RECOMMENDATIONS
August 9, 2010
Everything was EXCELLENT!
Beau Mapp
Navarre, FL
Dear Mr. Collins,
The Instructor was very helpful and remained calm throughout. I consider it money well spent.
Jessie Williams, Pensacola, FL
I appreciated the opportunity to ride along and observe a professional doing an excellent job of teaching my son. I was impressed with your calm, your obvious control of the situation at all times and your instruction. I will certainly recommend you to others.
Thank you for all your work with our daughter. You have given her a good foundation for safe driving.
Vickie and Dan Southworth
Hello,
Get a summary of this material by reading ONLY the colored print. If you require more detail about any issue or subject then read the black print.
Our "Working Agreement" we sign with our Clients is a summary of the colored print on this page.
There is a lot of information here. To read it all would take a long time. I wish we could have less
information, but we have found that the best way to have a good working relationship with our Clients is to ensure a clear meeting of the minds regarding mutual responsibilities. Still, some of this material may be too detailed for every need and some of this material will not apply to every Client. We have tried to reduce the reading task without diminishing the value of the content. We did this by placing all of the key information in colored print (red, blue and green).
One averted crash can easily pay for many times the cost of learning how to avoid car crashes by employing defensive driving techniques. Only perfect practice makes perfect. Bad driving habits take a long time to break.
Notice: As much correspondence as possible flows email rather than snail mail or via telephone. Every email addresses you provide us receives all relevant information.
Sincerely,
Joda Collins, Owner
Table of Contents
Section 1: Our operating costs
Section 2: Our Courses and charges
Section 3: The first lesson always begins in a parking lot
Section 4: Discount for advance payment for six or more lessons
Section 5: Pick up fee discount
Section 6: There is no discount if a client uses his or her own vehicle because…
Section 7: Payment
Section 8: Returned check fee and convenience charge for credit/debit card use.
Section 9: Use of our vehicle policy for State driving test.
Section 10: Door-to-door pick up policy/fees.
Section 11: Do we guarantee graduation?
Section 12: Two complimentary refresher lessons.
Section 13: Our Guarantee
Section 14: Our charge will not increase to any client during the contractual period.
Section 15: Refund Policy.
Section 16: Mutual Termination Policy
Section 17: If your goal is to "just pass the State driving test", please inform of us of that
in advance.
Section 18: Reschedule by 9pm the previous night to avoid charges.
Do we cancel and reschedule for "bad" weather? No.
Section 19: No-show Policy ($50 plus pick up fees); Late policy (loss of time).
Section 20: Liability Waiver
Section 21: Homework
Section 22: Insurance company discounts
Section 23: Financial Agreement for teaching schedule
Section 24: Payment Selection
Section 25: Financial Agreement for credit/debit card
Section 26: Financial Agreement for Door-to-Door Pick Up Service.
Section 27: What to know before the first driving session.
Section 28: Policy Agreement
Section 29: Adjustments
Section 30: Contact Information
It is less important to the Joda Collins Driving Academy that every detail of this Working Agreement remain unchanged and more important that we have a "meeting of the minds" about mutual expectations. It is from a "meeting of the minds" that a good working relationship is created. Therefore, if you, as the Client, see anything in this Working Agreement that you would like to change, just let us know. We will do all within our power to meet any reasonable request. Thank you.
We reserve the right to refuse service to anyone. We refuse service to those that:
1. Only want to use our vehicle to take their State driving exam without passing our Defensive Driving Course.
2. Believe that paying for 7.5 hours of behind the wheel training qualifies them for graduation from our Defensive Driving Course even if they do not learn defensive driving skills.
3. Present excessive danger to themselves or others behind the wheel of our vehicle.
4. Will not, first, carefully read, at least, the colored print of our Agreement page (this page) before entering into a working relationship with us because we have found that those that will not read the Agreement page often make up their own unrealistic expectations for our services and then become upset with us because we cannot satisfy those self-invented unrealistic expectations.
5. Mistreat our vehicle or our Instructor.
6. Are being forced to take lessons if said individuals also carry with them a degree of resentment for being forced to do so that makes them nasty to be around and impossible to teach.
All others, WELCOME!
7. Ride with the Student-driver and Instructor (spouse, parent, etc) and co-teach in a manner that significantly increases the danger to everyone in the vehicle. I (Joda Collins) want parents and spouses to ride along. I prefer parents and spouses ride along. However, it is important to understand that when there are two or more instructors in the vehicle the dynamics of the training change considerably in two very important areas; training slows because I have to concentrate on how the co-teachers words/instructions will influence the driver because I am 100% responsible for the actions of the student-driver and danger increases because the parent or spouse is not trained in how to communicate to a driver and miscommunication is probable.
When training with a co-teacher I have to keep part of my mind and part of my focus on what the other Instructor might say and be always analyzing how what is said by the co-teacher might influence the driver. For example, once, when on Interstate 10 the student driver was traveling about 60 miles per hour in the far right lane. It was the first time she had traveled on the Interstate and the first time she had traveled at a higher speed. After a while, I instructed her to "change lanes to the left when she believed it was safe to do so." Because this was the first time she had changed lanes on the Interstate, I made sure it was very safe to change lanes when I instructed her to do so "when she believed it was safe." She check the lane to the left and about one mile away was a semi-truck in the next lane to our left. Of course, one mile is a long distance and she had ample time to make a safe lane change to the left. However, because she could "see" the truck in the far distance in her rear view mirror she was afraid to change lanes. Under these circumstances, I never "make" the student change lanes, but allow them to experience how long it takes for a far away vehicle to reach us. Then next time, they know that such a distance is safe to change lanes. However, the mother became anxious with the daughter as the daughter simply continued in the far right lane at 60 miles per hour without changing lanes to the left. The truck continued to approach us at 70 mph. Finally, the truck was about to pass us on our left as the front bumper of the semi was even with the back bumper of our vehicle. The mother, realizing the daughter had allowed all of the safe space to evaporate said, "Honey, you have to change lanes fast." What the mother meant was, "Don't delay in changing lanes when you have a huge space between you and the approaching vehicle." However, the daughter immediately complied with what she thought was her mother's order and began to change lanes to the left "fast." The student driver gave the wheel a quick jerk to the left. The good news is that as soon as the mother said, "You have to change lanes.....", I grabbed the bottom of the steering wheel with my left hand. Therefore, when the student driver tried to change lanes "fast" in to the semi-truck beside us, the steering wheel would not move for her. We were saved.
My point is that when I have a parent, parents or a spouse in the vehicle that take the role of co-teacher with me, I have to give a great deal of attention to the instructions of the parent, parents or spouse to the driver because I am 100% responsible for how their words affect the driver. Before I say anything, give any direction or do any teaching, I have to pre-analyze how my words might cause the co-teacher to respond and how my instruction my be altered by the co-teacher. Plus, I have to be at the ready to counter any dangerous direction the co-teacher gives the student. Plus, I have to be prepared to correct, as gracefully as I can, any advice given by the co-teacher that constitues a violation of the law. When I have to give so much of my mind and energy to the actions and words of the co-teacher, it puts me in a position where teaching the student is secondary because safety is always first. Because teaching the student becomes secondary, it takes longer to complete teaching the 12 safe driving skills, the 23 defensive driving techniques and the rules of the road.
As of the publication of this web site, I have trained almost 400 students without a crash in a training vehicle. That is about 24,000 to 30,000 crash free training miles. My suggestion is that parents and spouses let me do the training. It will always cost less money, will always take less time, will always benefit the student-driver more and will always be safer. This does not mean that I expect the spouse or parent to be silent; however, when a spouse or parent assumes the role of co-teacher, the dynamics in the vehicle change to the detriment of everyone. That said, I never ask the parent or or spouse that demands the role of co-teacher not to fill that role. If a parent or a spouse is convinced their teaching intervention is required, so far I have been able to work around that intervention and keep all safe. So far, parents and spouses that insist in co-teaching have been willing to pay more to fill that role. So be it. I'll take the extra money their intervention demands; however, I would rather teach more in less time, be safer on the road and not have to charge extra.
WHAT KIND OF SCHOOL ARE WE?
It is important to understand that we are more than a "safe-drivers" school. We are a "defensive driving school". What is the difference between a "safe-driver's" school and a "defensive driving school?" In our terminology, a safe driver is a driver that can drive without causing crashes while a defensive driver can drive around and among drivers that do cause crashes without allowing those crash-prone drivers to involved the defensive driver in crash. There is a big difference between someone that can drive safely enough not to crash or cause crashes and a driver that can drive with the skill necessary to avoid the being in crashes that crash-prone drivers create. We offer a "safe-driver" (Safety) course; however, our specialty is the "Defensive Driving Course." Because we are a Defensive Driving Academy we work on the premise that all who seek our services are seeking to become Defensive Drivers. If your goal is otherwise, you must let us know so we can enroll you in the proper course. Thank you.
Section 1: Our operating costs are $72 per 75-minute lesson. When you consider our prices, please consider our expenses. We are not government funded. Our training is private; one student and one instructor. We do not supplement our income with classroom training wherein we charge many people in the same class full price for the same teaching hour/material. We provide our classroom training information at no charge (free download of information) to our Clients. We use some of the most expensive commodities available: fuel, a new vehicle, vehicle maintenance/depreciation, insurance for unlicensed drivers, salary/benefits, commission on sales to associates, advertising and office expense/supplies. We receive no discounts on these expenses; therefore, we have no discounts to pass on to others. In addition, we pay equipment and phone, federal, state and local taxes and fees, annual association fees, yearly State licensing fees for vehicles and instructors, initial and ongoing costs for Florida DMV/Safety mandated training and travel to the training center in Orlando plus lodging, meals and tuition for that ongoing State mandated Instructor's training. We pay excessive charges to Visa and MasterCard, an annual tax to Milton on personal office equipment and supplies used in business, and more! Every man's brother seems to have his hand in our checking account for some kind of "fee", "charge" or "expense". It takes a great deal of money to run this business. A GREAT DEAL!
Everyone is accustomed to paying $1.75 for 10 cents worth of carbonated water and soda-syrup. We are all accustomed to paying $4.00 for 90 cents worth of hamburger and toppings. We consider it normal to pay $5 for something made of 75 cents worth of plastic.
If you have need for an air conditioning man to come to your home, expect to pay about $1 per minute for his services plus about $75 for his travel fee, even he drives only five miles to your residence. Travel in a taxi cost about $5 for the first mile and $2.50 per mile thereafter plus 30 cents per minute when the vehicle is stationary. My most recent dentist visit cost me $251.00 and I was in the dentist chair less than 25 minutes. My wife recently had to go to the emergency room. A doctor saw her for less than one minute and wrote a prescription for 10 pain pills. The doctor and emergency room bill was $504.00! Grocery costs increase daily. We live in a time when the dollar buys less and less even though it is harder to earn.
We are not exempt the high cost of doing business or the devalued state of the dollar. We get no discounts on anything we purchase or use to provide our service to others. It costs us (on average) $57 per driving hour to provide our service to others, thus, $72 per 75-minute driving session. When you consider our charges, please consider our costs.
Statistics show that the chances of an unskilled (untrained) teenager being involved in a crash in their first year of driving is 89%. The average (2007 statitics) cost of a crash in property/vehicle damage alone is in excess of $8,040.00. This does not include the loss of income from missed work, increased insurance premiums, medical charges when there is physical injury, legal fees in the event of a law suit, court judgments or out of court settlement costs. And, these costs are "per crash". Imagine if you are very fortunate and your crash only costs one-tenth the average cost of a crash ($804.00). That is still most or more than it would have cost to learn to avoid the crash. Typically, a driver will learn one defensive driving skill per crash - because of that crash. There are 23 defensive driving skills!!! It makes good sense to spend a fraction of these crash costs learning to drive crash free, than to have to crash 23 times to learn what is taught in 7.5 hours of behind the wheel training.
Section 2: Our charges are between $65 and $114 per driving session/lesson depending on the class, lesson, length of lesson an/or Course selected.
Sub-Section A: Although we offer specific courses with specific and stated goals and time frames, we (along with every other teaching institution in the world) do not offer unlimited free training to train a person to meet the goals of any Course criteria. The time criteria assigned to each course assumes the student:
1. Was reared in America?
2. Is accustomed to the driving patterns in America?
3. Does speak English well enough to communicate on, at least, a basic level.
4. Can learn without excessive-repetitive clarification or practice during training to accomplish basic skills that most would find easy to learn after clarification, being shown and a few minutes practice (such as using looking before changing lanes, scanning the driving environment, not braking in turns, using turn signals, stopping at stop signs, and so on). Correct?
5. Can and will complete the assigned homework in a timely fashion?
6. Has, at least, an average IQ?
7. Is motivated to learn safe driving skills and defensive driving techniques?
8. Can follow basic instructions?
9. Has a vehicle to practice between each lesson his/her emerging skills (if and when the driver is safe enough to do so)?
10. Has no emotional, mental, physical or learning disabilities that would hamper his/her progress in learning to be a safe-defensive driver?
11. Will complete chapter one and two of the Joda Collins Defensive Driving Workbook before beginning the first driving session?
12. Will complete, at least, three hours of homework between each lesson?
13. Will memorize on his or her own time, and as part of the three hour homework assignment, the formula for parking and the formula for the turn-about (three-point turn), as found in the emails sent from us and in the Joda Collins Driving Study book, not later than the beginning of session three?
14. Understands that those that use our vehicle for learning parking and the three point turn should expect to add one additional lesson to their program. Teaching these skills in our vehicle takes, at least, twice as long. See Section D(7)k below for clarification of this point.
15. Has a personal vehicle or access to a personal vehicle and will we be allowed to use that personal vehicle for 30 to 45 minutes to teach him/her parking and the three point turn (turn about)?
16. Knows the basic rules of the road (before beginning defensive driver's training) as (those basic rules of the road are) clarified in the Florida State Official Driver's Handbook?
17. Can drive safely at speeds of 30 mph among mild traffic?
18. Has no mental, emotional, physical or learning difficulties/limitations that will affect learning to drive?
All of the above items (1 through 18) are variables behind our control as a driving school. The time allotment for each Course is sufficient for more than 85% of individuals that meet the above criteria (1 through 18). If any of the above noted items (1 through 18) are not true for a driver, then the driver will probably not graduate the Defensive Driving Course in the allotted time frame. Is the answer to every one of the questions (1 through 18 above) a "Yes" answer? If not, ask Mr. Collins how much training beyond the 7.5 hours behind the wheel he anticipates the student-driver will require.
