Please be advised:  the following information is a guideline to our teaching curriculum.  Each class and instructor varies slightly depending upon their teaching methods. 

The behind the wheel instruction lesson plan is only a guideline.  Skill and confidence level of the student may alter the lesson plans. 

KENNEDY SCHOOL OF DRIVING, INC
BEHIND THE WHEEL OBJECTIVES
2009-2010

LESSON  1

·         knowledge of the controls inside the vehicle before starting

·         proper distaadjustment of seat and mirrors  
·         demonstrate proper hand position on the steering wheel(10 and 2)

·         demonstrate proper hand-over-hand steering method

·          use proper judgment techniques while vehicle is in motion

·         demonstrate proper turning techniques

·         yield to pedestrians at all times.

 

LESSON 2

·         review of last lesson with emphases on weak points of driving, continue right and left turning techniques striving for greater magnitude turns

·         practice three-point turn techniques

·         perform straight line reverse driving

·         observe and understand Pennsylvania's special rules concerning school buses (when to pass, when to stop-distance away from the bus)

 

LESSON 3

·         understand the IPDE process (Identify, Predict, Decide, and Execute) while practice driving under supervision on seldom used roadways with very little traffic

·         demonstrate crossing railroad tracks and understand all of the safety points

·         understand the "Smith System" of driving (move eyes around, aim high in steering, leave yourself time to make safe decisions or safe way out, etc.

·         demonstrate parallel park using techniques taught by instructor

 

LESSON 4

·         review the IPDE process (Identify, Predict, Decide, and Execute)

·         recognize various areas for additional work with regard to driving skills

·         emphasize improving the various areas needing additional work

·         enter traffic on a limited access highway by signaling intentions, checking traffic, accelerating, checking blind spots, and merging safely

 

LESSON 5

·         confidently drive with success on "high speed" roadway

·         understand and demonstrate "following distance" concept

·         understand an demonstrate proper passing techniques

·         understand the importance of awareness to the "blind spots" of a vehicle

 

LESSON 6

·         prepare for the driver examination test or end of course skills test, if eligible

·         review all phases of safe and defensive driving

·         understand the importance of safe and defensive driving.

·         understand the idea of never assuming or demanding the right of way and always be ready to yield to oncoming traffic and pedestrians

KENNEDY SCHOOL OF DRIVING, INC.
CLASSROOM THEORY OBJECTIVES
2009-2010

Applying for a Pennsylvania Learner's Permit

 Students will:

·         Learn the steps in applying for a Pennsylvania Driver’s Learner's Permit

·         Understand all that is needed to apply for the permit

·         Be issued a Pennsylvania Driver's Manual finding the Medical Qualification Certificate

·         Understand the purpose of the medical form

 

The Underage Drinking Law

·         Students will list, learn, and discuss the five points of the Pennsylvania Underage Drinking Law

 

Importance of Driver’s Education to the inexperienced driver

 Students will:

·         list, discuss, and understand the importance of driver’s education

·         understand the value of a senior driver's license

·         understand the value of an insurance discount

·         understand that driver education will teach and promote safe driving and defensive driving

 

Stopping Distance Concepts

 Students will:

·         understand reaction time and its effect on drivers

·         list and discuss factors that affect reaction time

·         understand that reaction times vary among drivers under normal conditions

 

 

Reaction Time plus Braking Time affects Stopping Distance

·         Students will list and discuss normal and abnormal conditions that affect stopping distance.

 

Daydreaming

 Students will:

·         understand the meaning of "daydreaming"

·         list reasons why drivers daydream

·         understand the term highway hypnosis

 

Highway Hypnosis

·         Students will list, discuss, and analyze hypnosis while driving and techniques in avoiding hypnosis

 

Right of way/Yield

 Students will:

·         understand the difference between the two most misunderstood  situations while driving

·         list and discuss when drivers "should" have the right of way

·         understand that drivers should never assume the right of way

·         list and discuss when drivers "should" yield

·         define Yield

·         understand that drivers should always be ready to YIELD

·         discuss the “Pittsburgh Left” and review the myths of right of way driving

 

School Bus Safety

 Students will:

