Program Outlines

GLP Approved Course Curriculum

This driver education course approved by ICBC includes:

16.5 Hours of Classroom Instruction

The topics the new driver will be taught are:

Risk Avoidance : Develop knowledge, understanding and appreciation of risk avoidance as it relates to safe driving.

• Describing the hazards of driving.
• Defining the characteristics of risk taking.
• Evaluate how risk perception is affected by personal factors.
• Explain how impairment affects risk perception and driving behaviour.
• Evaluate the costs of taking risks while driving.
• Assess personal risk tolerance.

Driver Psychology: Develop knowledge, understanding and appreciation of safe and responsible driving attitudes.

• Evaluate how positive and negative personal factors influence driving attitudes.
• Explain how positive and negative social factors influence driving attitudes.

Social Responsibilities: Develop knowledge, understanding and appreciation of safe driving responsibilities from the perspective of the individual, other road-users and the community.

• Explain the factors that make driving a lifelong learning process.
• Demonstrate understanding of the complexity of the driving task for the new driver.
• Explain how to share the road safely.
• Explain how to show leadership with family members, peers and other community members in promoting safe driving for drivers and passengers.
• Identify environmental concerns in the use of motor vehicles,

Legal Responsibilities : To understand and comply with the rules of the road.

• Explain the procedures to be taken when involved in a motor vehicle crash or when arriving at the scene of a crash.
• Explain the meaning of all traffic control devices such as signs, signals and markings.
• Explain the reason for driving laws and regulations.
• Explain the rules of the road that relate to sharing the road.
• Explain, in general, the legal regulations concerned with driving.

Safe Driving: Develop knowledge, skills and appreciation of driving safely.

• Explain why driving to minimize risk involves the three steps of safe driving: "see - think - do."

Vehicle Performance: Develop knowledge and understanding of vehicle performance and how this contributes to safe driving.

• Explain the forces of physics as they apply to driving.
• Describe the most common collision situations and characteristics.
• Analyze the role of traction in driving control.
• Explain how hazardous driving situations relate to friction conditions.

Motor Skills: Develop competence in integrating the attitudes, skills and knowledge of safety and driving responsibilities into the correct execution of motor skills in traffic.

• Demonstrate competence in conducting pre-trip checks.
• Explain legal, safe and responsible execution of the right-of-way laws.
• Explain safe, responsible and proper parking techniques.

Collision Avoidance: Develop knowledge and understanding of the "One Second Advantage" as it applies to driver preparedness, driving position, and the three stages of vision; high aim, visual scanning and emergency vision.

• Understand the need to be prepared at all times while driving.
• Understand how being seated properly relates to safe driving.
• Mirror adjustments to eliminate blind spots.
• Explain the benefits of peripheral vision versus focal vision as it relates to safe driving.
• Explain the importance of visual scanning as it relates to safe driving

16 Hours of In Car Instruction

The topics new driver will be taught are:

Interior/exterior pre-trip checks.	Turns	Eye to eye contact
Vehicle operation	Reverse/three point turn	Non-verbal communication
Restraint systems - seat belts/head/infant-child restraints	Stall parking - Forward/Reverse	Braking and stopping safely
Air bag restriction/sun visors	Hill Parking - Up/Down - Curb/No curb	Driving courteously
Mirrors, peripheral vision, shoulder checks	Angle parking / Shoulder parking	Point of no return
360 Degree vision	Parallel parking	Covering the brake and horn
Emergency braking - ABS/ non-ABS	Crossing intersections	Yielding/Yield if uncertain
Smooth acceleration / deceleration	Stop signs - two-way/four-way	Vehicle signals - horn - hazard lights
Smooth steering control	Controlled/uncontrolled intersections	Choosing safe speeds - highways/freeways
Steady speed control	T-Intersections	Choosing safe margins - highways/freeways
Maintain correct lane tracking	Malfunctioning traffic signals	Speed control for hazardous conditions
Merging	Emergency vehicles	Steering control for hazardous conditions
Changing lanes and passing	Grade of road and shoulders	Night time driving
Reversing/backing up	Entering/exiting highways - Freeways	Changing lanes and passing - highway/freeway
Traffic circles	Speed versus stopping distance	Non-verbal communication - highway/freeway
Curves	Distance scanning - highways/freeways	Eye to eye contact - highway/freeway
Safe Margins) - Two second rule	Limits of observation - visual obstructions	Yielding - highway/freeway
Safe driving speeds - adjusting for conditions	Maintaining mental attention/alertness	Merging - highway/freeway
Distance scanning	Recognizing potential hazards accurately	Curves - highway/freeway
Overcoming negative motives	Consequences of not doing what other road users expect	Identifying personal limits and abilities
Resisting negative influences	Sate time margins to complete driving manoeuvres	Anticipating what might happen
Accurate risk perception	Risk perception versus knowledge of vehicle performance	Predicting possible solutions
Quick and effective reaction times	Thinking for yourself	Prioritizing situations and solutions
Proactive versus reactive driving actions	Role of self confidence	Making appropriate choices under pressure
Expectations of other road users	Over/under confidence	Identifying consequences

 

1.5 Hours of Assessment

The new driver's skills will be assessed at the midway point of the course or after the fourth on road lesson. This will be a three way conference between the student, the instructor and the parent or co-pilot of the student. As all of us aide in the teaching of the student to drive, it is critical that we all take a proactive role in the students assessment. This will ensure the student receives the best feedback and consistent instruction as possible. The final assessment will be issued at the completion of the course using the same three way conference as the mid point assessment.