The time allotment for each Course is sufficient for more than 85% of individuals that meet the above criteria (1 through 18). Ten percent of said students require slightly less time to meet the passing standards and when that happens we use the extra time to develop exceptional skills. There is every advantage in being better trained over being minimally trained. About five percent of said students require additional training to meet the passing standard. A student that does not meet the criteria (1 through 18) above will probably need more time behind the wheel to pass any selected Course of study. By the end of the first lesson, I (Joda Collins) will be able to tell student, parent and/or spouse which Course (or Program) the student-driver should be enrolled in (Rules of the Road Course, Safety Course or Defensive Driving Course).
I am seldom wrong in this estimate of how long it will take a student to graduate a selected Course; however, not denoting a student may require more training is not the same thing as guaranteeing the student will pass the Course criteria in the time frame initially allotted. Denoting that more time may be required to pass a Course does not stop the student from successfully completing the Course criteria within the time frame denoted in the Course description. I find it difficult to tell a student, parent or spouse that more training is required before a student-driver can pass a Course; however, I owe an honest evaluation. Isn't that part of what you are paying me for? Driving a vehicle is a life and death investment of time. I do not have the luxury of telling less that the truth if a driver poses a danger to self and others, just to keep from hurting someone's feelings.
Section 2, Sub-Section B
There are four mindsets student-drivers have:
1. Eager to learn.
The "Eager to Learn" student recognizes that learning to drive well is a matter of life and death. This student rejoices to be in training and soaks up every bit of information I can give them with a degree of appreciation that makes teaching a joy. The "Eager to Learn" student will, typically, (all others things noted being a positive for him or her) graduate in the designated time frame. The "Eager to Learn" individual is mature enough to trust with a 1,600 pound machine that can kill in a spit second.
2. Passive about learning
This driver has a lazy/casual attitude about learning to drive safely/defensively. When I ask these drivers what they "hope to get from the training" I get answers like, "Well, if I learn more than I need, that's good, I guess" or "I am a good driver, but there may be something more you can teach me" or "It would not hurt to see if there is anything I can learn" or "I haven't got anything else to do right now, so I might as well take this Course" or "Grandma (or someone else) asked me take this Course because she thinks I need it and since she is paying or it, then why not do it." This driver will progress to the point that they have to work at it a little bit. After that, they cease learning. Students that are passive about learning usually learn enough to become safer drivers, but seldom have the devotion to task to learn fast enough to pass any Course at the same speed as most others. After graduation, the passive learner is, usually, safe in all driving conditions that do not require more than basic driving skills nor demand quick decisions behind the wheel as they limit their leaning by their lack of commitment to excellence. There is hope for the passive driver that he or she might have an awakening during training and realize that learning safe/defensive driving skills is important. If that awakening never comes during training, then hopefully, the passive will remember what they have learned and after a few crashes or near misses come to the conclusion they should begin to incorporate what they learned into their driving time. Parents and spouses must make the decision in whether to entrust their child or spouse with a vehicle when the parent or spouse knows the drivers lack of maturity, lack of experience and lack of commitment might get him/her or others killed; a serious consideration, indeed.
3. Resentful about learning.
The "Resentful towards Learning" student, usually, is taking the driving course because someone promised him or her a prize if they graduated the course. This individual is "putting in their time" in order to get the prize.They view learning defensive and safe driving skills as not worth the effort. They will learn all things that come easy to them, but will not put in much effort. This individual feels that if they just put in their hours behind the wheel that someone owes them a graduation certificate and are usually shocked to learn that they actually have to pass Course driving requirements in order to graduate. The concept of actually learning defensive driving and safe driving skills seems like a "pretty good option if they want it" but the "resentful towards learning" cannot seem to grasp that failure to learn the skills or apply the skills equals failing the class. They think it is "unfair" and "mostly unnecessary" to expect them to actually learn to be a safe driver. For this person, the Instructor is just someone to tolerate for the training hours so they can get their reward for driving behind the wheel. The Instructor is just someone that has gotten in their way from getting their prize sooner. This person occasionally graduates in the designated time frame, but seldom. This individual will only learn the things that the Instructor "convinces" them are important. When the instructor has to spend time begging, pleading and convincing a student to learn, time runs out before the student is able to learn the material. The time it takes to beg, plead and convince costs the same and takes as long as the time to teach. However, no Course has "begging, pleading or (extensive) convincing time" built in. The student that demands the Instructor beg, plead and convince before the student will listen, most often has to pay for that time with more lessons in order to graduate. The "resentful towards Learning" are probably not mature enough to trust with a vehicle. The highest expectation for this type of individual is that they will learn enough to pass their State driving exam and that, over time, they might come to realization that they should have paid more attention during the training. This kind of driver will, upon the realization, try to recall and implement as much as they can at a point beyond the training time.
4. Resistant to learning.
The fourth group is the "Resistant towards Learning." They feel superior to everyone, especially their authorities. This person is irritated because he or she has to take the behind the wheel training. This person does not learn, and seldom graduates any program they do not "love" that requires commitment. This kind of person sucks all of the joy out of life for everyone around them. The "resistant towards learning" person should never be entrusted with a vehicle. Whoever entrusts that person with a vehicle is a participant in the physical, emotional and property damage this person will cause. Please don't send such people to me to teach. Life is too short to have to put up with the misery these people create in the lives of those that try to help them with anything. It is impossible to teach someone who feels they are too good and too smart to learn anything from anyone else. A good number of these people are sociopaths. Sending them to me won't change their character.
No Sunday lessons are offered.
Section 2, Sub-Section C
SUMMARY OF CHARGES
Our per lesson charges are $65 to $114 depending on length of lesson, the Course selection and day of week that lesson is provided. Our door-to-door pick up expense is about $1.37 per round trip mile. Our charges are $1.35 (weekdays) or $1.45 (Saturdays) per round trip mile from our Office. We make no profit providing the door-to-door pick up service. The first door-to-door pick up fee is payable in advance and refundable if the lesson is canceled or rescheduled not later than 9pm the previous evening. Evaluation sessions are payable in advance and there is no refund offered for the simple reason that some people opt not to continue training if the projected cost of training exceeds their commitment level. So that there is no confusion know that no one graduates the Defensive Driving Course with fewer than 7.5 hours behind the wheel.
One Saturday 45-minutes session is $70.00. Mon through Friday is $65.00. There are no discounts for 45-minute sessions. All 45-minute sessions must be paid in advance. No 45-minute teaching time frame may be scheduled without advance payment.
One 75-minute behind the wheel session is $109 (weekdays), $114 (Saturday) or as little as $59.60 if...
the individual enrolls in the six-session Defensive Driving Course, completes the required 7.5 hours of behind the wheel training and the required 18 hours of self-study, secures a driver's license in the required time and takes advantage of 2.5 hours of behind the wheel training offered in Phase Two training.
Six Saturday 75-minute sessions paid no later than the end of the first driving session is $624.00. We offer a $30 discount for those that train Monday trough Friday. So, the total charge is $594.00. An additional 2.5 hours of training is offered, at no additional charge, to those that take our 7.5 hour Defensive Driving Course or our 10 hour Advance Course. Some limitations/requirements apply. See this page (www.JodaCollins.com/Agreement Page) the purple print below under Sub-section D(7).
We prefer that all lessons begin and end at our Office; however, for those than cannot come to us or opt not to come to us, we will go to you. Door-to-door service is $1 per round trip mile from our Office (4033 Buttonbush Dr., Milton, FL 32583) on weekdays and $1.10 per round trip mile from our Office on Saturday. One dollar and thirty-seven cents per round trip mile covers all of our expenses including vehicle, salary and administrative overhead to provide this service. Because we charge less than it costs us to provide door-to-door service, we prefer all lesson begin and end at our Office, if possible.
Courses range from a single 45-minute behind the wheel session with one driving skill taught to ten 75-minute sessions behind the wheel with "everything" (we teach) taught. See this page (www.JodaCollins.com, Agreement page) Section Two,Sub-section D for additional details.
One Lesson at a time becomes a Course when meeting Course requirements.
ENHANCED TRAINING FACTOR: Because we offer self-study materials for all single lessons and because we require homework or all Courses of more than one lesson, the driver that does the homework is well prepared for each lesson's training material. We are able to devote more time to behind the wheel training rather than use behind the wheel training time for clarifying driving techniques in the vehicle with the vehicle stationary. We estimate that driving schools that do not require self-study or offer classroom training spend about 20% of the driver's driving time clarifying driving skills with the student behind the wheel. Because of our self-study requirements, our driving Academy offers, we estimate, 20% more behind the wheel driving time than schools that do not require self-study or classroom training between (or before) driving sessions. This translates into more training for the money! We call this (20% more effective training behind the wheel), the "Enhanced Training Factor".
Section 2, Sub-Section D
Per Course or per session charge.
Sub-Section D(1)
Rules of the Road Course, $114 (Sat), $109 (Mon-Fri) per 75-minute session.
Goal: Most drivers can learn the basic rules of the road at a desk with study material in hand. However, there are some drivers that cannot or opt not to learn the rules of the road by book study. Said drivers need to or opt to learn the rules of the road while behind the wheel. One driving session at a time until the driver knows the basic rules of the road. Discounts are provided those that pay for more than one lesson at a time.
Sub-Section D(2)
Beginner's Course, $114 (Sat), $109 (Mon-Fri) per 75-minute session if paying by the lesson or $111 (Sat), $106 (Mon-Fri) per session if paying for three sessions at one time ($333 / $318).
Goals: Learn to control vehicle steering, brakes and accelerator well enough to drive safely at 30 mph in mild traffic, excellent weather, among average to excellent drivers and in known driving environments. Able to pass the Florida State Driving Exam.
Time: Most students that are motivated to learn, from America and accustomed to the driving habits/patterns of America, have English as their first language, have no emotional, mental, learning or physcial handcaps/limitations, can follow directions, do not have a lot of deeply engrained bad driving habits to break, will do the required homework in a timely manner, are mature enough to entrust with a vehicle and have a vehicle to practice their emerging skills in (once safe enough to do so), pass this training in two or three sessions.
PREREQUISITE: Driver's license or permit. Know the basic rules of the road.
Sub-Section D(3)
Pass the State Driving Test Course $114 (Sat), $109 (Mon - Fri) per 75-minute session.
Goal: Learn to pass Florida, Georgia or Alabama State driving exam.
One driving session at a time until the driver can pass the State exam. Discounts afforded those that pay for more than one lesson at a time. The Florida State Driving exam takes place in a parking lot setting, at speeds of no more than 30 miles per hour with no other moving traffic to contend with. This Course takes place in a parking lot, at speeds of no more than 30 miles per hour with no other moving traffic to contend with. Students are required to memorize the steps for a three point turn and for entering/exiting a parking space before these skills are taught behind the wheel.
Predicting how long it will take the average driver to gain the skills to pass the Florida State Driving Exam is a little bit like predicting where a rubber duck will be in 7.5 hours once place in a flowing river. There are a lot of factors to consider; flow rate of river, obstacles in river flow, tributaries that enter or exit the river, weather, chance and cause of changing river flow over the next 12 hours and more. In predicting how long it will take the "average" driver to pass the Florida behind the wheel exam we must, first, define "the average driver". What can an average driver do behind the wheel before beginning training? At what speed does an average driver learn? Does the average driver have a vehicle to use to practice emerging driving skills? Does the average driver complete the assigned three hours of self study between each driving session? How much does the average driver learn and retain in three hours of book study? What is the comprehension level of the average driver when being directed behind the wheel? Does the average driver listen well? Are you "average?" To answer how long it will take for the average driver to learn to pass the State Driving Exam, let's first define "average driver". We define the average driver as one that does have a vehicle to practice in and who can drive safely at 30 miles per hour in a light traffic environment and among excellent drivers without requiring the verbal or physical assistance of the Instructor with regards to braking, steering or acceleration in order to keep from crashing. If this is your definition of "average driver" then continue reading. Remember, the State of Florida defines the average driver as one that has 50 hours of behind the wheel experience with no less than 10 of those hours at night. Only that "average" driver is, according to the State of Florida, even qualified to take the State behind the wheel exam. Sometimes new drivers with much less than 50 hours behind the wheel want to enroll in this Course. By all definitions, that driver is below average and it is a mistake to think said driver will pass this Course in a lesson. The "average driver", as just defined, will take two 75-minute driving lessons in order to be ready to pass the Florida State Driving Exam. Because some people are above average and may require only one lesson and those with less than 50 hours behind the wheel may require more than two driving lessons. Our "Course" for passing the State Driving Exam is listed on a per lesson basis.
The State driving exam requires the driver to be able to safely operate the vehicle steering, brake and accelerator with the skill necessary to drive safely in mild city traffic. If a driver cannot steer, brake or accelerate safety in mild city traffic, it is premature to try to train the driver to pass the State test. Rather, basic training in steering, braking and acceleration is required. How long it will take the driver to safely steer, brake, accelerate and travel safely in mild city traffic is not a matter of how many minutes or hours one practices but depends on the student's learning speed and dedication to task. We suggest taking an evaluation lesson that takes 75-minutes. At the end of the evaluation, the Instructor will able to provide an educated estimate of how long it might take to train the driver to pass the State driving exam. Unlike charges for Courses, the evaluation charge must be paid in advance and is non-refundable. The charge is $109 (Weekdays) and $114 (Saturday) using our vehicle. If you want to use our vehicle for State driving exam, please see Section Six requirements on this page.
Sub-Section D(4)
"Three/Three" Florida Mandated Four-Hour Behind-the-Wheel Course, $380 (Sat), $364 (Mon-Fri)
Unless your behind the wheel training is mandated by the State of Florida due to excessive tickets, you can skip this.
Goal: Meet the Florida State Requirements for the "Three/Three Program". Two, two-hour behind the wheel sessions.
