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?
1. 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. 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 how
long it will take you to reach your goals.
3. The charge varies with the service you request. Charges range from $60
for a 45-minute teaching/driving session to $999 for enrollment in the Advance
Course. Discounts (not charges) range from 35 cents (per mile for pick up charges)
to $309 (for enrollment in the Advance Course). Unless otherwise noted, all
"Courses" and all teaching sessions are taught with two 45-minute driving sessions
back to back. Courses of three (1.5-hour) sessions or more are discounted if paid
for in advance with a money-back guarantee (some limitations apply).
4. Do we guarantee graduation in a specific time frame?
No. This is a financial 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. The time criteria as noted in each "Course",
is sufficient for more than 50% of students. About 20 to 25% 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 20 to 25% of students require additional training to
meet the passing standard. By the end of the first lesson, I (Joda Collins) will be
able to tell student, parent and/or spouse which of the three categories (pass with
excellence, pass on average, fail to pass in designated time frame) the student
driver is in. If I say nothing, at the end of the first session, about additional training that
means I do not anticipate any additional training will be required to meet the passing
standards of the Course the student is enrolled in. I am seldom wrong in this estimate;
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. If I believe more training than is recommended in the Course description
will be required, I will let student, parent and/or spouse know this at the end of the first
lesson; however, denoting that more time may be required does not stop the student
from successfully completing the Course criteria within the time frame denoted
in the Course description.
We Offer Five "Behind the Wheel Courses".
"Defensive Driving" is the ability to drive in any and
every driving environment and among dangerous
drivers and still drive a lifetime free of traffic
citations and automobile crashes. Avoiding one
automobile crash will more than pay for all of the
training costs to graduate all four of the courses noted
below.
The following applies to all Courses noted below: "In
addition to the behind the wheel hourly requirement,
all Courses require passing a behind the wheel exam before a
certificate of completion or certificate of graduation is
awarded. However, with *one exception, if the student does
not pass our final behind the wheel driving test we will
provide an additional 45-minutes of training at no
additional cost to you. Standard pick up fees, if any,
as previously charged per pick up still apply.
* The one exception is if the Instructor notifies the student or the financially
responsible individual (if different from the student) not later than the end of the
first driving session that there is no likely possibility that the student can
pass the Course in the specified time period. This "free lesson" offer only applies
to student training that began after September 25, 2009.
COURSE 1: Beginner's Course, $75.00
This training takes place in a parking lot. The only goal is to PROXIMITY TEST: The ability to know where the vehicle is relative to
help the driver keep the vehicle under his/her control
enough to avoid driving into stationary objects at low speeds
and to insure the driver can follow directions. Both of these
factors facilitate safe driving when the student is "on the road".
Some students take several lessons to graduate the Beginner's
Course while others take only a few minutes.
COURSE DURATION: This one lesson is one hour. The Course
duration is as many lessons as it takes for the driver to drive at
15-mph without hitting stationary objects by mastering basic
control of the steering, accelerator and brake. If a student-
driver graduates this Course in less than an hour, a refund of
$1 per minute unused in the hour set aside is granted
immediately.
This Course, unlike the 9-hour Defensive Driving Course, does not qualify for the two
refresher sessions as offered as part of the Defensive Driving Course. Like all Courses,
time behind the wheel is not the only criteria for passing this Course. The student-
driver must pass the final behind the wheel exam in order to pass this Course.
COURSE 2: State Driving Test, $218.00.
For those that simply want to pass the Florida, Georgia or
Alabama State Driving Exam, we offer two 1.5-hour behind-the-
wheel session. A driver that can steer at low speeds without
hitting stationary objects may learn enough in one session
to pass the State Driver's Test. Some will take two lessons.
Some will take three lessons. It is impossible to know how
many lessons it will take any individual to learn the things
necessary to pass the State Driving Test. Everyone learns
at a different rate. The above quote of $218.00 based on the
average of two 1.5-hour lessons @ $109.00 per lesson.
DRIVING TEST
You must provide a vehicle for the driving test.
If you do not have a valid license, you must be accompanied by a licensed
driver.
No one may accompany you and the examiner(s) during the driving test.
You will be expected to perform the following maneuvers on the driving test:
SAFELY CONTROL THE VEHICLE: Demonstrate an ability to
rightly use the steering, accelerator and brake in a fashion that
keeps the vehicle under the drivers control at all times.
TURN ABOUT - Turn your car around in a 30' to 40' space.
SHIFT GEARS - Change gears smoothly and correctly (if your car
has a manual shift transmission).
APPROACH OF CROSSING/INTERSECTION - Get in the proper
lane and look in each direction. Change gears smoothly and correctly (if your car
has a manual shift transmission). Never change lanes in or near an intersection
unless it is lawful to do so.
OBSERVE RIGHT-OF-WAY - Allow pedestrians to cross, pull over
and stop for emergency vehicles and do not enter an intersection where you will
interfere with other traffic. Never "challenge" a pedestrian with a vehicle. Your
yield should give an unmistakeable impression to the pedestrian that the
pedestrian has nothing to fear from your driving.
