DRIVE WITH CONFIDENCE
Course Introduction
First and foremost, I’d like to begin by clarifying that I am the sole instructor and will be personally teaching the student throughout the course. Each student will personally work with me throughout their driving course. It can be very challenging teaching our young adults the proper way to drive. At times, even the best of us can make mistakes on the road. The course focuses on multiple aspects of driving. I take it a step further by teaching the students how to manage the vehicle, escape from difficult road situations, and most importantly, mentally preparing them to drive even before they get into the vehicle. My course differs from all of the other driving courses because I focus on all elements of driving, which can even include situations outside of the vehicle. Preparing our young adults is more important than just “passing the test.” The right kind of preparation can mean the difference between losing or saving a life. It may be harsh to hear, but it’s true and nothing is more important than protecting our children when they are ready to get on the road.
More importantly than that, it’s other drivers that we need to be aware of. Sometimes, the student can think that they are driving as safe as can be, but when other drivers are reckless on the road, it’s crucial for the students to know how to “steer clear” of those drivers and immediately avoid potentially harmful situations.
The following outlines the at-home learning course and all of the skills they will acquire by the time they are finished taking the course.
Course Overview
Setting Your Mindset To Prepare To Drive
Nothing is more important that having the right mindset to drive, before even stepping foot in the car. Before we begin, it’s important that we learn the basics of driving and how to mentally prepare, prior to getting in the vehicle.
Vehicle Basics
Getting into the car for the first time can be frightening for many who have never experienced what it’s like to drive. There are many different utilities in the car like your turn signals, headlights, rear view mirror, side view mirrors, and more. Understanding the different tools within the vehicle is important when you are ready to begin driving. This part of the lesson will teach the driver how to use the many functions inside the vehicle while driving.
Vehicle Safety
Vehicle safety is one of the most important lessons. In this lesson, we will cover what it means to be safe while driving or even when the car is parked. From seatbelts to airbags, my students will learn all of the safety measures they need to know, in order to get on the road.
How To Hold The Steering Wheel Correctly
Not having the proper grip on a steering wheel can be dangerous if you should ever encounter unwanted situations. This part of the lesson will teach the driver how to properly hold the steering wheel and use it while driving in all scenarios.
Emergency Brakes & Proper Braking Techniques
Depending on your location and the vehicle you are driving, there are many necessary uses for the emergency brake. For example, if you travel to an area where you need to park on a hill, there are certain things you need to do in order to properly ensure that the car is safely parked and out of harms way. This part of the lesson will cover the emergency braking system and how to properly apply the brake pedals while driving.
Night-time Driving
Driving at night can be dangerous, especially when there are other drivers who may or may not be able to see their surroundings clearly. This part of the course will teach the driver to safely drive at night, while knowing how to quickly apply the headlights (if needed). Many cars have automatic headlights that will turn on as soon as it becomes dark on the road. So, we teach them to ensure that everything is properly adjusted so that they can drive with confidence at night.
Driving In Weather Conditions
We have LOTS of rain here in Florida, so it’s especially important to know how to handle your vehicle, maintain speed limits, and take caution when it starts to rain. Often times, the weather can change instantly and you must be prepared for this scenario. In Florida, it rains often and many times, it storms. There are many situations in which the driver will not be able to see 5 feet in front of them. This part of the course will train the driver to safely drive the vehicle in rainy situations, know when to properly apply their hazards (so that other vehicles can see them), slow their speed limit, apply the windshield wipers, and become aware of their surroundings while driving in the rain.
Highway Driving
Driving on the highway can be a bit frightening for first time drivers. That is simply because vehicles are driving at a faster speed limit then they are when they are in the city. It is especially important for the driver to learn how to flow with highway traffic, change lanes while on the highway, and understand the different rules that apply to highway driving. Many highways give the option to enter the express lane, carpool lane, and other state regulated driving lanes. The driver will learn to adapt while getting onto the highway and understand the full difference between city driving and highway driving.