The behind the wheel training charge for the Florida Mandated Course is the same per minute charge as other similar behind the wheel training Courses. The difference is that the Florida Mandated (3/3) training is in 2-hour blocks for training rather than 75-minute blocks. The charge for behind the wheel training is $365 for Saturday and $349 for weekdays. However, the Florida mandated four-hour Course requires additional State paperwork, computer reporting and telephone work that we must complete. The charge for that paper/computer/telephone work is $15.00 which makes the total charge $380 for Saturday training and $364 for weekday training. "Saturday training" is defined as training on one or more Saturdays. After receiving the four hours of behind the wheel training, the Client must pass a behind the wheel test through the Department of Driver's Licenses. If the driver does not pass that test then more behind the wheel training may be required. If that happens, a driver may retake this Course, another Course or take one lesson at a time at relevant charges until needed skills are realized. The driver may use our vehicle for training at no additional charge, or may use their own vehicle for training. Proof of insurance and a safety check is required if using personal vehicle to insure all equipment (all lights, turn signals, horn, windshield wipers, brakes, etc) are in working order. Arrive five minutes early if using your own vehicle in order to have time to safety check your vehicle and validate insurance coverage. Payment for this Course must be in advance via cash, cashier's check, money order or Visa/MasterCard Debit/Credit. There is a 7.5% "convenience fee", not to exceed $15 for each Visa/MasterCard debit/credit charge to cover part of the expense that Visa and Master/Card charge us to use their service. All other benefits and responsibilities outlined on this page in Sections 5, 6, 9, 10, 13 through 16, and 18 through 20 apply to this Course. Persons that want to pay for this training per lesson may pay 50% of the total ($190 instead of $380 or $182 instead of $364).
Sub-Section D(5)
Not applicable
Sub-Section D(6)
Below are our charges for lessons paid at the same time for weekday training. For Saturday training add $5 per lesson. Saturday training charges appear in orange print to the right of the weekday charge.
One 75-minute lesson @ $109.00
Two 75-minute lessons paid at the same time @ $109 x 2 = $218 minus $4 ($2 per lesson) = $214.00 ($224)
Three 75-minute lessons paid at the same time @ $109 x 3 = $327 minus $9 ($3 per lesson) = $318.00 ($333)
Four 75-minute lessons paid at the same time @ $109 x 4 = $436 minus $16 ($4 per lesson) = $420.00 ($440)
Five 75-minute lessons paid at the same time @ $109 x 5 = $545 minus $25 ($5 per lesson) = $520.00 ($545)
Six 75-minute lessons paid at the same time @ $109 x 6 = $654 minus $36 ($6 per lesson), plus a discount of $24 for reading carefully the Working Agreement. = $594 ($624)
Seven or more 75-minute lessons $109 each minus $7 per lesson plus a discount of $24 for reading carefully the Working Agreement.
Add 7.5% not to exceed $15 per charge for Visa/MasterCard Debit/Credit
There are no discounts for 45-minute classes. No 45-minute class can be scheduled without payment in advance. The charge for 45 minute sessions are $65 (weekdays) and $70 (Saturday).
Sub-Section D(7)
Defensive Driving Course, $624 (Sat), $594 (Mon - Fri).
Ten hours behind the wheel with 7.5 of those hours known as "Phase One" of training and 2.5 of those hours known as "Phase Two". A driver must pass Phase One training in order to qualify for Phase Two training. Those that pass Phase One training and take advantage of Phase Two training pay only $59.40 per hour in charges which is 99 cents per minute. Those who take Phase One training pay 1.32 cents per minute in training costs. Cost per minute when calculating in the "Enhanced Training Factor" is 20% less which is 79 cents when considering Phase One and Phase Two training. (For clarification of the "Enhanced Training Factor" see red print above just before "Section D" or, if reading this section from any other location beside our web site, go to www.JodaCollins.com, Agreement Page and he last paragraph of Section C.) When calculating the "Enhanced Training Factor" the corresponding weekday training value of this Course is $712.00. That is, if this training were provided at any driving school that did not provide classroom or self-study as a mandatory component of their service, the cost for this training to learn what we teach in this Course would be, in our estimation, $712.00. We provide more training in less time and for less money because of the "Enhanced Training Factor". We, often, receive students trained a "discount" driving schools that have come to the realization that their low price training yielded low quality training.
Ten hours behind the wheel offered in eight 75-minute driving sessions. This Course has two components. First, is 7.5 hours of training (six 75-minute driving sessions) of which the last session contains both training and a final over-the-road/behind the wheel evaluation (test). All sessions are 75-minute sessions unless otherwise arranged. This means that the ten hours of behind the wheel training is offered in eight 75-minutes sessions (Ten 60 minute hours is 600 hours divided by 75 minutes per session is eight sessions). The first 7.5 hours of training is offered in six 75-minute driving sessions (six times 75 is 450 minutes). The two Refresher Sessions of 2.5 hours total are provided in two 75-minute driving sessions (75 times two is 150 minutes which is 2.5 hours). For full details about "Refresher Sessions" please see Section 12 below (or go to www.JodaCollins, Agreement Page, Section 12).
Time: Most students that are motivated to learn, from America and accustomed to the driving habits/patterns of America, have English as their first language, have no emotional, mental, learning or physcial handcaps/limitations, can follow directions, do not have a lot of deeply engrained bad driving habits to break, will do the required homework in a timely manner, are mature enough to entrust with a vehicle and have a vehicle to practice their emerging skills in (once safe enough to do so), pass this training in three or four sessions.
PREREQUISITE: Driver's license or permit. Know the basic rules of the road and be able to drive a vehicle safely at speeds of up to 30 mph.
If you have any questions about Phase One and Phase Two training, feel free to ask.
Sub-Section D(7)a
Goal for the Defensive Driving Course
Learn to drive crash free for a lifetime even when driving among poor drivers, in heavy traffic and/or in adverse weather conditions. While the Safety Course teaches drivers not cause crashes, this, the Defensive Driving Course, teaches drivers how to avoid being involved in the crashes that crash-prone drivers create. Therefore, a crash-prone driver must first graduate the Safety Course or drive at the level of a Safety Course graduate before he or she can be enrolled in this Course.
Sub-Section D(7)b
Prerequisite for the Defensive Driving Course
Passing or the ability to pass the the Rules of the Road Course, the Vehicle Control Course and the Safety (Offensive) Course. Student driver must complete Chapter One and Chapter Two of the Defensive Driving Study book. That book is available on line as a free download or purchase at www.JodaCollins.com. In addition, the book is available directly from the Joda Collins Driving Academy Office. It takes the average student about three hours to complete this work. Student-drivers that do not or cannot complete Chapter One and Chapter Two of this book before the first driving session should not expect to pass this Course in the allotted 7.5 hours behind the wheel.
Sub-Section D(7)c
Not applicable
Sub-Section D(7)d
Requirements to pass the Defensive Driving Course
(1). Seven and one half hours professional (with us) behind the wheel training in this Course. The remaining 2.5 hours are provided to all those that complete the 7.5 hours, including those that do not graduate this Course, as long as the driver secures a license and schedules the remaining 2.5 hours within one year of completing the first phase of 7.5 hours behind the wheel training. However, the second phase of training (the 2.5 hours) are not required to graduate this Course. Those that do not graduate this Course in the 7.5 hours of the first phase will be tested during the second phase (2.5 hours) and if meeting the standards for graduation, will receive their graduation from this Course.
(2). Successful completion of at least 60% of the the Defensive Driving Course Study book with a score of 95% or better. Most students can finish this text book in 18 to 21 hours. At least three hours of homework is required between each driving session. Drivers that spend three hours on the book before the first driving lesson will benefit. Drivers that do the prescribed homework between each lesson (approximately three hours homework between each session) have the best chance of graduating this Course in the designated 7.5 hours. Drivers that do not do the prescribed homework should not expect to graduate this Course in the prescribed 7.5 hours. Like all academic courses, those that have not the mental ability to "keep up" should expect to have to invest extra effort to do so. It takes less time to teach the "Turn-about" (three-point turn) and parking in the Clients vehicle than it does in the Joda Collins training vehicle because we teach these maneuvers in the Client's vehicle differently. In the Client's vehicle we teach turning the steering wheel while the vehicle is stationary. In the Joda Collins vehicle we teach never to turn the steering wheel while the vehicle is stationary because doing so is hard on the power steering. In reality, turning the steering wheel with the vehicle stationary poses long term damage only when this technique is used often, as it is in a training vehicle. In a personal vehicle, parking and three-point turns are not done all day, every day and the chance of damage to a personal vehicle is near zero. So, if you prefer that we teach the three-point turn and parking in your vehicle just let us know. In your vehicle these techniques take about 30 minutes to clarify (show). Most students pick up on these techniques immediately. In your vehicle the training for parking and the three point turn will be over after the Instructor demonstrates the technique and the driver tries it a couple of times. In our vehicle, it takes at least twice as long to demonstrate the techniques and most students take more than twice as long to perform these techniques successfully. Using a private vehicle for teaching these two skills WILL save every student behind the wheel time. For students that require more than one driving session to learn these two skills please be aware that only one full lesson (75 minutes) is provided for teaching and mastering these two skills. If a driver cannot master these two skills in one session, then mastery of these skills must be accomplished as a part of homework behind the wheel of a private vehicle or as a result of additional paid training. Using your vehicle for fast learning, using our vehicle knowing the training will take a full session or more and using your vehicle or more training for mastery if more training is needed are the only options we know of.
(3). A score of 151 or more on the Joda Collins General Safety Evaluation.
(4). Pass the final lesson over the road (behind the wheel) examination.
Sub-Section D(7)e
We do not guarantee graduation from the Defensive Driving Course after the first phase (the first 7.5 hours behind the wheel) of training because there are just too many factors to consider with many of those factors completely out of our control. However, we invite spouses and parents to ride along at any lesson or every lesson. Doing so will make you aware that the Instructor is doing a lot of work and his very best to do his part to ensure your spouse, son or daughter is getting the very best and the greatest amount of training possible throughout the entirety of every driving session. Students will give that testimony also.
Sub-Section D(7)f
We do guarantee graduates from the Defensive Driving Course will pass the Florida State Driving Exam or we provide up to a one-hour session for no charge (for lesson time) to help the driver with any area or areas that caused him or her to fail the State exam if the driver takes the State driving exam within six months of graduation from our Defensive Driving Course.
Sub-Section D(7)g
Failing the Defensive Driving Course
Students that fail this Course due to insufficient training time behind the wheel need only to complete the required behind the wheel training within one year.
Students that fail this Course due to failing to complete the required homework assignments need only to complete the required homework assignments within one year.
Student that fail this Course due to a score of less than 151 on the General Safety Evaluation need only to improve their behind the wheel safety by professional or non-professional training so said driver can score at least 151 on the General Safety Evaluation. Unlimited retesting is allowed, that is, there is no time limit; however, there is a charge for a 75-minute driving session at whatever charge is current at the time of retesting. In addition, retesting includes retesting on all safe/defensive driving skills, not just the skills the driver failed to perform. At the time of testing, a driver must be a safe-defensive driver in order to graduate this Course. This means the "retesting" for general safety is comprehensive rather than just over the driving failures that cause the failure of the Course. Driver that regress between their failure and retesting for general safety cannot expect to maintain a passing General Safety Score.
Students that fail this Course due to failing the final behind the wheel/over the road text need only to learn to apply the safe driving and defensive driving skills taught in this class. Unlimited retesting is permitted, that is, there is no time limit; however, there is a charge for a 75-minute driving session as reflected in the current charges on the day of retesting. In addition, retesting includes retesting on all safe/defensive driving skills, not just the skills the drier failed to perform. At the time of retesting, a driver must be a safe-defensive driver.
We are not in a position to "make" someone learn or magically increase any person's learning capacity. While we emphasize with those that learn slowly, because providing our service costs us money, we cannot offer free services to those that need more training than the norm to meet Course requirements.
Sub-Section D(7)h
Refresher Lessons follow completion of six 75-minute driving sessions
See the purple print in Section 12 below.
Sub-Section D(7)i
Payment
We have a "full refund policy upon request." This means that any Client that has not received graduation status may request a full refund of all unused fees at any time and for any reason. Upon this request, we refund all unused fees and the charge for the most recent driving session. We refund money paid in advance plus money paid for services (one driving session) already rendered. We think that is more than fair. This means that after the first driving session, if a Client is unhappy with our service, may request a full refund and will be granted that full refund on the spot. Therefore, we do ask for payment of all driving sessions in advance. We do this because we set aside 10 minutes before each driving session for Clients to complete their paperwork and make payment. In most cases, we have a driving session that quickly follows the completion of each driving session. We do not set time aside a the beginning for necessary paperwork and more time aside at the end for payment. If the Client asks for a refund (which has never happened!) we give it. We are a defensive driving school. Unless otherwise directed we assume Clients are enrolling in the six-session Defensive Driving Course at a charge of $594.00 (weekdays) or $624 (for Saturday training). If you seek any other Course or training, please let us know so we can quote you and charge accordingly.
Sub-Section D(7)j
Limitations of the Defensive Driving Course The Course time is not an excessive amount of time to learn the 12 Safe Driving Skills (things that keep others safe around us), 23 Defensive Driving Techniques (techniques that keep us safe around bad drivers, five adverse weather skills, plus parking and the three-point turn (Turn-about). There is precious little time allotted for repetition due to lack of ability, concentration or commitment. For example, let's assume that a driver has difficulty with "hand-over-hand" steering. After hand-over-hand steering is explained, shown, clarified and a few minutes practice provided, if the student-driver cannot perform "hand-over-hand" steering, then there are four options. First, the student can practice hand-over-hand steering in a parked vehicle by letting his/her hands slide over the wheel. Second, the student can practice hand-over-hand steering in a moving vehicle if the student has a vehicle to use. Third, the student can sit in a kitchen chair and practice hand-over-hand steering. Fourth, the student can practice hand-over-hand steering in our training vehicle during paid training time for as long as it takes to learn it. If the student opts to (or must) learn hand-over-hand steering by extensive practice during paid training, the time it takes over the few minutes we allot during training for this procedure will, probably, extend the the time the driver needs to complete the Course requirements. Another example would be learning to drive with Diamond Space. "Diamond space" means that there is sufficient space ahead and behind to drive safely and that the driver does not travel for long periods of time side-by-side with vehicles going in the same direction but adjusts speed slightly, gradually and gracefully to avoid driving immediately beside another vehicle for an extended period of time. Let's assume that, for whatever reason, a driver cannot grasp the importance of not traveling side by side with another vehicle for blocks. Beyond the time allotted in training to explain Diamond Space, show it and provide a few minutes for the driver to implement it, there is no additional time during paid training to extensively practice or show the value of this skill. The only option is to extend the time for training to make up for the drivers lack of basic comprehension or lack of elementary vehicle control abilities. A driver cannot pass the Defensive Driving Course if he/she cannot steer hand-over-hand or cannot maneuver his/her vehicle in traffic in order not to drive side by side with other vehicles for long periods of time. A driver must be able to drive the vehicle safely and execute, at least, elementary control of the vehicle while applying the 23 Defensive Driving Techniques. It is important to understand that a driver that cannot perform safe and defensive driving skills after being shown and taught these skills will not graduate this Course any more than a student that enrolls in an elementary math course will graduate the math course, if after adequate training, the student cannot perform elementary mathematics.
