In recent years, California's traffic school system has come under fire, most notably from the DMV itself.
Violators see traffic school as a punishment, period.
After all, they aren't required to prove they've learned anything, and most violators believe they already know what's being taught. Traffic schools are viewed as a joke by many violators. The traffic-school system may actually do more harm than good by masking violations on driving records without improving driving safety. DMV studies show that traffic-school attendees have MORE accidents during the next year than other drivers, not fewer. Traffic schools have a misplaced focus.