The items below are a brief description of the behind the wheel training curriculum items found in the progress report which was e-mailed to you by your instructor. In the e-mail, if there is a yes next to that item, then it was covered for the first time during that particular lesson. A no means that it was not covered for the first time during that particular lesson, although the instructor may still have reviewed the item at some point during the lesson.
AllGood Driving School strives to provide the highest level of training, and to provide as much information as possible to each of our students. Due to the varying level of abilities from one student to the next, we cannot guarantee that all items will be able to be covered during any lesson, or any particular set of lessons. We will attempt to teach as much as possible during the lessons, but it may take some students more lessons that others to complete the entire curriculum.
- Orientation to the Car.
- Instructors will cover locations and functions of all important safety features in vehicle. I.E seat belts, seat adjustments, mirrors, headlights, wipers, blinkers, defrost, hazards, horn, shifters, parking brake etc. At this point the hand/arm signals should also be taught, and how to adjust the seat and mirrors for proper use. Include the difference between the ignition on position and start.
- Gas Brake, and Steering
- Location of gas and brake, and practicing use for smooth starts and stops. First time students should practice with the car in park first, and then gradually work from starting and stopping on a strait- road to braking and gassing while turning. Students will also learn proper steering techniques, and hand positions.
- Basic Intersections
- Navigation and right of way at basic, one lane in each direction, non-light controlled intersections; i.e 4 way and 3 way stops, T intersections, uncontrolled intersections, and yielding. This should include teaching who has the right of way turning right off a through street, and left off a through street. This should also include instruction on proper complete stops, and stopping behind the line, and determining when it is safe to go.
- Lane Use
- Blind Spots/Signal/Mirror/Shoulder.
- Where the blind spots are located, and how to change lanes signal/mirror/shoulder. When and how to perform each part of the lane change maneuver. The instructor should have the student pull over in a safe place for this discussion. The instructor should exit the vehicle and have the student watch while the instructor demonstrates the location of the blind spot. The instructor should also explain at this time how/when to use the signal/mirror/shoulder, and it's importance for the test. Next, before entering traffic, the instructor should have the student practice with the signals/mirrors/shoulders, while just driving down a safe street.
- Basic Lane Changes
- Performing basic lane changes from one lane to another on a standard multi-lane roadway in mild to moderate traffic. Appropriately implementing signal/mirror/shoulder. The instructor should assist the student as necessary based on ability of the student. Their first few times, it may be necessary to steady the wheel for them, or to coach them on the use of the gas and brake and when to move the car over etc.
- Turn Lanes
- What are they used for(getting out of the way), when to use them, when and where to enter them, how to enter them(just like any other lane change). The instructor should be coaching the student to look ahead for these turn lanes, and how to enter them in the correct location(considering all traffic), and when to begin slowing down.
- Merge Lanes
- Identifying merge lanes using signs, roadway markings, and good observation. Negotiating merge lanes in traffic, speed, positioning with other cars, and timing(don't wait until the end).
- Bike Lanes/Shoulder
- Identifying locations for bikes, including both marked and unmarked bike lanes. Also discuss the possibility of bikes using regular traffic lanes, especially left hand turn lanes. Teach checking the bike lane before turning right, and using bike lanes and shoulders like turn lanes to get out of the way of cars from behind before turning right.
- Center Turn Lane In
- Using the center turn lane to begin a left hand turn into a street or parking lot. Explain the hazards of the center lane, including oncoming traffic and other cars using it to turn, and the possibility of other cars using it wrong. Teach how long one may continue in a center lane; i.e. 200 feet. Teach students that they must use the center lane to begin a left turn if there is one available.
- Center Turn Lane Out
- Using the center turn lane to exit a side street or parking lot. The instructor should find a location to teach this where they can sit and discuss it before having to perform the maneuver. i.e. a slow parking lot or side street where no other vehicles are likely to come up behind you. Teach what traffic to watch for before turning into the center lane, how to enter and exit the turn lane during traffic, and when not to use it.
- Separator Lanes
- Teach how to negotiate the special circumstance of a curving right lane separated by an island for some right turns at stop lights and stop signs. The island separates the driver from the traffic controls that exist for the other drivers who are not turning right. This creates a yield situation for those drivers who are turning right. These yields can be followed by no lane, a short merge lane, or their own lane. Teach them to make sure to look for the vehicles to yield to, pedestrians, and what type of lanes are approaching after their yield.
- Pulling Over/Away
- Teach the student to pull over watching for bikes, pedestrians and all roadway users when pulling over to and away from the side of the road. Must implement signal/mirror/shoulder. Help them with positioning the car the correct distance from the curb. This subject can be taught at the same time as the reverse strait, as that is when the DMV will be asking them to perform it.
- Lane Position
- Includes staying centered in the lane, looking ahead to be sure accidental lane shift doesn't occur, and which lanes to begin and end turns. Stay in the same lane you started from.
- One Way Streets
- Teach identifying one ways using road signs, lines in road, and parked cars. Turning to and from one way streets. What to do if accidentally going the wrong way. Making a left turn at a red light. And how choosing lanes is affected by one way streets.
- Intersections with lights
- Right Turns
- Teach basic right on green and right on red situations. Make sure to teach where to position the car, to look for cars/bikes/pedestrians from all directions before proceeding rt on red, and help them to predict an appropriate time to go. Also teach about locations where rt on red is not allowed, and the importance of trying not to make an unnecessary stop on a green light.