Sub-Section D(7)k
Parking and the Turn-about (Three-point turn) as taught as part of the Defensive Driving Course including limitations, expectations and your options.
After a student memorizes the parking procedure to enter the parking space and the procedure for exiting a parking space, and after a student memorizes the three-point turn procedure, it normally takes, at least, one full lesson to teach parking and the three point turn. The steps are in the training material. If you cannot find them, let us know. Some students opt, for whatever reason, not to memorize these steps. Some students, because they do not memorize well, cannot memorize these steps. For students that opt not to or cannot memorize these steps the only option, if they want to learn to enter and exit a parking space and do the three-point turn in accord with Florida standards, is to memorize the steps during paid training time in the vehicle. Memorizing the steps during training extends the allotted training time by how ever long it takes the student to memorize the steps. There is no "memory work" time allotted in behind the wheel training. "Memory work" is assigned as part of the homework. Memorizing the steps is mandatory. One cannot park or do the three-point turn (turn-about) if one does not know what to do. Those that cannot or do not memorize on their own, but memorize fast when doing, will take less time than those that memorize less quickly while doing. However, in both cases, those that do not memorize these steps as part of their homework and self-study may not (all other things being acceptable) graduate the Defensive Driving Course in the designated 7.5 hours.
There is, also another consideration. Some mechanics discourage turning the steering while the vehicle is stationary (engine running). Other mechanics state turning the steering while the vehicle is stationary does not damage power steering. I called Toyota and asked about my vehicle (2008 Prius). Here is what I was told. "Turning the steering with the engine on and the engine running will not, under normal circumstances, damage power steering; however, it does place the maximum strain on the power steering system which, if done often can cause power steering failure due to placing constant or excessive pressure on the hoses that carry the power steering fluid in the system. In addition, turning the wheel with the vehicle stationary does wear tires down more quickly. Since you are using your vehicle for parking many times a day, I would suggest you not turn steering with the vehicle stationary. In a long run, turning the steering with the vehicle moving even slightly is best. How much better is debatable."
We do not teach steering while the vehicle is stationary for parking or the three-point turn because, unlike most privately owned vehicles, our vehicle is used many times a day for parking and the three-point turn. There are those that would argue with us that steering our stationary vehicle often, day after day, will not damage our vehicle. We will be happy to change our "no steering while the vehicle is stationary" policy if anyone who is convinced doing so day after day all day long will invest $750 with us for 365 days on condition of full refund if our power steering lasts that long. Until then, we are going to play it safe. Obviously, the dead weight of a stationary vehicle places more strain on vehicle steering than steering with moving weight. Whether a vehicle can "take it" is beside the point. We opt to do to our vehicle what is less taxing for it believing that placing minimum strain on any equipment is preferred over placing maximum strain on it.
All beginning drivers find entering and exiting a parking space and doing a three-point turn many times easier if they can perform the steering tasks with the vehicle stationary. We allot one session for learning parking and the three point turn. Some drivers can learn it in that period of time. Some cannot. Some take many lessons to learn these skills if limited to learning in a vehicle that must be in motion before the steering wheel can be turned. Here is our suggestion. Allow us to teach parking and the three point turn in your vehicle. We will teach the student how to enter and exit a parking space and how to do a three-point turn in a vehicle where steering is permitted while stationary. Then, we will show the student how to accomplish these skills in a moving vehicle so they will know how to do it after they get their driver's license. After the student secures his or her driver's license, the student can, then practice entering and exiting a parking space and doing a three-point turn in their vehicle while moving the steering wheel only while the vehicle is moving. This will save a great deal of training time, may keep the student from the necessity of adding extra lessons to learn parking and the three point turn and will make securing their driver's license many time simpler. We assume the driver will use our vehicle. However, if you want us to use your vehicle to teach these skills and will allow us to teach these skills in your vehicle in a manner where turning the steering wheel when your vehicle is stationary, that is great. Sometimes, we ask a Client or Driver if he/she wants to use our vehicle or their own vehicle for parking and the three-point turn. If we ask you, the decision is yours. If we do not ask you and you want to use your vehicle to learn parking and the three-point turn in order to save you time and money, THAT IS GREAT! Be aggressive in letting us know immediately, BUT NOT LATER THAN THE BEGINNING OF DRIVING LESSON NUMBER 3, that you want to use your vehicle so we will not begin the teaching process for parking and the three-point turn in our vehicle. Your vehicle must be legally registered to the individual who gives us permission to use it. That individual must be in the vehicle at the time of training. You must have proof of insurance as our insurance does not cover teaching in your vehicle. Vehicle must have all safety equipment in good condition (lights, horn, lights, drive train). Depending on the learning speed of the student, this session will take between 30 minutes and one hour, including driving time to and from a near parking location. There is another option. If a parent or spouse rides with the driver and Instructor during the parking and three point turn training that is accomplished in our training vehicle, then if the driver struggles with these skills, the parent or spouse can help the driver master these skills in a private vehicle as part of "homework."
We are not asking to use your vehicle to teach parking and the three-point turn. It does not matter to us if we use your vehicle or our vehicle for these tasks. However, because using a private vehicle affords Clients a considerable benefit, we make that option available to you. We are willing to use your vehicle to teach parking and the three-point turn if you want us to and request us to. Section D(7)d(2) above (or at www.JodaCollns.com, Agreement Page) has more information on this matter.
Section 2, Sub-Section E
Maximum Proficiency Course, $1.030 (Sat), $980.00 (Mon - Fri). Cost per minute for training is 91.3 cents.
Ten 75-minute driving sessions for those that a qualify for the Defensive Driving Course or four 75- minute driving sessions for Defensive Driving Course graduates. The charge for Defensive Driving Course graduates is $416 (four sessions on Sat) or $396 (four sessions on Mon - Fri).
Sub-Section E1
Goal for the Maximum Proficiency Course
Superior driving skills. Most that graduate this Course could teach the Defensive Driving Course to others.
Prerequisite: Passing or the ability to pass the Rules of the Road Course and the Safety (Offensive Driving) Course. Ten of these sessions constitute the first phase of the training and the last two sessions constitute the"Refresher Sessions" which are offered in exactly the same manner and for exactly the same purposes as the Refresher Sessions as clarified in the "Refresher Sessions" section of the Defensive Driving Course (above).
All time estimates assume the student-driver has passed the Defensive Driving Course. The difference in the Maximum Proficiency Course and the Defensive Driving Course is the information learned and a more secure habit of applying the rules of the road, the safe driving skills and the 23 defensive driving techniques. Forty-five minute sessions are not offered for this Course.
Additional Training
1. Apex turning
2. Replace the 23 mph Precision Stop/Slow with a more advanced version of this technique.
3. Learn to approach stop signs and traffic signals (intersections) with more precision and safety
4. Parallel parking (if requested).
5. Learn to identify under the hood and under the carriage signs of eminent costly damage.
6. Skid recovery techniques (skid avoidance techniques are taught in the Defensive Driving Course).
7. Learn to use the brake lights in unusual legal ways as semi-emergency warning flashers as a "telegraphing tool". (it is against the law to use warning flashers to telegraph anything less than a full emergency).
8. Additional use of inside rear view mirror at near completion of each turn.
9. Learn to enter cross traffic with more precision and more safety.
Additional Training is offered in the Maximum Proficiency Course NOT because we withhold this advance information or training from the student-driver in the Defensive Driving Course, but because there is insufficient time to state and practice these advanced skills in the 7.5 hours allotted in the Defensive Driving Course. The skills taught in the Defensive Driving Course are designed to make a student-driver "safe" behind the wheel. The skills taught in the Advanced Course make the student "safer!" It should be noted that the Advanced Skills are not skills typically taught in an automobile driving course. Mr. Collins (our behind the wheel Instructor) has several years as a truck driver where he has learned driving techniques that are "beyond" the norm. Advanced driving techniques are taught to every student that learns the standard driving skills before the end of the designated 7.5 hours of training. On the rare occasion when a driver, enrolled in the Defensive Driving Course, exceeds all requirements during their training sessions, we rejoice to teach said drivers advanced driving skills.
Section 2, Sub-Section F
Add 7.5% for Visa/MasterCard Debit/Credit not to exceed $15 per charge.
Pick up charges for Mon - Fri are $1.35 per round trip mile and $1.45 per round trip mile on Saturday.
Refresher Lessons: Those that enroll in this Course that have not used the two "refresher lessons" as offered in the Defensive Driving Course are entitled to two 45-minute refresher lessons as defined and clarified in the "Refresher Lessons" section of the Defensive Driving Course as presented immediately above.
Why do we offer different time frames for lessons?
Our time frames for a teaching/driving session are 45-minutes and 75-minutes. For most students, we recommend 75-minute sessions because most students can easily handle 75-minutes of training. We do take a two or three minute break most sessions to give the student and the instructor a chance to rest and reflect. This is for the safety of everyone. The shortest time for a teaching/driving session is 45-minutes. The 45-minute session is for the individual that is excessively nervous, especially dangerous behind the wheel and becomes more nervous with increased time behind the wheel. Very few fit into this category; however, we need to have a shorten lesson time frame for the person that needs a shorten session to reduce excessive stress or provide the necessary amount of safety. We also mention the 45-minute sessions with first time callers because, on first evaluation, many people are more positive towards getting twice as many of something. What I mean by that is, for example, if a caller asked how many lessons are provided for the $594 Defensive Driving Course, many are more impressed with getting twelve 45-minute sessions than they are at getting six 75-minute sessions simply because twelve is twice as much as six. At first hearing, it may sound good to get twelve of something rather than six. However, twice the sessions require twice the charge for pick up fees or twice the effort to drive to my Office for, at best and for most students, the same results. Also, most students can handle 90-minutes behind the wheel. Therefore, I encourage 75-minute training sessions because it is easier to "build" driving skills when there is both sufficient time to explain and show the skill and then to have some immediate practice in applying the skill in the same session.
(The following example uses the six 75-minute driving sessions that constitute the $594 Defensive Driving Course. Other Courses use the same concepts but the financial figures alter slightly.)
I am asked, often, if a student takes six lessons paying for each lesson one at a time, can the discount of $60 be applied to the sixth lesson since paying for six lessons in advance reduces the cost to from $109 to $99 per lesson? I am sorry, but no. The primary reason we give the discount to those that pay for lessons in advance, is because collecting one time for many lessons saves us bookkeeping time. Rather than pay our bookkeeper to record many transactions per student, we pay him to record one transaction. My bookkeeper charges me $10 per financial recording and for that fee takes care of all facets of the bookkeeping, tax reporting and banking responsibilities. Therefore, applying a retroactive financial discount for students that paid in bits and pieces for their Course of training is not cost effective for me because each payment costs me $10 to have recorded and reported. In addition, although the "payment" that follows the end of each driving lesson is supposed to be included in the lesson time, as often as I can, I try to give the full lesson time to the student in behind the wheel driving and take the "transaction" time from my own time. If I have six payment dates rather than one, those additional five "transaction times" take my time and increases my "service" to the Client but does not increase my income from that service. My suggestion is that Clients pay for any Course in advance and if the Client decides to end training early, the Client gets a refund for the most recently completed driving session and any unused lessons at the per lesson rate.
Let's use, for our example, a situation where the Client used five of the six 75-minute lessons and wants a refund for the sixth lesson because he/she did not feel he needed as he learned the 23 defensive driving skills in five lessons. The total paid for six 75-minute hour lessons is $594.00. However, only five lessons were taken. Multiply $109 times five ($545) and subtract that amount from $594 and that constitutes the "refund". ($594 minus $545 is $49.00). Because the Client did not finish the six lessons the Client forfeits the financial benefit that paying for six lessons in advance provides. In other words, each lesson is $109 or $114 and not $99.00. In reality, we do provide some additional refund when lessons equal less than the six paid for in advance, but since no one has ever asked for that refund and because the additional refund is slight, we do not take you time to explain that in print. If you have further questions about this matter, let us know. We will be happy to clarify further.
Section 3: The first lessons ALWAYS begins in a parking or vacant lot to insure the Student driver can control the vehicle enough and follow the directions of the Instructor well enough to drive safely in traffic.
For defensive driving schools, the first two miles a student is behind the wheel are the most dangerous and incur (percentage wise) the most crashes. Therefore, it is to everyone's advantage that the first mile or two behind the wheel be in the safest environment possible.
Section 4: Discount for advance payment of six or more 75-minute sessions is $10 per lesson weekdays and $5 per lesson Saturdays. Therefore, instead of paying $109 times six which is $654, the charge is $99 times 6 which is $594.00 (weekdays) - $624.00 (Saturdays). Because our profit margin is 11% (3% below the transportation industry standard) we cannot offer greater discounts. By "paying in advance" for a Course, we mean to pay the full cost of the Course no later than the end of the first driving session (unless otherwise stated herein). Summary of charges paid in advance (that is, not later than the end of the first driving session). There are no discounts for 45-minute sessions. All 45-minute sessions must be paid for before they can be scheduled.
Section 5. Door-to-door pick up fee discount, if any, is reflected on every receipt. Door to door pick up fees vary depending on the time of year. During the summer months my business is very busy with Clients that drive to me. When I take time away to drive to others, it costs me training time and income; therefore, I charge more in the summer to provide the door to door pick up service. Simply stated it costs me more to provide the door to door service in the summer, so I charge more for the service. Door to door service for May 1 through August 31 is $1.35 per round trip mile for weekdays and $1.45 per round trip mile on Saturday. All other times of the year door to door pick up service is $1.00 per round trip mile for weekdays and $1.10 per round trip mile on Saturday. All door to door service is calculated at $1.45 per round trip mile and the difference between that total and the price you pay is considered a discount.
May I ask you a question? Would you take an 75-minutes off of work tomorrow and drive your vehicle 50 miles for me? If you would, would you do that for me free? How much would you charge me for your lost one hour and fifteen minutes of work income and for the 50 mile use of your vehicle? Please think of that charge. What is it? _________.
If you ask me to provide you door-to-door pick up service, you are asking me to invest my work time in you and miles of travel on my vehicle for your benefit. My charges to provide my work time and my vehicle are, probably, about the same or less than you would charge me for your same time and vehicle investment. I am happy to provide a door-to-door service for you. However, please understand, I do not work for free and running my vehicle costs me money. I am not being unreasonable to ask you to pay for my time and vehicle expense to serve you just as you would not be unreasonable to charge me for investing your time and for driving your vehicle to serve me.
