Understandably, the four questions we are most
often asked are:
1.  What do you teach?
2.  How long does it take?
3.  How much do you charge?
4.  Do you guarantee graduation in a specific time frame?

We teach behind-the-wheel training in our vehicle or the Client's vehicle. 
We teach:
1. Twenty-three defensive driving techniques that permit a person to drive crash free for a long lifetime and avoid the crashes that unskilled drivers cannot miss. 
2. Those that want to pass the State Driver's behind-the-wheel exam.  
3. Those that need remedial driver's training in order to avoid recurring crashes. 
4. Those ordered by the court to enroll in behind-the-wheel driver's training.
5. By the "Course" or by the lesson.
6. Adverse weather driving skills.
7. Night driving skills.

2. How long it takes depends on your goals, experience, dedication level, commitment to homework (3 hours between each behind the wheel class), IQ, and more.  It takes a long as it takes for you to reach your goals.  Tell me your goals and take one driving session and I will tell you approximately how long it will take you to reach your goals.  For example, let's imagine a parent called a college admissions office and asked, "How long will it take my son to graduate the calculus class?"  Would the person that answered the phone say, "Six weeks", "Twelve weeks", Ten hours"?  Of course not. The college representative would ask questions like, "Has your son graduated advance algebra?", "Does your son have training in trigonometry", "Has your son ever taken any calculus training before?", and/or "Is your son mathematically inclined?"  "How long will it take my son to graduate your driver's training class" is a question that I cannot answer because I don't know your son or his abilities. I do no know his current driving ability. 

3. The charge varies with the service you request. For specific charges for each Course, class or lesson, please see "Agreement" page, Section Two.

4.  The first session is training and evaluation:  At the first driving session both training and evaluation are provided.  At the end of the first training session I will let the driver and the financially responsible individual (if different from the driver) know which Course the driver should be enrolled in.  There are three basic Courses.

The "Rules of the Road" Course is for the driver that does not know the basic rules of the road and, therefore, poses an undue danger to him/herself and others on the road because of that lack of knowledge.  PREREQUISITE:  Must have a driver's permit or license.  LENGTH:  Most students that are from America, accustomed to the driving habits of America, have at least an average IQ, will accomplish the three hours of self-study between each lesson, has English as his/her first language, can follow directions, has no physical or learning disabilities and is motivated to learn will complete this Course in two to three behind the wheel driving sessions (assuming the student accomplishes the three hours of homework between each session) or 12 hours of self study with no behind the wheel training.  Those that opt for self-study only ,can enroll in and complete the self-study Course free of charge. 

The second Course is the "Beginners Course" which is for new drivers. The goal of this Course is for the driver to pose no threat to others in mild driving environments at speeds of up to 30 mph and learn six defensive driving skills.  Drivers learn basic control of the brake, steering and accelerator and six defensive driving skills.  Those that pass this Course will be ready to take their Florida State Driver's behind the wheel exam.  PREREQUISITE:  Must know the fundamental rules of the road and have a driver's permit or license.  LENGTH:  Most students that are from America, accustomed to the driving conditions of America, have at least an average IQ, will accomplish the three hours of self-study between each lesson, has English as his/her first language, can follow directions, has no physical or learning disabilities and is motivated to learn will complete this Course in three to six 75-minute sessions.

The third Course is the "Defensive Driving Course."  The Defensive Driving Course teaches 23 defensive driving skills that allow our student to drive safely among poor drivers and in adverse weather.  PREREQUISITE:  Must be able to drive at 30 mph without posing a threat to others in the driving environment. and have a driver's permit or license. LENGTH:  Most students that are from America, accustomed to the driving habits of America, have at least an average IQ, will accomplish the three hours of self-study between each lesson, can drive safely at 30 mph in mild traffic conditions, BEFORE starting this Course, is motivated to learn, has English as his/her first language, can follow directions and has no physical or learning disabilities will complete this Course in three to six 75 minute driving sessions.

The fourth Course is the "Advanced Driver's Course."  In this Course we teach advanced driving skills and advanced defensive driving techniques.  In addition, we better solidify the 12 safe driving skills and the 23 defensive driving techniques in to the driving habit of the student-driver.  PREREQUISITE:  Must be a graduate of the Defensive Driving Course.  LENGTH:  Most students that are from America, accustomed to the driving habits of America, have a least an average IQ, will accomplish the three hours of self-study between each lesson, is motivated to learn, has English as his/her first language, can follow directions and has no physical or learning disabilities will complete this Course in three 75 minute driving sessions.

We begin a student's training at whatever level (Rules of the Road Course, Safety Course or Defensive Driving Course) the student qualifies for during the first driving session.

5. Do we guarantee graduation in a specific time frame?
No. Successfully predicting the future is an impossibility.  However, we do our best. Although we offer specific courses with specific and stated goals and time frames, we cannot offer unlimited training for free while a student-driver strives to reach Course criteria any more than college classroom time can be extended without end and without additional charge for those that fail to meet the minimum standard for passing the class in the designated time frame.   The time criteria as noted in each "Course" is sufficient for more than 80% of students. About 10% of students require 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 10% of students require additional training to meet the passing standard.   

We Offer Six "Behind the Wheel Courses".

A clarification of these Course has been moved to Section D of the "Agreement" page of this website. 

The Joda Collins Driving Academy approach to the senior citizen and driving. 
Eventually, Father-time wins the battle over every one of us.  Eventually, the mind and body can no longer keep up with the demands of driving in today's fast-paced world.  At that time, is it is wise to stop driving and let others take us where we want to go.  When that time is, is up to you, not me.  I am not empowered by the State or God to tell anyone when they will turn in their driver's license.  Sometimes, younger relatives or friends send older relatives or friends to me under the guise of helping the elder learn to drive better, when all they really want me to do is tell the senior to "stop driving".  Some become very angry when I don't do that within the first five minutes of the senior's driving "lesson".  

