Behind-the-Wheel Expectations

Times for the driving sessions will be agreed upon between the teacher and the student. The student will be picked up at a designated area and returned to their home or other prearranged destination. Behind-the-wheel driving will consist of six hours of driving with no more than two (2) hours on any given day. Driving lessons will be scheduled during the week and on Saturday. Students will be expected to successfully pass the behind-the-wheel driving competencies to the teacher's satisfaction.Behind-the Wheel Curriculum:

Lesson 1: Light Residential and Maneuvers

• Outside Checks
• Walk around the vehicle checking for unknowns.
• Check tires for proper inflation.
• Check windshields, windows, headlights, taillights for damage.
• Preparing to Drive
  • Check for approaching traffic.
  • Adjust seats and mirrors.
  • Fasten seat belts.
  • Lock doors.
• Starting the Car Safely
  • Set parking brake Place right foot on brake.
  • Turn the ignition switch on.
  • Check instruments.
  • Start car.
  • Release key when engine starts.
• Light Residential Driving and Defensive Driving Strategies
  • SIPDE Principles applied.
  • Signaling for turns.
  • Maintain proper speeds.

Lesson 2: Light city Traffic and Rural Driving

• Putting the Car into Motion (Forward
  • Release the parking brake.
  • Check for traffic in the rearview and side mirrors.
  • Look to the rear while backing
• Braking
  • With the right foot, press the brake.
  • Apply smooth, consistent and firm pressure to the brake.
  • Stop at intersections behind the crosswalk.
  • Stop at stop lines.
• Putting the Car into Motion (Backward)
  • Check for traffic in rearview and side mirrors.
  • Look to the rear while backing
  • Accelerate gently.
• Securing and leaving the Car Safely
  • Set park brake.
  • Turn off all accessories.
  • Turn off engine and remove key from ignition.
• Parking
  • Locate parking stall.
  • Check traffic.
  • Activate turn signal.
  • Stay five to six feet from parked cars.
  • Straighten the wheels to center the car within the stall.
• Lesson 3: City Traffic (one way)
  
• Turns—right, left, u-turn, 3 point
  • In advance, look for traffic controls.
  • Position car in proper lane for turn.
  • Signal for turns at proper location.
  • Accelerate through the turn and maintain a visual lead and time gap.
• Lane Changing Procedures
  • Check the path in the lane ahead.
  • Check mirrors to see that there is enough time.
  • Signal intentions.
  • Check shoulder for cars in blind spot.
  • Maintain speed and steer smoothly into proper lane.
• Right turn signal procedure
  • Look for traffic controls.
  • Position the vehicle.
  • Signal for turns.
  • Position car three to five feet from curb.
  • Be prepared to yield to pedestrians.
  • Accelerate through the turn.
  • Maintain a visual gap and time gap.
• Defensive Driving Strategies
  • Applying the SIPDE skills.
  • Maintain a space cushion to a minimum of 2 second following distance.
  • Regulate speed according to traffic zones and conditions.
• Traffic Controls
  • Obey all signs, pavement markings and signals.
  • Regulate speed according to traffic.
  • Look in advance for traffic controls.
• Speed Controls
  • Regulate speed according to traffic and conditions.
  • Maintain a safe cushion in relation to others.

Lesson Four: City Traffic (left turns/parking)

• Left turns (solid/green/arrows)
  • Look for traffic control and traffic ahead.
  • Signal and move into correct lane.
  • Stop behind the crosswalk or stop line.
  • Position vehicle to the right of the center line.
  • Yield to pedestrians or other obstacles.
  • Accelerate through the turn.
  • Maintain a visual lead and time gap.
• Parking (angel, perpendicular and parallel)
  • Look for parking space.
  • Stay seven to eight feet from car.
  • Check traffic and activate turn signal.
  • Drive forward slowly.
  • Make sure there is clearance to the left and right front of vehicle.
• Backing (right/left/straight)
  • Release the park brake.
  • Check for traffic in rearview and side mirrors.
  • Look to the rear while backing.
  • Accelerate gently.
  • Back properly to the right or left.
  • Continue looking back until the car has come to a complete stop.
• Right on Red
  • If turning at a red light, stop behind the crosswalk or stop line before continuing the turn. If visibility is limited, move up to see the cross traffic and be prepared to stop.
  • When there is sufficient time, use the hand over hand steering technique.
  • Accelerate through the turn and maintain a visual lead and timed gap.
• Defensive Driving Strategies
  • Applying the SIPDE skills.
  • Maintain a space cushion to a minimum of 2 second following distance.
  • Regulate speed according to traffic zones and conditions.
• Negotiating Hills and Curves
  • When encountering hills or curves, slow the vehicle and keep to the right side of the road.
  • Do not attempt to pass on hills or curves.
  • If being passed, keep to the right side and slow down to allow the car to pass.
  • Adjust speed for existing conditions.
• Yielding at Intersections
  • Slow down and yield at all intersections.
  • Take special care at blind intersections.
  • Observe right-of-way laws at all intersections.
  • Win in doubt, always yield.