Consider this also; every hour I spend in my vehicle driving to provide door-to-door service for you is an hour I could be using my vehicle to earn income from others teaching behind-the-wheel training. Isn't it right that I be reimbursed for, at least, some of that income that I forfeit in providing you door-to-door service?
The best way to avoid the expenses of providing door-to-door services is to begin and end all driving sessions at the Joda Collins Driving Academy Office. There is insufficient profit in the charges for training to cover all of our expenses to provide door-to-door service.
We charge about 60% of what it would cost for a Client to take a take a taxi to and from our Office to provide door-to-door service. We are NOT making any profit on our pick up fees. Our goal is to break even, if possible. We are grateful to those who understand this and are not critical of us for asking our Clients that use this service to help us recoup a portion of the money we spend providing it.
Our average actual expense to provide door-to-door pick up service is $1.37 per round trip mile. In January, February, March, April, September, October, November and December, we charge $1 per round trip mile for door to door pick up charges. In May, June, July and August, we charge $1.35 Monday through Friday and $1.45 on Saturday for door to door pick up service. our average actual expense to provide door to tdoor pick up service is $1.37 per round trip mile. The difference between our actual cost in providing the pick up service is reflected on the Client's receipt as a "discount." See, also, Section 10 (below).
Mr. & Mrs. Xxxxx Xxxxxxxx February 9, 2010
Street address deleted
Pensacola, FL 32514
Dear Mr. & Mrs. Xxxxxxx,
Thank you for your call. I am sorry that you find charging for our door-to-door pick up service, "unreasonable". I have canceled all of your appointments.
We charge actual cost to provide the service. There is no profit for us in door to door pick up. We break even, financially. Because 100% of our income comes from the use of our vehicle, our costs for taking our vehicle and Instructor "out of commission" for income in order to drive it to pick you up makes that service too expensive for us to provide free. However, you can drive to us for much less than we can drive to you because you are driving on your time off from work and not as a part of your livelihood. In addition, you are driving a vehicle that is not “rented out by the minute” as ours is. If you can come to us, our charges to you for your six sessions decrease by $60.75 per driving session. Even though that charge represents no profit to us, it is a significant savings to you.
Taking our vehicle out of service in order to drive to a Client's home to pick them up and deliver them back is costly to us in four ways. It costs a great deal of money to keep a vehicle on the road. Second, the Clients we are not serving when we are traveling to and from a pick-up location is a forfeit of earned income. Third, our Instructor is still paid when driving to and from pick up locations. No one works for free. Fourth, all of our company expenses are paid for by the use of our one and only teaching vehicle; therefore, every mile we drive must produce at least our expenses, otherwise, the expenses of our business do not get paid. It takes, about, an hour to travel to your home and back. It is, about, 45 round trip miles. If I asked you to take an hour off of work tomorrow and use your vehicle to travel 45 miles to do me favor, would you do that for free? If not, how much would you charge me for your hour of lost work income and the 45 miles on your vehicle? I doubt I am asking you for less.
The expense of providing a door-to-door pick up service is the reason why many driving schools simply do not offer the service. I am on the verge of not offering the pick up service because it invests our Instructors time and our vehicle for no profit. However, we realize that some Clients simply cannot come to us, and we see our willingness to come to them as a needed service. If you can come to us, that saves you money and it saves us time invested at no profit. Maybe you can arrange to meet us at some location about half way?
At present about 15% of our Clients pay for door-to-door service and about 85% drive to my office for their lessons. If I offered the door-to-door service for free, as you suggest, then 100% of my Clients would ask me to come to them and that would consume about 40% of my available work time. Let me ask you a straight forward question. Would you donate 40% of your every work day and only break even on your expenditures to provide your efforts to others during that time? Me either. If you did that, would you be able to survive on 60% of your current income? Neither can I.
The “average” crash costs $8,040.00 in property damage alone, not counting the possible loss of job income, hospital bills, lawsuits or funeral expenses. If you begin your driving sessions at your home, you can dramatically increase your changes of avoiding the expense and heartache of vehicle crashes for the cost of door to door service. That seems to be a wise investment to me. If, after additional reflection, if it seems like a wise investment to you, give me a call. Or, avoid the door to door expense and begin you lessons at my Office.
Sincerely,
Joda Collins
About twice a week, I have a phone conversation that goes something like this:
Caller: Will you come to our home for free to began the lesson.
Collins: I am sorry, I won't be able to do that. It is 50 round trip miles to your residence and will take me one hour in driving time. I do charge for my time and vehicle expense. The charge for 50 miles and one hour driving time is fifty dollars.
Caller: Fifty seven dollars is a lot of money just for pick up.
Collins. Yes. Driving a vehicle and paying an hourly salary does cost. You can come to my office and put the 50 miles on your vehicle and invest the hour of driving from your life.
Caller: Fifty miles is a long way and an hour is a lot of time.
Collins: Yes it is. That is why I charge.
Caller: No, thank you.
Collins: Okay. Thank you for calling. Have a great day.
I am always amused and amazed that so many people think it costs them too much money and time come to my office to begin their lesson, but are convinced that my (life) time and my car expense has no value. I used to suggest to these callers that we meet half-way so their pick up costs are only half. In every case, so far, they decline. Like my Pappy used to say, "Avoid the person that wants something for nothing, because what he really wants are benefits at your expense!" He was right.
I refuse to increase the charge for my services to those that drive to me to cover the expense of those that will not or can not.
Section 6: There is no discount if a Client uses his or her own vehicle
because of our increased stress and loss of training time, as clarified in this paragraph. We provide the vehicle for driver's training. Our vehicle has a passenger's side brake which provides additional safety because the Instructor can reduce the speed of the vehicle at any time without reverting to the emergency procedure of turning off the engine or limiting his action to dramatically taking the steering wheel to steer out of danger. However, a Client may wish to use his or her own vehicle for the training. This is acceptable if the Instructor believes there is no significant added danger in teaching a particular student in a vehicle without a second brake. However, there is added stress and added responsibility to the Instructor because he does not have the safety and assurance of a passenger's side brake. Because of this added stress and added responsibility on the Instructor, there are no discounts to the Client for using his or her vehicle for training. When using a Client's vehicle, the Client must produce proof of insurance, all safety equipment (lights, horn, wipers, etc) must work and the vehicle owner must sign a waver signifying that Joda Collins and the Joda Collins' Driving Academy shall not be held liable for any crash or any consequences of a crash or vehicle maneuver. Our insurance only covers us when we are in a vehicle with a second brake. Training student-drivers demands the constant attention of the Instructor. It is stressful. The stress level increases when the Instructor cannot stop the vehicle with a second brake. For the safety of everyone, we limit the Instructor to six hours of Instruction behind the wheel each day. We calculate training time in a vehicle with no second brake as one and one half the "stress" level of teaching in a vehicle with a second brake. Teaching in a vehicle without a second brake is more stressful and more expense for us; therefore, we do not charge less. Those that want to use our vehicle for the State behind the wheel exam, please see Section 9 on this page.
Section 7: With two exceptions, we accept payment for a single (75-minute) lesson the day of the training no later than at the end of the training session and payment for a Course no later than at the end of the first session. We do ask for payment in advance, that is, at the start of the first driving session. With two exceptions, that payment is refundable at the end of the driving session if the Client is unhappy with our service. Or, (with two exceptions) a Client may withhold payment until the lesson is over and not pay if our service does not meet their expectations. One exception is when someone asks for an Evaluation lesson. Evaluation lessons are given for teaching but also to determine how many lessons it might take to reach the driver's personal goals. If a driver decides not to invest in reaching the goal, then we do not provide the Evaluation session for free. Evaluation sessions must be paid for in advance and are non-refundable under any conditions. The second exception is the "Three/Three Course." That Course is mandated by the State, must be paid for in advance and is non-refundable under any conditions; however for that Course, we take payments. See "Three-Three Course" within Section Two above for more details.
We accept cash, check, money order, cashier's check, MasterCard and Visa. We accept debit cards that have the MasterCard or Visa logo. Using Visa or MasterCard does incur significant costs to us and we pass a part of that cost on to the Client that uses the credit or debit card rather than increase the cost to all Clients. We do ask for the full payment prior at the beginning of the lesson; however, refunds are immediate and "on the spot" if Client is not satisfied with our service, excluding used pick up fees. In addition, we schedule 10-minutes of time at no charge to the Client before the first driving session to complete all necessary paperwork. This includes receiving payment. If payment is at the end of the first session, we will end the first session five minutes early in order to complete the transaction because the Instructor is working on a time commitment and, usually, has only the driving time available to get to the next appointment. We will add that five-minutes to a coming training session. All 45-minute sessions must be paid in advance. No 45-minute session may be scheduled unless payment has been received.
Section 8: RETURNED CHECK FEE ($60). "CONVENIENCE" CHARGE FOR Visa/MasterCard debit/credit is (7.5% not to exceed $15 per Visa/MasterCard credit/debit card use):
CONVENIENCE CHARGE FOR USE OF PLASTIC Visa and MasterCard brag to those that sell credit card machines and Visa/MasterCard contracts to businesses "on commission" that "there are more than 200 difference charges that can be applied to a merchant for use of Visa or MasterCard. We believe it! We pay horrendous fees to MasterCard and Visa; up to 10% of our total funds collected in some cases. I am not sure if every business is charged such outrageous fees, but we are. I (Joda Collins) have grown to hate the financial policies of MasterCard and Visa. We charge 7.5% not to exceed $15.00 for each use of Visa/MasterCard debit/credit cards. At that charge, we are still paying a great deal more to MasterCard and Visa for their many "fees" than or Clients that pay with Visa or MasterCard Credit/Debit reimburse us. We will gladly take your Visa or MasterCard credit or debit card, but we ask you to help us with the charges that we incur by reimbursing us for part of our costs to provide this service. The Visa or MasterCard credit/debt card "convenience" fee for $109 is $8.00 and $15 for charges of $200 or more.
RETURNED CHECK: If your check won't clear, don't give it to us, please. We prosecute to the full extent of the law and for court fees and bank fees for all checks written on insufficient funds. Our bank charges $40 for a returned check and we charge $20 for additional bookkeeping costs we incur. We pass those expenses on to those who write us a check on insufficient funds. It is a felony to write a check of $100 or more on insufficient funds. Anytime following 24 after notification of returned check, we begin prosecution procedures those who write us a bad check. We prosecute for the face value of the check, plus $60, plus any litigation costs. If we did not collect for bad checks, we would have to stop offering the service of taking personal checks. If we receive a check written on insufficient funds, any future payments for our services must be by cash, Visa/MasterCard credit card/debit card, money order or cashier's check OR (at the student's request) we will use the behind the wheel driving time to go to the client's bank and cash his or her check. In addition, any graduation certification awarded by our company will be declared null and void until full restitution is made. We also post on this page the names, dollar amount, City and State of those that write us a check on insufficient funds and make do not, within 24 hours of notification, make good their check plus the $60 fee with payment by cash, money order or cashier's check.
The following individuals have written us a check on insufficient funds and have not made any reasonable effort to clear their debt to us.
NONE
Section 9: We do not rent our vehicle for Students/Clients to take the State driver's license test -
unless advance arrangements have been made and the Student-driver qualifies at the level of our Defensive Driving graduate. We realize that some may find it difficult to find a vehicle to use for the driving test; however, we grow weary of those that feel taking lessons from us entitles them to an on-demand personal use of our vehicle. It does not. However, if a person wants to rent our vehicle and has or is willing to learn the driving skill to meet or exceed the driving skills required for graduation from our Defensive Driving Course, we will rent our vehicle for the Florida State Driving Exam. For additional details regarding our Defensive Driving Course, go to our "Course" page on our web site (www.JodaCollins.com) or contact us directly. We require students to meet the standards for graduating the Defensive Driving Course because we have only one vehicle and if that vehicle crashes, we are out of business until it is repaired or replaced. The charge for renting our vehicle for the Florida State Driving Exam is $1.65 per minute round trip from our Office with a $169.00 minimum. You will receive a driving evaluation at the first session and, at least, at every other session. That evaluation will show the average point increase per lesson and, in most cases that point per lesson progress will stay about the same. The progress evaluation uses 151 points as the skill level that passes the Defensive Driving Course. It is your responsibility, as the driver, to keep informed of your progress and compare and contrast your progress in light of the 151 points needed to pass the Defensive Driving Course and qualify to use our vehicle for the State behind the wheel exam. If you are only taking our Course so you will have a vehicle to use to take the test, please do not do that. Otherwise, you will harbor negative feelings against us if you fail to meet the graduation standard. We teach defensive driving skills to people that want to drive crash free for life. We do not teach defensive driving skills to people who simply want to take the Course so they can use our vehicle to test. This second goal does not provide adequate motivation to do the work necessary for most people to pass the Defensive Driving Course. "A word to the wise is sufficient." Be wise.
We will pick you up and take you to the Dept of Licenses for your driving exam. The Instructor waits for you to complete your driving exam and paperwork. During that time we will charge you for 45 minutes. If the actual time is up to 30 minutes more, we will not charge you more. If the actual time is less minutes 45 minutes, will not refund anything. We will return you to your home or other location. From that location we calculate driving time back to our office using MapQuest.com. Or, we can meet you at the Dept of Driver's License at a pre-arranged time and wait for you to take your behind the wheel exam with a minimum rental calculation of 45 minutes at the Driver's License Office and if the time extends an additional 30 minutes there, there is no additional charge. Costs are figured this way: From the time we leave our Office to the time we return to our Office using 45 minutes for time at the Department of Driver's License Office, the cost is $1.65 per minute with a $169.00 minimum. Driving time to the pick up place of the Dept of Licenses is the driving time noted on MapQuest.com. Driving time back to our Office from the Dept of Driver's License or from wherever we drop you off at is, also, calculated on MapQuest.com. Anticipate between 45 minutes and one hour at the Dept of Driver's License for your driving test and paperwork completion. Before you commit to asking us to use our vehicle for your State Driving Test please consider all of the concepts of this section and do the math. We charge for the use of our vehicle, even when it is idle awaiting your use for the driving test because our only source of income occurs when our vehicle is in use. When it is not available to use for training, our costs to run our business continue so we charge in much the same way a taxi charges the customer while waiting at a traffic signal or waiting in the vehicle for the customer to return. Thank you.