Turns
Turning a vehicle sounds like a simple thing. However, when teaching a student to drive, they must be aware of all the different elements on the road that involve turning. For example, knowing when to make a right turn at a red light, being aware of one way streets, understanding U-turns, and much more.
Parking
This is not as simple as just putting the gear in “P” and turning off the car. When driving in different areas (especially in the city), there are many instances where you need to absolutely know how to park properly. For example, some places may only allow tandem parking, parallel parking, uphill parallel parking, downhill parallel parking, valet parking, garage parking… you get the point. When you arrive at a location, you don’t always know what the parking scenario will be. This is why it’s important that the drivers learn to safely and properly park the vehicle. Additionally, it’s important to know when to be aware of city parking rules and regulations, so you don’t end up with a ticket or even get the vehicle towed.
Spatial Driving & Awareness
Spatial driving is the ability to drive while being aware of your surroundings in a 360 degree view. While you cannot see 360 degrees, it’s important to know how to be aware of your entire surrounding while driving. Spatial driving is crucial especially when there are many other drivers on the road. In almost every vehicle there are “blind spots.” A blind spot is a spot in which you can not see a vehicle approaching from the rear, even while looking at your side view or rear view mirrors. This is why it’s important to learn how to drive, while maintaining spatial vision.
Point Turns
A driving test will almost always cover 3-point-turns. However, in real life there are scenarios where you find yourself in crowded areas, with many vehicles surrounding you, and you need to be able to maneuver your way out. This sometimes requires more than just a 3-point-turn. This part of the lesson will teach the driver how to handle point turns without causing an accident or damaging the vehicle.
Changing Lanes
This lesson will teach the driver how to properly change lanes while being aware of their surroundings. Often times, a driver may go from the far right to the center lane, while another driver is attempting to go from the far left into the center lane at the same time. You see how changing lanes is not as cut and dry as it sounds. The driver must be able to handle all situations while also applying their turn signals.
Quick Decisions In Dangerous Situations
Potentially harmful situations can happen at any time, in any location, and can come in any form. The driver must be prepared to instantly make quick decisions as soon as they encounter a potentially harmful situation. This part of the lesson is extremely important because it can mean the difference between safety and harm. This lesson also goes hand-in-hand with having confidence on the road. A small example of a dangerous situation can be debris that is left on the road (a tire, rodent, something that fell off of a truck). When you are driving, sometimes you only have a few seconds to react and make a decision. This is where the driver will learn what decisions to make, how to handle the situation, and how to do it confidently.
Hydroplane Management
Hydroplaning a vehicle means that something comes between the road and the tire, which causes the vehicle to lose traction on the road, and can result in skidding, or even spinning the vehicle entirely. This can be even more serious depending on the condition of the tire. If the tire is fairly new and has tread, coupled with a traction control setting of the vehicle, it may manage the split second hydroplane scenario fairly well. However, in instances where the tires are old or the vehicle may not have great traction control, hydroplaning a vehicle may cause the vehicle to spin and even get into an accident. It’s important for the driver to know exactly what to do while encountering this situation.
Front Vs. Rear Wheel Driving
Cars can come in many forms. Some are front wheel driving, and other are rear wheel driving. Many times, cars can be purchased as “all-wheel driving” vehicles. This lesson will cover the difference between each and how the car handles when driving a rear wheel vs. a front wheel driving car.
Tire Pressure & Vehicle Maintenance
The driver will learn how to maintain the vehicle and keep it in good condition. It’s important to understand when to apply tire pressure, what it means when the tire pressure is low, how to find your proper tire pressure and more. Additionally, the driver will learn how to maintain basic functions of the vehicle and understand what they are and how to access them.
Braking & Stopping Abruptly
This lesson will teach the driver how to properly apply the foot brakes and abruptly stop when needed. Often times, someone a few cars ahead may abruptly stop, which causes all of the cars in front of you to do the same. This lesson will teach the driver to properly and safely come to a stop. Additionally, it will teach them to come to a stop while driving at various speeds.
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