I spend a good deal of most days with drivers that have (in my opinion) a 100% chance of crashing on any given day unless they are in the vehicle with someone that can take the controls at a split seconds notice.

Sometimes, I am teaching people from other countries that end up driving on the wrong side of the road.  Others, get confused or frightened and jam on the brakes in traffic for no reason at all.  Sometimes, new drivers make turns at breakneck speeds, try to enter the freeway at 15 miles per hour, change lanes without notice or looking or aim the vehicle at pedestrians as if there is some kind of point system bonus for killing them.

Frankly, riding in a vehicle with a senior that is a little slow in thought or action or occasionally forgets where he or she is, does not frighten me.  I train young people who are completely oblivious to the driving environment around them because they are completely focused on the six feet of pavement directly in front of their vehicle and nothing else. It is my job to make of them, excellent drivers. And, I do.  I takes time, patience, understanding, compassion, repetition and a great deal of tolerance. I am glad to give all of these things for four reasons.  

First, in almost every case, it is possible for the young person to become an excellent driver if someone will help them do so.

Second, I think it is unkind to ban a young person to the place of passenger only just because they are, currently, deadly behind the wheel.   They can learn.

Third, I get paid to make safe and excellent drivers out of potential behind the wheel killers. 

Fourth, I get a great deal of personal satisfaction from turning bad drivers into good drivers. I see myself as providing both a personal service to the driver and a community service to others.  What I do saves lives.

Regarding the seniors fading driving skills, I completely understand the fears of others when they see said senior behind the wheel of a vehicle. However, my mental make up and my "calling" to turn bad drivers into good drivers, does not easily lend itself to making an automatic assessment of "unfit to drive" without giving the senior every opportunity to improve.  Almost everyone I teach, young or old, comes to me unfit to drive.

The question is, "Can this unfit to drive person become a fit to drive person?" 

Now, let's examine the mental aspects of driving. 

I am not good with directions.  North, South, East, and West are things I can read on a map, but not in the world at large without landmarks and a mental map of the area.  You can take my younger brother and spin him around in a circle until he is so dizzy he cannot stand up and ask him to point to North and he can do that before he hits the ground.  I don't know how that is done.  It seems like a miracle to me. 

My wife chuckles because when we go to an often frequented location and she has to tell me how to get out of the parking lot and which way to go when we do get to the road in order to point the vehicle towards our home.

I park the vehicle and often forget where I parked it before I enter the shopping mall.  

I will be walking around the house with an important paper in my hand and look at my hand only to see the paper gone then find myself shocked and bewildered because it vanished.  

Sometimes, I see people out and about that treat me unkindly.  I treat them as long lost friends.  After our conversation, strained though it may be, my wife tells me that, that individual does not like me or recalls some event in the past that strained my relationship with said individual. Sometimes I remember. Sometimes, I don't.  She is always shocked when I do not remember.  She remembers.  I think her ability to recall is, somewhat, of a miracle.

I have always had these limitations.  I can't point to North, sometimes forget where I parked my vehicle, often get confused about which way to go to get home, put things down without memory of doing so, occasionally forget where I am or what I am doing.  Many events and experiences, both recent and long past, that I have shared with my wife, kids, parents, brothers and friends that are burned into their memories, I cannot recall.  These "limitations" are not the result of age.  I have always been this way.

Personally, I think it is because I was directed by my father, from an early age, to use my mind for insight, intuition and creativity rather than storage.  None-the-less, can you see why I am not taken back when a senior (or anyone else), when behind the wheel, might get turned around and go the wrong direction for a while or forget, for a moment, why or where they are driving?  Anything short of a person forgetting "that" they are driving does not concern me that much. I am not concerned that a person (young or old) forgets where they parked their car, why they left the house, where they are going or occasionally forget how to get to a location often frequented.  I am impressed by anyone (young or old) that can remember these things. 

Don't send me and older loved one or friend that you consider too old to drive and expect me to pronounce them "unfit" without giving them every opportunity to learn or relearn to become a great driver.  If they occasionally forget where they are or where they are driving, so what!  Now, if they forget who they are or that they are driving, that is different!  If the pavement markings sometimes confuse them or they hit the brake instead of the gas once, so what.  If, with training and practice, they can figure out the pavement markings and with training and practice they can use the correct pedal, why not allow them the training and practice with me as their co-driver?  

It may take a long time for them to become safe drivers, but if they can become safe drivers again and are willing to work at it and pay for the training, why not let them succeed?  If I come to the conclusion that a person (young or old) is not capable of becoming (or re-becoming) a safe driver, I will tell that person so; however, I will do my best to assist him or her to succeed.  It takes time to give people a chance to improve. 

Many times, I arrive to the conclusion that their body and mind is just too far gone for them to drive back and forth to their grocery store, grandson's, or favorite restrauant.  At that time, the concerned relatives or friends, pronounce they knew it all along.  If you know it, then take the person's license - don't send them to me. 

Funny.  My wife just got up.  She went to check the mail and told me that she, after coming home last night, drove the car into the garage, left the vehicle windows open, left the garage doors open, and left the car/house keys in the outside lock of our front door all night.  She is 59 years old. I guess she is too old and too mentally challenged to drive.  HA!  My mother is 85-years-young and still drives with the blessing of her three sons.  If the day comes that she should not drive, we will take her keys, not send her to a professional defensive driving school.  If we do send her to a professional driving school, we will give the instructor a chance to help her reestablish her driving skills and we will understand that the mind and reflexes of an 85-year-old will never be as they were when she was 30; however, if she can learn to make adjustments for the passing of years and drive safe, great! 



   

 

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