SECTION 10: Door-to-door pick up service. This month: $1 per round trip mile (M-F). $1.10 per round trip mile, Saturdays.
We will pick you up at any location within 100 round trip miles of our Office, January through April and September through December for $1.35 per round trip mile on weekdays and $1.45 per round trip mile on Saturdays and $1 per round trip mile weekdays / $1.10 per round trip mile Saturdays during the months of May through August. Some boldly expect that we will provide the pick up service for free and express that our Instructor should not be paid for this time driving to and from pick up locations. When someone asks me that, I ask them if they work for free at their place of employment or donate miles of travel in their own vehicle for company use? So far, none do. Neither do we. Some get offended when I ask that. Our Instructor does not work for free either and he, also, takes offense when someone suggests that he should. "If you value yourself, you will value your time." M. Scott Peck, Author, 1936-2005, http://www.mascot.com/index.html. With the price of fuel, office overhead, vehicle maintenance and the cost (value) of our Instructor's time, we cannot drive to your doorstep for less than our current charges and stay in business for more than six months.
Pick up service is very costly to us. Some driving schools increase the cost to all students (including those that begin and end their driving lessons at the driving school office) to cover the cost of door-to-door pick up provided to others. We do not. We only charge those for the service, that use the service. Thank you for understanding. We do not like the expense and we do not like charging anyone for the service; however, because the expenses are real and unavoidable, the charge is necessary. We prefer that all lessons begin and end at our Office because at $1.35 per round trip mile we are only covering our expenses. At $1 per round trip mile, we are losing money in providing this service.
Section 11: We do not guarantee graduation within the designated time frame of a Course (of six sessions or more) because we cannot predict the future, we do not know the learning speed of the student and we do not know the commitment level of the student. However, we will do our part and then some to best ensure graduation within the designated time frame of any Course.
With the exception of the Three/Three Course (which requires only four hours of training with no performance evaluation criteria required for graduation) we cannot guarantee graduation from any (other) Course of training in the designated time frame because we do not know a student's learning speed or commitment level. (However, see
Graduation from the Beginner's Driving Course occurs when the student:
(1) Scores 130 or more on our General Safety Evaluation.
(2) Drives safely at 30-mph in mild traffic conditions, good weather and in known driving environments.
Graduation from the Defensive Driving Course occurs when the student meets the four criteria:
(1) Applying the 23 defensive driving techniques at, at least, the basic level of skill
(2) Passing the final (over-the-road) driving exam.
(3) Completing no less than 60% of the Joda Collins Defensive Driving workbook at a score of no less than 95% correct, or completing more of the workbook with a lower score.
(4) Completing 7.5 hours of supervised behind the wheel driving training.
Gradation from the Advance Course requires:
(1) Applying the 23 defensive driving techniques at an advanced level of skill.
(2) Passing the final (over-the-road) driving exam.
(3) Completing the assigned homework.
(4) Completing 10 hours of supervised behind the wheel driving training.
We discourage drivers and parents whose only goal is insurance discounts from doing business with us. Feel free to ask why.
If a driver has the time behind the wheel but cannot pass the over the road evaluation of the required driving skills, then graduation is not earned. The time designation of one class/session is 45-minutes or 75-minute. For calculation purposes, we use the 75-minute time frame. The Defensive Driving Course consists of twelve 45-minute or six 75-minute lessons with 18-hours homework assigned. The strengths, dedication level and learning ability of each student is unique; therefore, we cannot guarantee every student will learn or master the material offered in the Course within the prescribed driving sessions nor accomplish all of the homework; however, we do our best to reach these goals. Every previous Student will testify that from the time the Student enters the training vehicle until the time he or she exists the training vehicle there is constant training.
We anticipate a student-driver should complete any or all Courses in the designated time frame:
1. If a student's first language is English
2. Is motivate to learn
3. Completes the 3-hours of homework for each driving session
4. Is from America and accustomed to the driving habits of America
5. Has average or better intelligence (IQ)
6. Has no health, mental, comprehension or emotional difficulties that would interfere with learning to drive.
7. Knows the rules of the road
8. Has a private vehicle to practice his/her emerging driving skills (after safe enough to drive without a professional Instructor and in a vehicle with no second brake)
9. Pays attention to the Instructor, and
10. Is able to follow instructions --
then, there is no anticipated reason why that student would not complete the requirements of each course within the designated time frame. If any of the above factors (1-10) are missing, anticipate the student-driver may not pass any Course in the prescribed time frame or may pass the Course "in general" but have some specific needs that may require additional attention (training) before driving in certain (specific) conditions/environments.
Learning to be a safe driver is harder for some. I use the analogy that I am not a very good athlete. I learn games that require athleticism, slowly. I have to work harder at things like golf, bowling, water skiing and karate than others in order to do as well as others. Still, I carry a 179 bowling average, was a slalom (one-ski) skier that could "take off" from the shoreline when I was younger (I would like to think I could do it now, but I wonder), was scheduled for my brown belt exam when I quit taking karate lessons and once was a golfer with a 13 handicap. I worked much harder than most for those goals because I am not a natural athlete. As a result, I take greater satisfaction in my athletic accomplishments than those that have natural athletic talent enjoy. Likewise, the person that finds learning to be a safe driver difficult, can learn the necessary skills. It will take longer and he or she will have to work harder, but it can be done! And, when you do succeed, there is degree of personal satisfaction that others, who find the task easier, can never have. I am not less of a person because sports is not easy for me. Neither is a person less of a person because safe driving does not come easy. We all excel at something. We all have weaknesses. So what! Work harder in areas that are not easy for you and rejoice to excel more quickly in areas that you find easy.
PASSING THE DEFENSIVE DRIVING COURSE FINAL OVER THE ROAD (BEHIND THE WHEEL DRIVING) EXAM
The final driving exam is provided to drivers that score 151 or higher on the General Safety Evaluation and have, at least 7.5 hours of our professional behind the wheel training with no more than three of those hours secured by transfer as defined herein. To pass the behind the wheel exam the driver must handle the vehicle safely at all times, including but not limited to:
1. Driving the center of the vehicle down the center of the lane.
2. Successfully accomplishing the safe driving techniques (driving skills that keep other drivers safe around us).
3. Successfully accomplishing the 23 defensive driving skills (driving skills that keep us safe around poor drivers that are around/near us).
4. Driving in accord with the rules of the road.
Just as during the State driving exam for a driver's license, a driver can do most things properly, but if the driver does certain things he/she can anticipate an automatic fail. For the Defensive Driving Final Exam, the following errors are automatic fail items.
1. Stopping in the lane for no reason.
2. Running a traffic signal or stop sign.
3. Undue hesitation.
4. The Instructor has to physically intervene (take control of the vehicle or any part of the vehicle such as steering or braking) in any manner in order to avoid a crash or a "close call" or keep the driver within the rules of the road.
5. Drivers drives dangerously slow for conditions or exceeds the posted speed limit by more than 10% for more than a few seconds.
6. Driver does not habitually perform the lane change/turn procedure.
7. Driver is not attentive behind the wheel.
8. Must use proper steering procedure (hand-over-hand) both in and out of most turns until told by the Instructor it is acceptable to let the wheel "slide" out of turns. Hand-over-hand must continue when accomplishing (entering) all turns.
9. Cannot do hyper (or exaggerated) hand-over-hand; not even one. Emphasis is provided on every lesson for those that employ hyper hand-over-hand, homework (both book work and physical exercises) are provided and constantly suggested for overcoming the dangerous and deadly hyper hand-over-hand steering failure. Students that do not take it to heart to brake or who cannot regardless of effort brake this steering habit do not qualify for defensive driving certification. It is impossible to be a good defensive driver and not be able to quickly steer out of driving emergencies.
10. Violate any driving law that, as a result of that violation, does cause a crash because the driving environment is conducive to it or that would cause a crash if the driving conditions were conducive to it. For example, driving on the wrong side of the road may not cause a crash, but would if there was someone in the opposing lane at the same time.
11. Driver fails to respond appropriate to the Instructor's directions to drive safely.
A driver must know the following:
12. When you arrive to a 4-way stop at the same time as another driver who is on your immediate right, then the driver on your right has the right of way.
13. When you arrive to a 4-way stop at the same time as another driver who is on your immediate right, then you are suppose to yield the right of way.
14. When driving on a two-lane road with traffic traveling in both directions and you are behind a vehicle traveling below the speed limit that you want to pass, the procedure is as follows: 1. Travel two seconds behind the vehicle you want to pass. 2. Make a safe and legal lane change to your left. 3. Accelerate out of your lane. 4. Pass the vehicle without exceeding the speed limit. 4. When you see both tires of the vehicle you have passed in your rear view mirror, make a safe and legal lane change to the right.
15. If you are on an uphill incline while stopped at a traffic signal or stop sign and a vehicle pulls close enough behind you that if you remove your foot from the brake that your vehicle would roll back and hit the vehicle behind you, in order to keep your vehicle from rolling backwards, place both feet on the brake, move your right foot to the accelerator, accelerate slightly and then remove your left foot from the brake.
16. By how many feet, minimum, must a driver miss a pedestrian by? Three feet.
17. Is a bicycle considered a vehicle or is the rider considered a pedestrian? Both. The bicycle is considered a vehicle and must obey the rules of the road for vehicles; however, the rider is considered a pedestrian and has all of the rights and protections of a pedestrian.
18. When parking uphill with a curb on your right side, turn your wheels left and away from the curb. When parking uphill without a curb or downhill with or without a curb, turn your wheels right and towards the curb.
19. Are yellow signs with black numbers found on or near freeway and interstate exits speed limit signs? No. They are warning signs that the posted speed may be the best maximum speed to travel. If you are SURE you can travel faster than that posted speed, you are free to do so as long as you do not exceed the speed limit of the freeway or interstate you just left.
20. Are yellow signs with black numbers found on city, country and state roads maximum speed limit signs? Yes.
The driving exam takes between 45 and 70 minutes, occurs on the last scheduled driving session and takes place (as much as possible) on roads the student driver and the Instructor have previously traveled during training. The driver, depending on the driver's recall, may or may not remember a certain road or intersection and the Instructor will not engage in any debate about whether the driving environment is "known" to the driver and therefore, "fair." The Instructor will do his best to keep the driver in driving environments already experienced by the driver; however, passing the defensive driving final test does not have as a requirement that the driver has been on the same road or remembers being on the road. Minimum driving "tips" will be provided by the Instructor in order to best assess how many of the driving skills have been incorporated into the learning of the driver. If the driver fails the test, unlimited retesting is acceptable. Re-tests take between 15 and 30 minutes and the minimum charge is $65.00. We (the Joda Collins Driving Academy) want you to pass and our Instructor has worked hard to best insure you can pass; however, please realize that we or he does not "owe" you a passing score. You must be a defensive driver to earn the graduate status of the Defensive Driving Course. Please know, also, that we are a licensed Florida driving school. We do not "set" the standards for defensive driving any more than the Department of Driver's License Office sets the standard for earning a driver's license. They "enforce" or "require" the Florida standards. Likewise, we are not at liberty to give away the Defensive Driving Graduate status just because we like you, or because you worked hard to pass, or because you paid us for training. We are overseen by the Department of Highway Safety and we are not free to give away graduate status to those that do not meet minimum Florida standards of defensive driving behind the wheel. Relax and drive well. You will not be asked to do anything new but to simply drive with the skills you have learned. About the worst thing that can happen is that you have to learn some things better and retest. No big deal. Retest as often as you desire within the 180 day limitation. Additional charges apply. After the 180 grace period, all credits (including time behind the wheel towards graduation may no longer be considered towards graduation from this Course). A word of caution about retesting. Only perfect practice makes perfect. If a student opts to continue training on their own or under the tutorship of another or others, the standards for passing the Joda Collins behind the wheel test remain unchanged. Be sure you are practicing the safe driving skills and the 23 defensive driving techniques you learned at the Joda Collins Driving Academy because it will be those safe driving skills and those same 23 defensive driving techniques that constitute the "standard" for passing. Do not think that because you practice a lot or meet your personal safety standards or the personal safety standards of others that we are obligated to pass you based on the number of hours you practice or the confidence you or others have in your driving skills. We are not so obligated. Thank you.
Section 12: When a student graduates from the "Defensive Driving Course" and/or the Advanced Defensive Driving Course (receives a Certificate of Graduation) and/or for non-graduates who complete no less than six (paid) 75 minute driving sessions through us (or a total fee paid of $594 or more for driving lessons), he/she receives two complimentary 45-minute refresher lessons within the time frame and terms/conditions noted below, as long as the driver is licensed. Unlicensed driver DO NOT qualify for this benefit.
This is not free training towards meeting graduation criteria for any Course of free training for being able to pass the Florida State Driver's behind the wheel exam. The purpose of these free lessons is to better ensure that the driver continues to include the 12 safe driving skills and the 23 defensive driving techniques in his or her driving habit. So, in line with these specific goals it should not be assumed that we will trade these free lessons for paid lessons during training. For these two 45 minute "refresher lessons" the student must possess a valid driver's license (not just a "permit"), must use his or her vehicle or rent our vehicle, must provide proof of insurance and the owner must sign a waiver of responsibility freeing the instructor and the Academy from any and all liability. Plus, the vehicle must meet a standard safety test (lights, brakes, turn signals, etc).
Students may use the Joda Collins Driving Academy vehicle. The charge for use of our vehicle is $75.00 per session for the remainder of this month and for all of next month, plus $1.45 per round trip mile for pick up fees unless the lesson begins and ends at our Office. These charges may increase without notice depending on our expenses.
We do not send reminders for these free lessons. It is the Student's/Client's responsibility to contact us in a timely fashion. Unless otherwise noted, scheduling and time limitations are as follows:
The first lesson can be scheduled for a licensed driver anytime between 30 days following the graduation of the student from the Defensive Driving Course or the last lesson for those that do not graduate but take no less than six paid 75-minute driving sessions, and five months from the completion of those 30 days. (Unlicensed drivers do not qualify for these free sessions.) The second session can take place for a licensed driver no more than 30 days following the first refresher session but no later than one year from the date of graduation or the completion of the last driving session for those that do not graduate any Course but paid for no less than six 75-minute driving sessions and have secured a driver's license. (Unlicensed drivers do not qualify for these free lessons.) In other words, for licensed drivers the first session can take place between 30 days and six months from graduation or training completion and the second session anytime after 30 additional days and one year from graduation of completion date. If this is unclear, let us know and we will provide you exact calendar dates Students that allow time to pass beyond these "expiration dates", forfeit this benefit regardless of the reason or reasons. We give a two free sessions and allow a window of opportunity for 150 days for each lesson. That seems more than sufficient, we think.
