatment. The recommended level may depend on the person’s substance use history, blood alcohol concentration at the time of arrest, prior offenses, psychosocial concerns, and overall risk of reoffending.
Mental health and substance use professionals receive guidance on evaluating participants, developing individualized treatment plans, and selecting the appropriate curriculum. The program also addresses legal considerations, cultural factors, client assessment, and cognitive behavioral treatment methods for impaired-driving offenses.
Driving With Care Level I Education
Level I Education is a six-session, 12-hour DWI education program primarily designed for first-time offenders. It introduces participants to the risks and consequences of impaired driving while helping them examine the decisions that led to their arrest.
The course is educational rather than intensive therapy. Participants explore the effects of alcohol and drugs on judgment, reaction time, decision-making, and driving ability. They also begin identifying personal attitudes or habits that could contribute to future risky behavior.
Driving With Care Level II Education
Level II Education consists of 12 sessions totaling 24 hours. It is intended for impaired-driving offenders who show at least minimal signs of previous alcohol or other drug misuse or whose arrest blood alcohol concentration was at an impaired-driving level.
This course provides a more detailed examination of substance use, decision-making, and personal responsibility. Participants work through exercises designed to identify high-risk situations, challenge unhealthy beliefs, and develop practical strategies for preventing another DUI or DWI.
Driving With Care Level II Therapy
Level II Therapy is a 21-session, 42-hour program for participants with more significant alcohol or drug disruption and related psychosocial concerns. These individuals may require intervention over a longer period and more structured support than an education-only program provides.
The therapy curriculum uses cognitive behavioral methods to help participants understand how thoughts, attitudes, and beliefs influence behavior. It may also address emotional regulation, substance use patterns, relationships, problem-solving, and community responsibility.
What Do Participants Learn?
A central principle of Driving With Care is that lasting behavioral change often begins with changing the way a person thinks. Participants examine the beliefs, assumptions, and attitudes that contributed to their impaired-driving behavior.
The program requires active participation through worksheets, structured exercises, reflection, and group discussion. Participants learn to recognize risky thought patterns, exercise greater control over their actions, and make more responsible decisions involving alcohol, drugs, driving, and personal safety.
The goal is not simply to complete a required number of hours. Driving With Care is intended to help participants understand what happened, accept responsibility, and develop a realistic plan for avoiding similar conduct in the future.
Online DUI Classes for Minnesota Participants
In-person Driving With Care programs may not be convenient for everyone. Work schedules, transportation problems, family responsibilities, health concerns, or distance from an approved provider can make regular attendance difficult.
Online Alcohol Class provides online DUI and DWI education that can be completed from a computer, tablet, or smartphone. Students can begin promptly, work at their own pace, and log in or out as needed. Course progress is saved automatically, making it easier to fit the program around other responsibilities.
When an online program is permitted, it can provide a practical alternative for Minnesota residents who cannot attend a traditional classroom course. Visit our online DUI class page to review available course lengths and select the program that meets your requirement.
