Driver Education Software by Virtual Drive of Colorado

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Curriculum Outline

Student Course

INTRODUCTION:

MODULE 1: Knowing Your Travel Laws
The complete State Driver Handbook presented by Virtual Instruction

Your license to drive: applying for a learner’s permit & testing, State laws and related issues,
Right of way concepts: intersections, merge area's, special situations, highway rail grade crossings,
Traffic control devices: signals, signs, channelizing devices, pavement markings, signaling,
Controlling traffic flow: passing, turning, stopping, standing, parking, speed limits, following distances, headlight, freeway driving concerns, problem situations, winter driving,
Drinking and driving video,
Cooperating with other users: sharing the road with bicycles, trucks, and motorcyclists, safe driving, crash evolvement, and safety concerns.

MODULE 2: Preparing to Operate a Vehicle

Pre/post drive tasks, check outside, under the hood checks, driver readiness security/seating/restraints/mirrors, starting/securing tasks,
Symbols and devices: alerts and warnings, symbols and controls,
Occupant protection: force of impact, energy absorbing designs, safety belts,
Operating vehicle control devices: steering columns, wheel adjustment, parking brakes, pedals, cruise control, all devices instruments accessible to the driver.

MODULE 3: Basic Maneuvering Tasks

Vision & perception: targeting, useful vision areas, speed & effect on vision, preventing blind spot crashes, mirror glare, blind zone elimination demonstration
Basic maneuvers: entering roadway tasks, moving onto a roadway, curb, or backing up,
Reference points: limitations, lane positions,
Understanding vehicle balance: seat adjustment, steering techniques and control, evasive steering, changing balance form side to side, front to rear, and rear to front.

MODULE 4: Basic Maneuvering Tasks/Low

Risk and reduction: what is risk, risk factors, driving behaviors which increase risk, guidelines for collision avoidance, keys to reducing risk,
Space management: search management, space cushions, traffic lights, handling other drivers,
Changing lanes: reasons and steps for change lanes, advanced planning, steering control, gap selection,
Turn/Abouts: protected/unprotected turns, right and left turns, special turns/methods, choosing a parking space, curb, angle, perpendicular, parallel and special parking.

MODULE 5: Driver Readiness

Driver attention/distractions: types of distractions, tips for safe driving, distraction ranking/articles,
Developing good driving habits: processing habits, top 11 novice driving errors, 15 habits to safe driving,
Curves/Hills: intersections, lane flows, shared lanes, mirror usage for these,
Passing: passing/being passed, passing considerations, no-passing situations, multilane roads, as well as, laws for overtaking, passing, and related subjects.

MODULE 6: Highway Driving

Characteristics: expressways, exits, types of interchanges (clover leaf, diamond, trumpet), expressway signs,
Entering/Changing/Exiting: entering, changing, multi-lane passing, roadway exit, trip planning,
High speed considerations: potential dangers, reducing risk on multilane expressways,
Environments: heavy traffic, rural driving, road and surface changes, mountain driving, and desert driving.

MODULE 7: Alcohol and Other Drugs

Introduction to alcohol: effects, men vs. women, teens, symptoms of problem drinking, driver responsibilities, responsibilities of friends, behavior as a result of consumption, why teens drink, did you know, myth and facts, occurrences/ consequences, reasons and ways to say NO,
BAC factors: what is BAC, stages, absorption, bloodstream, drink content, state laws,
Body and mind: body's response to drugs and alcohol, psychological effects, alcohol abuse, DUI,
Substances: other drugs, club drugs, what is marijuana, why do teens use it, short and long term effects, impact on driving, inhalants, tobacco, and over the counter drugs.

MODULE 8: Driver Performance/Personal Factors

Emotions and how they affect driving: controlling them, attitude and our driving, stress,
Dealing with driver fatigue: causes of fatigue, dealing with or delaying fatigue,
Road rage: identifying/preventing road rage, errors and road rage, do you drive aggressively?, handling road rage, avoiding conflict,
Protecting occupants: safety belts, restraints, restraint laws.

MODULE 9: Adverse Conditions

Extreme weather: night time driving, low water crossings, flooding, hot weather, cold weather,
Roadway/Vehicle technology: highway design, automotive technology, vehicle performance,
Emergencies: off road recovery, emergency swerving, roadway hazards, collisions, vehicle malfunctions,
Traction loss or skids: road surfaces, traction loss causes, traction loss considerations, and tractions loss corrections.

MODULE 10: Personal Responsibility

Litter: definition, litter laws, litter prevention and environmental issues, impact on health,
Trip planning: extended trip, trip/cost planning, map reading,
Insuring/purchasing a vehicle: ownership responsibilities, insuring, buying a car,
Maintaining your vehicle: why maintain, keep it running smoothly, vehicle item checklist.

FINAL ASSESSMENT