Once the session is scheduled, clients that miss their scheduled lesson and do not notify us by phone (850 981-3355) or email (JodaCollins@aol.com) by 9pm the previous evening forfeit the lesson even if the student has an excellent reason for missing the session. Sadly, we have found that when something is given for nothing, some people treat it casually. Our gift of two free sessions is not free to us. It costs us money. We are delighted to provide them to people that seek to ensure they continue to be excellent drivers; however, we do not reschedule any free lesson only to schedule another free lesson. Few business can survive by giving their service away for free. Doubling the scheduling of free sessions is financial suicide. When a Client misses a refresher lesson, there is no rescheduling of that lesson. Rescheduling a free lesson is simply not cost effective as one free hour rescheduled turns into one forfeited lesson session and one free lesson plus two 20 minutes administrative expenses to schedule and reserve the each sessions. My (Joda Collins) reschedule rate of students due to me rescheduling is less than 1%, so there is almost no chance that I will cause or create a rescheduling; however, if I do need to reschedule, I will give you (the Client) as much advance notice as possible, along with my sincere apologies and a rescheduled date that is convenient for you.
"Refresher" driving lessons must begin and end at our Office; otherwise, because we are making no profit for free refresher lessons, FULL (current) charges for door-to-door pick up apply. We cannot afford to pay for any of the actual door-to-door pick up costs when we are giving away our services. CURRENT (today's) pick up fee for refresher lessons (Monday through Saturday) is $1.45 per round trip mile. Tomorrow's pick up fee is subject to change without notice depending on the price and availability of fuel. The current pick up fee of $1.45 per round trip mile is based on the following current situation: Fuel is currently (as of March 2009) $2.25 per gallon, plentiful and easily available and the economy is currently volatile, but "somewhat" stable. If fuel becomes more expensive or in short supply and if our economy falters significantly our expense in providing this service may increase and the pick up fee charge may change without notice. Of course, our business costs, vehicle costs and salary for the Instructor is figured in to that $1.45 per round trip mile, also.
Of course, there are no pick up fees for lessons that begin and end at our Office.
Section 13: Our Guarantee
We guarantee your satisfaction or your money back in accord with our refund policy as outlined in Section #15, below. We are not affiliated with any business bureau because the primary purpose of a business bureau is to negotiate settlements between client/customer and merchant. Our liberal refund policy makes such negotiations unnecessary. With the exception of the Three/Three Course and Evaluation lessons, if you feel you have not gotten your monies worth, don't pay us. Simple. With the exception of the Three/Three Course and Evaluation sessions, if you pay in advance and are unhappy with our service, we will refund any unused fees, plus some; generous, we think. Those who earn and accept a Certificate of Completion or Graduation Certificate from us are not entitled to any refund. Again, see Section 15 for all details.
We guarantee graduates of the Defensive Driving Course and/or the Advance Course will pass the Florida State Driving behind the wheel test or we will provide up to one hour of additional training to help the student-driver with the areas he/she failed in that test. We offer this service as many times as needed as long as there is no more than six months between graduation from the Defensive Driving Course and the date of taking the State Driving Exam and no more than six months between each subsequent attempt at taking and passing the State Driving Exam. However, the free training must be in the Clients vehicle, unless otherwise agreed and the lesson must start and end at the Joda Collins Driving Academy, unless otherwise agreed; otherwise full pick up fees apply ($1.45 per round trip mile) plus $75 for the use of the Joda Collins Driving Academy vehicle for up to 45 minutes use.
Section 14: With one exception, our standard charges (as outlined herein) will not increase to any client during the contractual period even though our cost of doing business may increase in this volatile economic environment.
A "contractual period" begins the date of this contact and extends 30 (thirty) days past the most recent driving lesson provided to our Client or the Client's last scheduled driving session, whichever is later. By "standard charges" we mean the charges noted in Section 2 above. Because we work on only an 11% profit margin, typically, we provide no charges below what are outlined in Section 2 above. In the odd event that a Client is provided a discount, we do not guarantee further discounts for additional training. There is one exception. If fuel exceeds $3.50 per gallon (fuel is at the time of this notice, $2.25 per gallon, March 2009) or becomes in short supply, all guarantee of charges are null and void, immediately and, under such circumstances, charges may change without notice. If charges change without notice and a Client does not wish to continue training, Client may request and will be granted, upon request and once all checks clear the bank, a full refund of all unused fees.
Section 15: With the exception of the Three/Three Course and Evaluation Lessons, we Guarantee your satisfaction or, upon request if on the same day as training, we refund the fees paid for the most recent driving lesson completed ($109 for a single lesson or $99 for each lesson of a six-session Course) and all unused fees (including lessons paid for in advance and any unused pick up fees).
Used pick up fees, reimbursed toll charges and credit card "convenience" fees are not refundable.
Of course, the refund terminates the working relationship of our driving academy with the Client requesting said refund. We ask the Client to give us every opportunity to satisfy his or her expectations before asking for a refund. Refund shall be within 24 hours if client paid by cash, money order, credit or debit card or, if paying by check, within 72 hours of the check clearing our bank unless I have a check in hand that is for lessons only and in that case, I simply return the check. Those who pay for a Course in advance, but end their training early will be reimbursed for all unused classes using the following formula: One hundred nine dollars times all lessons provided minus the ($624 or $594) total. Thus, the Client pays the normal price for individual lessons paid in advance ($109 for weekday sessions or $114 for Saturday sessions) rather than the Course discount price ($99 weekdays, $104 Saturdays) for six lessons. This is reasonable given the fact that the Client did not take six lessons and should not expect the discount that accompanies paying for six lessons in advance (that is, no later than the end of the first driving session). Refund must be requested the same day the training is provided (that is, before midnight) or within four hours of training, whichever is the longer period of time. Pick up fees and toll charges are not refundable. Those who earn and accept a Certificate of Completion or Graduation Certificate from us are not entitled to any refund.
We do not give refunds when a person graduates a Course and accepts the graduation certificate or when a person is under a court-ordered or a State, city or county requested program. We do not give refunds if a student fails the State driving exam; however, if a student is a graduate of either of our Courses and fails the State Driving Exam we will provide one additional lesson of up to 75-minute in length to help the student in areas of driving difficulties. Said lesson must begin and end at our Office or the same pick up fees we charged the Client during his or her training for door-to-door pick up apply. Used pick up fees, reimbursed toll charges and credit card convenience fees are not refundable in whole or in part.
“…If a Student scores 130 or more on the Joda Collins “General Score”, has taken at least three 75-minute lessons and has been told by the Instructor that he/she should pass the State behind the wheel exam, then we do guarantee the student will pass the State Driving “behind the wheel” test. If said Student fails the State Driving (behind the wheel) exam we offer a free driving session of up to one hour to help the Student with the driving skills the Student failed. The lesson must begin and end at our Office or standard pick up fees apply ($1.45 per round trip mile) plus any bridge tolls.”
Section 16: The Client and/or the Joda Collins' Driving Academy may terminate the working agreement for any reason and at any time and without penalty.
We (the Joda Collins' Driving Academy) may terminate service if we feel the student poses an ongoing undue danger to others on the road, consistently fails to advance in learning, consistently fails to follow directions while behind the wheel, or fails to show up for more than one scheduled appointment without reimbursing the Academy in accord with the provisions of Section 18 and 19 of this document.
Section 17: If your goal is to "just pass the State driving test", it is your responsibility to inform us of that in advance. If your goal is to "just get insurance discounts" please reconsider your goal because that low goal is almost always insufficient motivation for the student-driver to invest the effort necessary to pass any of our Courses.
We are a defensive driving school. That means we teach the 23 defensive driving skills. It takes time to teach these skills. Knowing defensive driving skills best insures a lifetime of ticket free and crash free driving. For those that want only to learn how to use the steering wheel, accelerator and brake just well enough to, most probably, pass the State driving test,said students are asked to let us know that in advance. That will reduce the training time by about 40%. The Florida State driving exam is performed on private property, in a small area, at speeds that seldom (if ever) exceed 25mph and with no other traffic around.
Teaching to pass the Florida State Driving Exam is NOT accomplished in the same manner as teaching the Defensive Driving Course. There is a world of difference. To train to pass this test we duplicate this environment and seldom, if ever, take the student-driver to the open road unless doing so to help the student-driver learn steering control. Therefore, it may be reasonable to assume that the student that can pass the State driving exam will not be a safe driver in any typical driving environment. Student may be "safe" only in driving conditions that reflect their training, that is at speeds of 30 mph or less and only in driving environments with no other vehicles or, at best, in mild (calm) driving environments and among good to excellent drivers. This 40% savings in time and money does not seem worth it to us. The average property/vehicle crash costs $8,000 and the average vehicle crash with bodily injury costs in excess of 1.2 million dollars. Comparing this to the (approximate) $300 it takes to complete the Defensive Driving Course makes not doing so, in our minds, a questionable decision; however, each of us makes our own decisions in life and each receives the consequences (positive or negative) of those decisions. We show respect to all decisions.
When a Student enrolls in the Defensive Driving Course, the Student is shown the requirements of the State Driving Exam on the first lesson (usually) and given opportunity to only briefly practice those requirements. Once the Instructor is sure the Student will be safe on the road driving with his assistance, then the training to pass the State driving exam stops and the Student-driver is placed on the open road to learn defensive driving skills. While learning defensive driving skills, the Instructor multi-tasks to insure the Student, also, learns the vehicle manipulation skills that are required to pass the Florida State behind the wheel exam. At or near the last lesson, the Student is taken back to a parking lot and, with the skills gained while learning defensive driving techniques, typically accomplishes the requirements of the State behind the wheel test with considerable ease.
So, the difference is that those that enroll to pass the State test only, learn how to handle the vehicle in two or three lessons well enough to pass the State test while learning very little about the rules of the road, standard safe driving skills or defensive driving techniques while those that enroll in the Defensive Driving Course, learn to handle the handle the vehicle well enough to pass the State driving exam while learning the rules of the road, safe driving skills and defensive driving techniques. Both students passed the State driving exam. One is, we think, on his or her way to a lifetime of crash and citation free driving, while the other is, we fear, on their way to a earn several citations and more than one crash. You can see, therefore, why we encourage the additional 50% investment of time, effort and money in order to train someone to be a defensive driver.
We assume those that come to us seek to be safe drivers and learn the defensive driving skills. If your goal is to "just pass the State driving test", tell us in advance and we will honor that request without criticism or further comment beyond this: Students that are not trained defensive drivers that drive well enough to secure their license, we think, should continue to drive with a licensed and trained driver until safe/defensive driving skills are part of the new driver's habit behind the wheel. After learning to control the vehicle enough not to need the intervention of the Instructor to avoid crashing in a calm driving environment, many students can learn enough to pass the State driving test in two to three lessons. Under normal circumstances, a student can learn the 23 defensive driving skills in six lessons. (That is our "Defensive Driving Course").
If you goal is to just get insurance discounts, please know that our standards require learning safe and defensive driving skills in order to graduate the Defensive Driving Course. Somehow, we have developed in to a society where many people think that because they pay the fee and drive the hours behind the wheel that we owe them graduate standing from our defensive driving course. This is unlike some learning institutions wherein a person can "put in their time and be passed along." To graduate from the Defensive Driving Course a person must actually show evidence of learning defensive driving skills. As one mother told me, "I think my son is a pretty safe driver. Can't you just pass him?!" Sorry. No.
Section 18: Please, please do not reschedule for slight reasons; however, if you must reschedule do so by 9pm the previous night to avoid charges.
Cancellations within 24 hours of the schedule lesson cost us a tremendous amount of money and threaten the success of our business. Since most Clients schedule their driving lesson a week or so in advance, the chance of filling a canceled time slot that has not been canceled days in advance, is almost zero. Our income for that canceled session is sacrificed and our chances of filling the time slot with another student is, basically, zero. If a person misses an appointment for any "personal" reason, even an excellent reason and does not cancel, at least, by 9pm the previous night we charge for that missed driving lesson. What constitutes a valid rescheduling? Call 850 981-3355 or email JodaCollins@aol.com and let us know of your need to reschedule. An email to JodaCollins@aol.com or phone call to 850 981-3355 (a message on the answering machine is sufficient) at least by 9pm the previous night constitutes a valid rescheduling request and the Client will not be asked to pay for the missed session.
At this point, there is always the individual that feels their reason for canceling late is valid. We realize that things come up at the last minute that force changes to important plans; however, it is our experience that there are many people in the world that simply do not do what they say they are going to do because they "don't feel like it when it comes time to do it", because "something came up that they would rather do", or because they "forgot." We are not saying that you are that kind of person. We do not not know if you are that kind of person or not. We do not yet know you personally. We are saying that unless we have a strict cancellation policy then those kind of people will put us out of business.
We cannot afford a lax cancellation policy with anyone because if we have a lax cancellation policy with anyone, then fairness mandates that we have a lax cancellation policy with everyone, and then we are out of business. A lax cancellation policy threatens the success of this business because we count on people keeping their appointments. So far, we have not increased our costs to everyone to offset the costs of those that cancel late or miss appointments. Missed appointments are few, thanks to good Clients and to our strict cancellation policy.
We do not cancel driving sessions for "bad weather", except for hurricane force winds. We do charge extra to train in bad weather if a person wants to wait for bad weather in order to learn to drive in it. Those that do not learn to drive in bad weather are consigned to a life of being "grounded" when it rains, storms, etc. Those that do not learn to drive in bad weather pose a danger to themselves and to others if bad weather strikes unexpectedly while the unskilled driver is behind the wheel. Learn the safe driving skills that accompany good drivers in adverse weather rather than live a lifetime fearful of and in subjection to water and wind. That said, if you are coming to my office to begin your driving session and you do not have the skills to drive in bad weather, or whoever is bringing you to the office does not have the skills to drive in bad weather, do not take the chance of crashing. Feel free to reschedule. You will not be charged for missing the appointment. That said, please do not take advantage of this kindness by simply using bad weather as an excuse not to keep your scheduled appointment. We count on our Clients to keep their appointments when they can. If you can, please do. If you drive through rain or storm to keep your scheduled appointment, we thank you, most sincerely.