STRAIGHT-IN PARKING - Park your vehicle inside the parking space
straight-in. When properly parked, the vehicle should be centered inside the
space with no part of the vehicle extending out in the traffic lane. This maneuver
gives the examiner the opportunity to observe your ability to:
a. Handle the vehicle in close quarters
b. Judge distance
c. Maintain control of the vehicle as you turn into a straight-in parking
space. Exit the space successfully.
d. It is required to be looking back when moving in reverse. It is
acceptable to stop the vehicle while in reverse and then look to the side or front.
EXIT A STRAIGHT IN PARING SPACE - Exit the parking space in a
manner that would clear a vehicle parked to your right, a vehicle parked to your
left and a row of vehicles parked behind.
If there is no hill on your driving test, this maneuver is simulated when the car is
in the straight-in parking space or when the car is pulled over to the side of the
road before the turnabout maneuver. You will be instructed to show or tell the
examiner what you would do if you were going to leave the vehicle parked up or
down a hill, with or without a curb.
QUICK START - The purpose of the quick start is to determine if the driver can
quickly accelerate in order to avoid a crash.
QUICK STOP - Stop the vehicle more quickly than normal but short of an all out
four tires squealing across the pavement. The purpose of this is to detemine the
driver's ability to control the vehicle in a quick stop as well as the driver's ability
to stop quickly.
SOFT STOP - Stop the vehicle at all times and at all speeds without the
passenger's heads or bodies moving forward abruptly at the end of your stop.
BACKING - Back for a distance of 50 feet at a slow speed. Do not
use the rear-view mirror when backing. Look to the rear instead. It
is required to be looking back when moving in reverse. It is
acceptable to stop the vehicle while in reverse and then look to the
side or front.
OBEY STOP SIGNS - Give the proper signal if turning, approach in
the proper lane, come to a complete stop before reaching the
pedestrian crosswalk or stop line, and remain stopped until you can
move safely without interfering with cross traffic. Know how to
negotiate an "all-way" stop.
OBEY TRAFFIC SIGNALS - Get into the proper lane and approach
the light at a speed that will allow you to stop if the light should
change. When you must stop, stop before the pedestrian crosswalk
or stop line. When the light turns green, do not move forward until
the other traffic has cleared the intersection. Give the correct signal
for stopping and turning. Watch for "no turn" and "one way" signs.
SIGNAL AND TURN - Get into the proper lane and signal your turn
for the last 100 feet unless doing so would cause confusion in the
driving environment. You may use either hand signals or mechanical
signals. Slow before reaching the crosswalk and turn into the proper
lane.
PASSING - Always look ahead and behind to make sure you can
pass safely. Pass on the left, unless the car ahead is about to make
a left turn or is in the left turn lane on a street with more than one
lane in each direction. Do not pass on the shoulder (side of the road).
STAY
one-way street. Do not change lanes until you may do so safely.
FOLLOW AT A SAFE DISTANCE - Do not drive too closely behind
other cars. Use the Two Second Rule.
USE PROPER POSTURE - Keep both hands on the steering wheel
and do not rest your elbow in the window.
AWARENESS OF CROSS TRAFFIC: Demonstrate an awareness
of others in the driving environment, including an awareness of traffic
conditions at intersections.
other solid objects in the driving environment. Participation in this Course requires the
driver to first meet the driving standards of the Basic Course detailed above. The
free lesson (as noted above) must begin and end at our Office or full pick up fees
apply ($1.35 per round trip mile.)
This Course does not qualify for the two refresher
sessions as offered as part of the Defensive Driving Course. Also, in many cases, the
information for passing the State Test is too much for some drivers to grasp in 2-hours.
Still, some people want to try and if a student is willing to try to grasp all of the
demands of the State Driving Exam, we will try too. It has been done by others. We
provide homework that a student can accomplish before taking this driving lesson.
Those that do the homework well, have the best chance of learning to pass the State
Exam in one 1.5-hour driving lesson.
COURSE 3: Offensive Driving Course,
$299.00
Six 45-minute sessions (270 min), four "one-hour" (67 min)
driving (268 min) sessions or three 1.5-hour driving
sessions (270 min). Unless otherwise directed by the Client,
this Course is scheduled at three 1.5-hour sessions.
This training begins in a parking lot to insure the driver is able
to control the vehicle enough to avoid driving into stationary
objects and to determine of the student can follow directions.
After that, the student moves into the normal driving
environment where he/she learns the application of the rules
of the road and how to handle the vehicle in such a way that
he/she is not a life-threatening danger to others. This includes
safe and appropriate use of steering, the foot and parking brake, transmission and accelerator. Following graduation from this
Course the driver is able to drive safely among other safe
drivers. This Course correlates to most of the better driving
courses offered high schools (that offer driver's training).