·         understand Pennsylvania’s rules when driving near a school bus

·         list and explain when a motorist must stop with reference to a school bus

·         understand the proper stopping distance from a school bus while warning lights are flashing

·         list and explain when a motorist may pass a school bus when the warning lights are flashing

 

Railroad Crossings

 Students will:

·         understand alertness when approaching all railroad crossings

·         understand that motorists must:

                                                 i.     always look both ways when approaching a railroad crossing (even if the warning sign is not flashing)

                                               ii.     wait for a clear view from all tracks in all directions before continuing  (if stopped at a railroad crossing with more than one track)

                                             iii.     be sure traffic ahead will not stop and will prevent motorist from crossing

                                              iv.     understand motorists must quickly leave the vehicle when trapped on a railroad crossing if a train is approaching

                                                v.     list and explain why motorists occasionally ignore railroad crossings and warning signs

 

Bicycle Safety

 Students will:

·         understand that bicyclists have the same rights, privileges, and responsibilities as motorists

·         understand that bicycles may not be easily seen in traffic patterns

·         list and explain ten(10) safety points when motorists share the road with bicyclists   

 

Pedestrian Safety

 Students will:

·         understand that motorists must Yield to pedestrians using marked or unmarked crosswalks

·         list and explain eight(8) safety points in observing “yielding to pedestrians”

 

Basic rules for passing other vehicles on the roadways

 Students will:

·         define all traffic and road signs

·         demonstrate knowledge of all road signs

·         list the steps when passing other vehicles

(Is it necessary? is it legal? then actual steps in passing techniques)

·         understand by diagramming how to enter traffic on a limited access highway (i.e. signal, check traffic, wait until traffic clears, accelerate, check blind spot, merge.

 

Lines and Signs

 Students will be able to differentiate between:

·         yellow and white lines

·         solid and dotted lines

·         passing zones and no passing zones

 

Seat Belts Facts and Myths

 Students will:

·         list reasons why many people do not wear seat belts even though it is the law and required equipment in passenger cars

·         discuss the reasons listed

·         understand the importance of wearing seatbelts

 

Pennsylvania Points System

 Students will:

• define the Pennsylvania Point System
• understand the consequences of accumulating 6 points on driving record
• understand the consequences of accumulating more points on driving record
• understand and analyze the Vehicle Code number, the description of the violation, and the number of points accessed to driving records on each violation understand the Pennsylvania Implied Consent Law
• list and discuss all factions of the Consent Law

 

Emergency Driving Skills

 Students will list and discuss:

·         common emergencies resulting from:

                                             i.     roadway characteristics

                                           ii.    vehicle or equipment malfunction

                                         iii.    driver error

·          preventive measures and confronting an emergency

 

Driving:  A mental and physical process

 Students will:

·         understand the IPDE process

·         define the IPDE process (Identify, Predict, Decide, and Execute)

 

Starting, Stopping, and Turning

 Students will:

·         list and discuss all of the outside vehicle checks and in- vehicle adjustments/procedures to be executed prior to starting the vehicle

·         understand the importance of using turn signals properly

 

Basic Maneuvers

 Students will:

·         understand the skills and abilities necessary to back up, park, and make turn about successfully and safely

·         demonstrate with drawings how to make right and left turns describing hand over hand method

 

Traffic Accidents

 Students will

·          understand:

                             i.    which accidents need to be reported

                           ii.    where accidents are reported

                         iii.    within how many days should accidents be reported

 

·         list actions taken when (if ever) involved in an accident under normal conditions

·         understand actions under abnormal conditions

·         understand that most accidents happen under normal conditions (dry road, daylight, unimpaired driver)

·         understand that most fatal accidents are often alcohol/drug related

·         analyze various statistics concerning accidents involving teen drivers

·         analyze Drunk and Deadly (a pamphlet listing various statistics of traffic accidents)

 

Regular driving license (Senior Driving License)

 Students will:

·          list and discuss senior driver's license advantages

·          understand junior driver’s license limitations

 

Safe and Efficient Practices

 Students will:

·         understand the techniques of seeing, managing space and speed, and other driver communication

·         discuss/explained various rationale