Lesson 5: Highway and Night Driving

• Getting On/Off
  • Maintain at least four seconds following distance between you and vehicles ahead of you.
  • Always be ready to stop if the situation warrants.
  • Signal so others know your intentions.
  • Use the acceleration lane to move to highway speeds.
  • Adjust speeds as necessary and steer into traffic.
• Passing Procedure
  • Check traffic for proper gap for passing.
  • Signal and check the blind spot
  • Steer gently into the passing lane and accelerate briskly.
  • Stay up to speeds and keep checking for traffic.
  • When you can see the headlights of the car you are passing in your rearview mirror, signal right and move gently back into your lane.
• Centering and Speed Control
  • Keep hand comfortably and correctly positioned on steering wheel.
  • Look at least 20 to 30 seconds ahead in the lane.
  • Steer to a point in the center of the lane.
  • Check both inside and outside mirrors quickly.
  • Do not look in mirrors for any longer than 1 second at a time.
• Defensive Driving Strategies
  • Applying the SIPDE skills.
  • Maintain a space cushion to a minimum of 2 second following distance.
  • Regulate speed according to traffic zones and conditions.
• Lane Changes
  • Check the path in the lane ahead and the lane you will be entering.
  • Check the mirrors to see that there is enough time and space to perform a maneuver.
  • Signal your intentions to move right or left.
  • Check over the shoulder for cars in the blind spot.
  • Maintain speed and smoothly steer into the proper lane.
• Turns
  • Look for traffic control and traffic ahead
  • Signal and move into correct lane
  • Stop behind the crosswalk or stop line
  • Position vehicle to the right of the center line
  • Yield to pedestrians or other obstacles
  • Accelerate through the tur
  • Maintain a visual lead and time gap
• Parking
  • Look for parking space
  • Stay seven to eight feet from car
  • Check traffic and activate turn signal
  • Drive forward slowly
  • Make sure there is clearance to the left and right front of vehicle

Lesson 6: Reviews and Final Evaluation

• Traffic Controls
  • Obey all signs, pavement markings and signals
  • Regulate speed according to traffic
  • Look in advance for traffic controls.
• Speed Controls
  • Regulate speed according to traffic and conditions
  • Maintain a safe cushion in relation to others
• Tracking in a Straight Line
  • Keep hand comfortably and correctly positioned on steering wheel.
  • Look at least 20 to 30 seconds ahead in the lane.
  • Steer to a point in the center of the lane.
  • Check both inside and outside mirrors quickly.
  • Do not look in mirrors for any longer than 1 second at a time
• Passing and Lane Changing
  • Check the path in the lane ahead and the lane you will be entering.
  • Check the mirrors to see that there is enough time and space to perform a maneuver.
  • Signal your intentions to move right or left.
  • Check over the shoulder for cars in the blind spot.
  • Maintain speed and smoothly steer into the proper lane.
  • Check traffic for proper gap for passing.
  • Signal and check the blind spot.
  • Steer gently into the passing lane and accelerate briskly.
  • Stay up to speeds and keep checking for traffic.
  • When you can see the headlights of the car you are passing in your rearview mirror, signal right and move gently back into your lane.
• Turns and Parking
  • Look for parking space.
  • Stay seven to eight feet from car.
  • Check traffic and activate turn signal.
  • Drive forward slowly.
  • Make sure there is clearance to the left and right front of vehicle.
  • Look for parking space.
  • Stay seven to eight feet from car.
  • Check traffic and activate turn signal.
  • Drive forward slowly.
  • Make sure there is clearance to the left and right front of vehicle.
    

Northeast Kansas Driving Services
PO Box 162  *  Denton, Kansas 66017
(785)359-6530   *    nekds@nekds.com
www.nekds.com