This Course requires the student-driver begins this training at a level that can pass
the Beginner's Course. This is not a defensive driving course and will not qualify for
some vehicle insurance companies for insurance discounts. This Course does not
qualify for the two refresher sessions as offered as part of the Defensive Driving
Course.Because we are a "defensive driving" Academy, this Course earns a "Certificate
of Completion" rather that a "Certificate of Graduation". As a defensive driving school,
we only "graduate" those trained in defensive driving techniques. To best understand
the benefits of this Course, imagine a football game where the runner is headed for his
goal line. He is running through players of the opposite team who are playing by "the
rules of the game". He is pitting his skills as an offensive runner against the tackling
skills of the other team players; however, all players are expected to play by the rules
so the runner proceeds predicting a limited number of reactions from the opposing team
players. The better the offensive skills of the runner, the better his chances of getting
across the goal line untouched by the opposing players. Likewise, the better one's
offensive driving skills are, the more likely he or she will arrive to his or her destination
crash free when driving among others that keep/honor/drive in accord with "the rules
of the road". When we promote this Course we only mention three 1.5 hour sessions.
We only use four 1-hour sessions for students that prefer shorter sessions or for students
that need shorter sessions to facilitate their better learning. Like all Courses, time behind
the wheel is not the only criteria for passing this Course. The student-driver must pass
the final behind the wheel exam in order to pass this Course.
control the vehicle enough to avoid driving into stationary
objects and to determine of the student can follow directions.
After that, the student moves into the normal driving
environment where he/she learns the application of the rules
of the road and how to handle the vehicle in such a way that
he/she is not a life-threatening danger to others. This includes
safe and appropriate use of steering, the foot and parking
brake, transmission and accelerator. Following graduation
from this Course the driver is able to drive safely among other
safe drivers. This Course correlates to most of the better
driving courses offered high schools (that offer driver's
training).
Training begins in a parking lot to insure the driver is able to control the vehicle enough to avoid driving into stationary objects and to determine of the student can follow directions. After that, the student moves into the normal driving environment where he/she learns the application of the rules of the road and how to handle the vehicle in such a way that he/she is not a life-threatening danger to others. This includes safe and appropriate use of steering, the foot and parking brake, transmission and accelerator. Following graduation from this Course the driver is able to drive safely among other safe drivers. This Course correlates to most of the better driving courses offered high schools (that offer driver's training).
Training begins in a parking lot to insure the driver is able to control the vehicle enough to avoid driving into stationary objects and to determine of the student can follow directions. After that, the student moves into the normal driving environment where he/she learns the application of the rules of the road and how to handle the vehicle in such a way that he/she is not a life-threatening danger to others. This includes safe and appropriate use of steering, the foot and parking brake, transmission and accelerator. Following graduation from this Course the driver is able to drive safely among other safe drivers. This Course correlates to most of the better driving courses offered high schools (that offer driver's training).
Training begins in a parking lot to insure the driver is able to control the vehicle enough to avoid driving into stationary objects and to determine of the student can follow directions. After that, the student moves into the normal driving environment where he/she learns the application of the rules of the road and how to handle the vehicle in such a way that he/she is not a life-threatening danger to others. This includes safe and appropriate use of steering, the foot and parking brake, transmission and accelerator. Following graduation from this Course the driver is able to drive safely among other safe drivers. This Course correlates to most of the better driving courses offered high schools (that offer driver's training).
Training begins in a parking lot to insure the driver is able to control the vehicle enough to avoid driving into stationary objects and to determine of the student can follow directions. After that, the student moves into the normal driving environment where he/she learns the application of the rules of the road and how to handle the vehicle in such a way that he/she is not a life-threatening danger to others. This includes safe and appropriate use of steering, the foot and parking brake, transmission and accelerator. Following graduation from this Course the driver is able to drive safely among other safe drivers. This Course correlates to most of the better driving courses offered high schools (that offer driver's training).
COURSE 4: Defensive Driving Course,
$594.00
The Joda Collins Driving Academy approach to the senior, 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 first time drivers that, in the beginning of their driving experience with me 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, allowing them to make some minor mistakes behind the wheel 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 passive and unintentional killers.
Fourth, I get a great deal of personal satisfaction from turning bad drivers into good drivers. I see myself as providiing both a personal service to the driver and a community service to others.
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, is unfit to drive at the beginning.
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 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, she has to tell me, many times 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 bewildred 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 that 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, occassionally 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. I am impressed by anyone (young or old) that can remember where the car is parked.
Don't send me and older loved one or friend that you consider too old to drive and expect me to pronouce them "unfit" without giving them every opportunity to learn or relearn to become a great driver. If they occassionally 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 peddle, 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 and are willing to 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 them so; however, I will do my best to assist them to succeed. It takes time to give them a chance.
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 grocerey store, grandson's, or favorate resturant. At that time, the concerned relatives or friends, pronouce 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 windows open in the vehicle, left the garage doors open, 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 old 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!
Internet Training
The courses that follow are not
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