Driver Education/Traffic Safety-Classroom   (#1900300)

Version Description

Major concepts/content
The purpose of this classroom course is to introduce students to Florida driving laws/rules of the road and safe driving behavior. It will also provide an in-depth study of the contributing factors to vehicle crashes and their solutions. The content should include, but not be limited to, the following:

• Meaning and responsibilities of a Driver License
• Laws that govern the operation of a motor vehicle
• Knowledge of Florida’s Graduated Driver Licensing (GDL) laws
• Vehicle control and traffic procedures 
• Knowledge of sharing the road with other types of vehicles and vulnerable road users 
• Defensive driving strategies
• Physical and mental factors that affect driving ability
• Effects of alcohol and other drugs on driving performance

Version Requirements

After successfully completing this course, the student will:

• Demonstrate knowledge of traffic laws and safe driving.
• Describe and interpret traffic signs, traffic signals, pavement markings, and zones of caution.
• Describe basic vehicle control, including control of motion and direction, and basic maneuvers.
• Identify situations where the driver of a motor vehicle must yield right-of-way.
• Describe the safe operation and interaction (safe following distances, when to stop/yield right of way) with other motor vehicles including commercial vehicles, trains, and school buses.
• Describe specific laws and safe driving behavior when interacting with vulnerable road users: pedestrians; bicyclists; and motorcyclists.
• Describe laws related to speeding, as well as penalties for racing on the highway.
• Describe situations where vehicle speed must be adjusted for road and weather conditions.
• Describe the need for identifying potential hazards in traffic, making predictions about possible occurrences, making safe decisions for action based on minimum risk, and the appropriate execution of these decisions.
• Describe Driving Under the Influence (DUI), Zero Tolerance, and Implied Consent laws and the consequences for non-compliance.
• Define all components of Florida’s Graduated Driver Licensing laws.

• Understand all preparations necessary to drive a motor vehicle.
• Describe the importance of vehicle maintenance for safe and efficient operation (e.g., tire safety, checking for vehicle recalls, window and mirror requirements, etc.).
• Describe the cost of owning, operating and maintaining a vehicle.
• Describe the requirements for compliance with insurance laws that apply to drivers as well as owners of motor vehicles.
• Describe the laws, value, and uses of occupant vehicle restraints (seat belts and child restraints).
• Describe the categories of distracted driving, Florida’s texting laws, and identify caution zones where “hands-free” device use is required.
• Describe the effects of alcohol and other drugs (legal/prescribed or illegal) on driving.
• Describe the effects of attitudes and emotions on driving decisions (e.g., road rage, aggressive driving, etc.).
• Describe how drowsy driving can impact one’s ability to operate a motor vehicle.
• Describe the maneuvers required for the driving skills exam.
  
  
• Understand how to interact with law enforcement in traffic and special situations.
• Describe Florida’s Move Over law.
• Describe how to interact with law enforcement during a traffic stop.
• Describe how to handle situations where a traffic signal is not operating (when law enforcement is directing traffic and when law enforcement is not present).
• Describe the legal responsibilities at the scene of/or after a crash.
  
  
• Understand how to drive and react in emergency situations.
• Describe the skills required to effectively control and take proper actions in emergency situations to avoid a collision or minimize the impact if unavoidable.
• Describe how to react in situations specifically related to Florida weather/conditions, such as hydroplaning, approaching a flooded road, escaping a submerged vehicle, etc.

Resources

As with any education program, the inclusion of parental involvement enhances instruction. These resources are for Driver Education instructors as well as the parents of Driver Education students.

• Florida Driver License Handbook: https://www3.flhsmv.gov/handbooks/englishdriverhandbook.pdf
• Florida Teen Safe Driving Coalition: https://flteensafedriver.org/