- Protected Left Turns
- Teach how to make left turns at intersections where the turn is protected by a green arrow. Teach which lane to start and end in, and how the lights are sometimes separate from lights for drivers going strait.
- Unprotected Left Turns
- Teach how to make left turns at intersections where there is an absence of an arrow, and there is only a solid green light, or where there is a flashing yellow left arrow. They both mean the same thing. Where to position your vehicle while yielding to oncoming traffic, and when to go.
- Yellow Lights
- Teach what the law really says about yellow light(If you can make a reasonable stop you have to), and how should you prepare for them as you approach green lights. Teach them to think about the point of no return, and that yellow lights are timed based on the speed limit, so don't speed.
- U-Turns at Lights
- Teach how to perform a u-turn at an intersection. Where to begin and end the turn, and what to watch out for. Make sure they know to be careful for people who are making a right turn at the adjacent red light.
- Parking Lots
- Teach how to negotiate parking lots. Speed, right of ways, pedestrians, tight maneuvering, and parking both perpendicular and diagonal. Especially teach to watch for pedestrians, and other car who are backing up. Then teach them to park perpendicularly, and to back up.
- Following and Stopping Distance
- Teach how close to get to the cars in front of you both when following, and when stopping, and why it's important. 3 second rule when following, and watching/seeing tires when stopping.Teach why these are both necessary and how to perform them. Feel free to rant about the dangers and senselessness of tailgating.
- Defensive Driving
- Give a basic definition of what defensive driving is. (I.E. protecting yourself from the actions of other roadway users.)
- Scanning/Paying Attention
- Essentially the most important part of being a safe driver, teach how to scan, where to scan, and what to scan for. Look at intersections railroads, places where vehicles and pedestrians may enter the roadway, animals, basically everywhere. First and most important step to defensive driving. Must see others actions before you can react to them. Make sure students know the importance of doing this on the test, and that they must demonstrate paying attention by slight head movements on the test.
- Predicting
- Once a driver has identified hazards in or near their path of travel, teach how to use methods to predict the actions of others. Look for eye contact, sudden changes in speed, tire position, vehicle position, and erratic behavior. This can help drivers prepare to react if necessary.
- Reacting
- Teach how and when to react to others actions, and deciding which reaction is best; Brake(most common), steer, accelerate or communicate, or a combination of two or more. Teach the importance of knowing the big picture of whats around them so that their reaction does not make the situation worse.
- Managing Driving for Preparedness.
- Teach these simple things to keep students ready to be defensive drivers.
- Time and Space
- Teach using space from cars around you to give the time needed to react. i.e. following distance, not driving in packs, and looking for an escape. Includes managing tailgaters. Teach how to deal with tailgaters, either find a way to let them pass, or increase your following distance from cars in front of you.
- Distracted Driving
- Discuss how distracted driving prevents you from being a defensive driver, and makes you the one people have to look out for. Includes managing distractions, and drunk driving as a distraction. Teach them how to manage simple distractions like drinks, snacks, radio, hvac, and passengers in a way that maximizes their ability to continue paying attention. Discuss the types of distractions that should be avoided at all costs, i.e. texting, burritos etc. Teach about timing of those simple distractions, i.e. do not reach for your soda when there is an oncoming big rig.
- Speed
- Discuss knowing the speed limits both marked and unmarked. Managing speeds for smooth control, brake early. Predicting speed of others. Speed & the DMV drive test. What is the basic speed law. Discuss whether or not speeding actually gets you where you are going faster.
- Reverse Strait
- Teach how to back up along side a curb for DMV test. Proper technique and where to look so as not to fail the test. Make sure they use a line formed by the curb or gutter as a reference point, t hat they look back before moving, and continue to look back for at least 50% of the time backing. The mirrors may be used, but only if the student has looked back first, and continues looking back off and on for at least 50% of the time. Remember that the student will have to pull over, and away from the curb during this training, so this is a good time to review pulling over.
- Freeway
- Teach on ramps and off ramps., and how you have to look over your shoulder a little more often for merging onto the highway due to the angle of the on-ramp, and differences in the elevation of some on ramps. . Discuss how to pick an appropriate lane, positioning with other cars, looking ahead, and planning ahead for exits and slow downs in traffic. Review the time and space material. Teach about passing big rigs.
- Turnabouts
- Teach different techniques for turning around and going the other way when not at an intersection. Includes the 3-point turn, mid block u-turn, using driveways. Make sure students know that it should not be done within 200 ft of an intersection, and that they need to be able to see far enough in each direction to be able to complete the maneuver safely.
- Parking on Hills
- Teach how to park along the side of the road when on a hill. The four different scenarios should include up-hill with and without a curb, and downhill with and without a curb.
- Parallel Parking
- Discuss how to properly parallel park, and setting up the students with the knowledge to be able to practice in their own car.
- Review:
The review is used to cover as much of the curriculum that has already been covered on previous lessons. This is typically done on the lesson just prior to a student going to the DMV for a drive test.
- DMV Practice Test:
The DMV practice test is a practice test to simulate the actual DMV drive test. AllGood Driving School is prohibited from showing the students the actual DMV test course used by DMV. However, our practice test will cover similar situations to the real test, and is designed to prepare the student for the actual test. Students are allowed to practice on the DMV's actual test route on their own if they choose to. The DMV practice test is automatically given to all of our teen students on lesson # 3. Adults may request the DMV practice test to be included in their lesson.