Driving in the rain and wind is part of learning to drive. In fact, our "Adverse Weather" Course can only occur when there is bad weather. If bad weather occurs during your regularly scheduled driving lesson, there is no extra charge. That Course costs extra. So, if there is bad weather the Client that has not enrolled in the "Adverse Weather" Course will get additional defensive driving training for no additional cost. New students can take confidence in the fact that because of the skill of the driving Instructor, there is no significant added danger in driving in adverse weather conditions.
The weather patterns here is so varied that it may be storming in one zip code and sunshine and blue skies in another; it may be storming for 10 minutes and then clear up to be the prettiest day of the year. Don't let the current weather cause you to cancel or reschedule, please. If we canceled our appointments every time the weather report said "possible rain", every time the road was wet, every time it rained, the wind blew boldly, or there was lightning, we might as well close the business down.
Section 19: No-show Policy. Late policy (loss of time).
If a student fails to show up for a scheduled lesson and does not call to cancel or reschedule before 9pm the previous night, the Joda Collins Driving Academy reserves the right to pronounce that the Client's time is forfeited and not refund any money. If we provide a door-to-door service and the Student-driver is not there, does not take the lesson, or does not pay for the lesson, as a minimum, the full door-to-door service fee of $1.45 is mandatory. We depend on our Clients keeping their appointments for our financial success.
Student that are late to an driving session forfeit the amount of time they are late without financial remuneration. If the Instructor is 15 minutes or less late, every effort will be made to extend that session 15 minutes and if that is not possible an additional 15 minutes will be added to any further lesson or lessons.
Section 20: Liability Waiver
Training includes preparing the Student for the State mandated "quick stop" and "quick start". These are not a gentle movements. In addition, students often drive erratically. The Instructor's corrective attempts to avoid crashes or danger are sometimes abrupt. Riding in a driver's training vehicle can be tumultuous. Sometimes, it can be as rough as being on a roller coaster. The signatures, below, release Joda Collins and the Joda Collins Driving Academy from all physical and emotional damage to all vehicle occupants that is unrelated to a vehicle crash regardless of who does or does not apply the brake or brakes, who does or does not steer and/or any other circumstance or combination of circumstacnes regardless of who is or is not behind the wheel.
There is an element of “assumed risk” that accompanies riding in a vehicle driven by inexperience drivers. While my insurance does cover all occupants in the event of any crash, regardless of the circumstances, my insurance does not cover any physical damage to the body of emotional damage to the psyche of any individual that might be whipped or bumped around in the vehicle due to sudden turns or movements because of training, because of the quick movement of inexperienced drivers because of any errors the student driver might make, because of any errors the Instructor might make or because of any other circumstance or combination of circumstances. If you cannot ride in a roller coaster with confidence and with an expectation of joyous probability of the unprepared for jolt, bump, hit or sudden movement, do not ride in a driver’s training vehicle. The driving patterns of inexperienced drivers can be abrupt beyond expectations and teaching has its own unusual and unexpected events. It is estimated that the good driver makes two mistakes per mile that, given the right circumstances, could contribute to a car crash. New drivers make more mistakes than experieinced drivers. The Instructor will not do everything perfectly, either. No one is perfect.
If your vehicle is used for any part of the training, your insurance must cover us during that training. We do not have insurance for any vehicle except our own.
Section 21: Homework
There is no homework for those taking less than the Defensive Driving Course (7.5 hours behind the wheel). Those that are taking the Defensive Driving Course do not have to complete the homework unless they want to "graduate" from the Defensive Driving Course; that is, is it acceptable to take 7.5 hours behind the wheel and learn as much as one can learn from behind the wheel training without doing homework. However, to "graduate" from the Defensive Driving Course, one of the requirements is the completion of no less than 60% of the workbook with a score of no less than 95% correct answers. Doing the homework provides the student the following benefits:
1. It is part of the requirement for graduation from the Defensive Driving Course.
2. The student will be better prepared to learn since some of the homework is jargon related to defensive driving skills. If the student knows the jargon and the particular benefit of the defensive driving technique (of which there are 23), that increases the time the student drives to practice the defensive driving skill by reducing the time I have to have the student-driver stop the vehicle so I can explain the jargon and defensive driving skill to the student.
3. Because the student has spent more time driving and practicing, the student will be a better driver.
4. Because the student has spent more time driving, the student will have a better chance of passing the final behind the wheel exam on the last day of driving.
Those that are taking less than the Defensive Driving Course but do the homework will benefit in the same way as noted in #2 and #3 above.
No student that has completed the homework (in a timely manner) has ever failed the Joda Collins Defensive Driving Course or failed their first attempt for their State driver’s license. To some degree, that success is because the behind the wheel teaching is more effective if the student does the homework of this text during the same time period as they are taking the behind the wheel training.
When a student passes the final over the road test required at Lesson Six (the last lesson), that student has up to 180-days following the completion of Lesson Six to complete and submit the homework assignment for consideration in receiving credit for graduation from the State Approved Joda Collins Defensive Driving Course. Submission of the homework up to 180-days following the last lesson does not keep the student from graduating the Defensive Driving Course; however, without the completion of, submission of and a 60% grade or better for the homework, graduation from the Defensive Driving Course is not earned and not granted. Those that provide little or no written work for grading who claim they have spent no less than 18-hours in the effort cannot be taken seriously.
Section 22: Can I (the Client) get a discount from my Insurance Company if my child (age 25 or below)
graduates the Joda Collins Defensive Driving Course?
Probably. Most insurance companies require a minimum of six hours behind wheel training from a State licensed driving school. Our Defensive Driving Course consists of nine hour behind the wheel. However, every insurance company has the right to determine their own standards. Call your insurance company and let them know the Joda Collins Driving Academy is a Florida State licensed driving academy, requires 7.5 hours of supervised behind the wheel training and 18 hours of homework to graduate from the Defensive Driving Course. Refer them to this web page for their investigation or have them call us if they need more information. If your Insurance provider requires something more or different than what we offer, we will do all we can to build a personalized training plan for you; however, we need to know in advance what they require and securing that information is your responsibility. We are a defensive driving school and, unless otherwise directed by your Insurance Company, do not recommend for Insurance discounts any one that does not pass our Defensive Driving Course. If your Insurance provider requires less and you are willing to settle fore less, then let us know. We are willing to provide less.
Section 23: Financial Agreement for Teaching Schedule
Clarification of Training Schedule and/or Course:
Clarification of Training Goals:
Clarification of Training Detailed Costs:
Circle or highlight the charge for training: $65 $109 $114 $594 $624 $780 $989 $1,039
Fill in the blanks regarding pick up charges:
_________ miles @ $1.35 per mile (Mon through Friday) = $____________
_________ miles @ $1.45 per mile (Saturday) = $____________
Charge for use of Visa/MasterCard Debt/Credit (7.5% not to exceed $15 per charge) is $___________
Section 24: Payment Selection
I (the Client) intend to pay the above noted amount using (circle or underline one, or
delete all but one):
Cash
Check
Money Order
Cashier's Check
Visa or MasterCard Credit Card
Visa or MasterCard Debit Card
Section 25: Financial Agreement for Credit/Debit Card Use
Charge/Debit Card Convenience is 7.5% not to exceed $15 per credit card or debit card use.
That is $4.50 for a single $60 charge, $8 for a single $109 charge and $15 for single charges of $200 or over.
Section 26: Financial Agreement for Door-to-Door Pick Up Service.
The cost for Door-to-door pick up service is $1.35 per round trip mile on weekdays and $1.45 per round trip mile on Saturdays. Our Office is located at 4033 Buttonbush Dr., Milton, FL 32583.
Section 27: What to know before the first driving session.
It is not mandatory, but it is tremendously beneficial for a student-driver to know the answers to these True/False questions before starting behind the wheel training.
Slow before a turn. Do not brake in a turn.
The maximum turning radius for the Joda Collins Driving Academy vehicle is 1.5 turns in either direction, therefore, do not attempt to turn the steering wheel more than 1.5 revolutions in either direction as doing so can, over time, damage the steering.
Drivers should be aware of driving conditions for two-minutes ahead of them.
Do not brake over rough roads (such as railroad tracks). Always slow to the appropriate speed before the rough road (such as railroad tracks) and coast over the rough part of the road.
When backing it is Florida law that, unless you have a medical reason for not doing so, you must turn your head and look out the rear window.
A "quick start" (starting with a great amont of acceleration) is, sometimes, a very good crash avoidance technique.
When turning, the vehicle will travel in the direction the front tires are pointing no in the direction the hood is pointed.
The ability to stop a vehicle quickly but in a controlled manner is an important ability.
Please do not slam the doors of the Joda Collins training vehicle with the same force and aggressiveness one would slam shut heavier doors on large vehicles. Close them gently, please.
Before applying the foot brake, always check for those following too closely.
It is unnecessary and unimportant to know the traffic conditions behind and beside you at all times. False
At the end of your turn, is incorrect to wait until your hood is pointed in the direction you want to go before you being to turn your steering wheel in the opposite direction you want to travel.
On right hand turns it is unacceptable to drive off the right side of the road or aim your vehicle to the right side of the road at the end of the turn.
On two lane roads with traffic flowing in both directions, it is unacceptable to enter the opposing lane of travel at the end of the left turn or aim your vehicle at oncoming traffic.
It is Illegal to use a vehicle to frighten pedestrians and other drivers
Never turn on your turns signal if there is a vehicle beside you or near you in the lane you seek to enter. Do not use your turn signal to warn vehicles beside you to get out of your way.
The most important formula for lane changes and turns is “Ahead, Behind, Mirror, Shoulder, Signal”.
Please memorize the following five words in order, "Ahead, Behind, Mirror, Shoulder, Signal". There is no time set aside in training for memory work. Memory work is part of the homework assignment. It does not make sense to use training time to memorize something you can memorize for free at home. Not only does it cost money if you use training time to memorize, but it puts you behind in training and makes it more difficult to complete the required training material in the time allotted in the Course.
During training, a student-driver’s hands, including thumbs must always be on the outside of the steering wheel. True
When driving straight ahead, the right hand should be at the 2 o'clock position and the left hand at the 10 o'clock position True
Before making a turn, look through the turn to ensure you chosen path of travel is clear.
Drive the center of your vehicle down the center of the road.
When using a turn signal, signal about 100 feet or five seconds (whichever is longer) before the lane change or turn UNLESS doing so would cause confusion (danger) in the driving environment. For example, if you were turning right and there was an entrance/exit into a McDonalds 70 feet from the corner you were turning at and a vehicle was turning right from that exit, you would delay your right signal until you were 69 feet from the corner. Otherwise, the driver coming out from McDonalds would think you were turning right into McDonalds because you began your turn signal 30 feet in front of that entrance. That driver may pull in front of you.
The Joda Collins training vehicle has cloth seats. Please wear cleaning clothing and wear nothing that would snag or catch (rip) the cloth. Thank you
Wear tight fitting shoes for your driving session such as tennis shoes. No flip flops, sandals or Croc type shoes.
Always engage the parking brake before putting the vehicle transmission in park and always put the vehicle transmission in drive before disengaging the parking brake. Section 28: Policy Agreement I have read and agree to the above provisions and responsibilities found in this document. Signature or Name of Client__________________________________ Date___________ Signature of Student-driver___________________________________Date___________ Student's driver's license or permit number: Issuing State (of Student's driver's license or permit): Expiration date of license or permit: Date of birth of Student driver:
The first vehicle to a 4-way stop is the first vehicle to go. If you get to a 4-way stop at the same time as a vehicle to your right, the vehicle to the right has the right of way. If more than one vehicle arrives at a 4-way stop at the same time, the vehicle to the furthest right has the right of way. Look at the other lanes of a 4-way stop before you stop so you will know what to do immediately after you stop. Do not drive to the 4-way stop, stop, then look around. Do not delay at a 4-way stop. Know also, that just because you have the right of way, you are required by law to, immediately, yield your right of way to any vehicle that does not properly follow the right of way rules.
Everytime you want to turn your steering wheel to the right or left to any degree that your vehicle will not stay in your lane of travel, you are required by law to insure it is safe to travel in the direction you are turning BEFORE you turn your steering wheel.
You are required by law to ensure there is no vehicle, pedestrian or bicycle at your side when making a turn at an intersection, even if you are staying in the same lane. It is wise to check for a vehicle, pedestrian or bicycle even when traveling through a significant curve. Kids on bicycles, ATVs and skateboards in residential sections can travel as fast as you do in that same residential area and kids do not pay a lot of attention to vehicles. Vehicle drivers are wise to pay a lot of attention to kids on bikes. Even when you are quite sure there will be no vehicle or pedestrian beside you when you make a lane change, turn a corner or turn a significant curve it is still good to check your outside rear view mirror and look over your shoulder (in the direction you are moving) just to keep the habit of checking. We are creatures of habit. Build this good habit so you will not have to remind yourself to do it each time it is most important to do so. After you learn to do this as a habit, it takes only a split second to do it. It is a great habit to have.
When looking over your shoulder to check for vehicle or pedestrian traffic it is mandatory that you look directly at your target area because of the human eye blind spot. Do not trust your side vision. If you do not know what the human eye blind spot is, please study it in your Joda Collins Defensive Driving work/study book. It is on page 141 or 174 of your book. If not on one of those pages, check the Index under "Human-eye Blind Spot".
You need not sign this form electronically. A paper copy will be supplied for signatures at our first
meeting.
This signature is required unless the Client is the Student-driver. Florida law requires the
signature of minors as an encouragement for them to read and understand all requirements
made of them in this learning experience. Minors are not held responsible for any thing
that State or Federal law exempts minors from said responsibility.You need not sign this
form electronically. A paper copy will be supplied for signatures at our first meeting.
Signature or Name of Joda Collins Driving Academy Rep__________________________Date________
Typed in name and returned email constitutes a legal signature sufficient for beginning the process. A paper copy will
be signed by all at first meeting. To save paper and ink the final copy is in 8 point print. Feel free to print out a copy for
signing (for your records) with larger print size, if you desire.
Section 29: Adjustments
It is less important to the Joda Collins Driving Academy that every detail of this Working Agreement remain unchanged and more important that we have a "meeting of the minds" about mutual expectations for it is from a "meeting of the minds" that a good working relationship is created. Therefore, if you, as the Client, see anything in this Working Agreement that you would like to change, just let us know. We will do all within our power to meet any reasonable request. Thank you.
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Section 30: Contact Information
JodaCollins@aol.com
4033 Buttonbush Dr.
Milton, FL 32583
Phone: 850 981-3355
Web Site: JodaCollins.com
Email: JodaCollins@aol.com
