Course
Outline
All
Traffic Education programs offered by Seattle Public Schools offer
a minimum of 30 hours of classroom
time and 6 hours of behind-the-wheel
driving.
Classroom Performance Objectives
Day
1
To
understand
- individual program
responsibilities and opportunities
- the
schedule and procedures for the course
- course requirements
and grading system
- reasons for traffic
safety education
- how
to get a driver learning permit
- the
nature of the driving task
- the
highway transportation system (HTS)
- occupant
protection
Day
2
To
understand
- procedures for
starting the engine; moving the car forward; slowing and stopping;
controlled braking; and backing
- right of way,
defensive and legal driving practices at uncontrolled intersections
and on residential streets
- stopping distances and
legal and defensive requirements for stopping
Day
3
To
understand
- the
3 lane positions; targeting; reference points for the front, rear,
left and right of the vehicle
- various vehicle
characteristics
- right-of-way laws,
reference points, lane position, targeting and proper
procedurefor left and right
turns
Day
4
To
understand
- maneuvering in limited
space: uphill and downhill parking; backing around a corner;
U-turn; Y-turn; angle parking; back-in perpendicular parking;
parallel parking
- legal requirements for
maneuvers
- reference points and
targeting for maneuvers
Take Test
1
Day 5
To be able to
identify
- traffic signs and
signals
- pavement
markings
To
understand
safe
driving in construction zones
overtaking and meeting a school bus
the need for traffic laws and penalties
vehicle characteristics with regard to the laws of physics,
including force of impact and occupant protection
Day
6
To
understand
the
SEAttle Method of defensive driving
minimizing, separating and compromising
non-complex management of time and space
managing space and areas between vehicles and other hazards at
intersections
Day
7
To
understand
- using the
SEAttle Method at intersections
- special hazards
involved with motorcycles and mopeds
- skills to interact
with non-motorized users of the roadway including bicycle and
pedestrian safety and right-of-way laws
- legal requirements
regarding emergency vehicles
Take Test
2
Day 8
To
understand
- special hazards
involved in driving in complex traffic environments such as
downtown Seattle
- skills for driving on
one-way streets
- space, speed and lane
position requirements at complex intersections
- dangers involved with
railroad crossings
- extra dangers
associated with driving on secondary roads and in rural areas
- following, being
followed, passing and being passed when driving in rural areas and
on mountain roads
Day
9
To
understand
- drive in adverse
weather with reduced traction and roadway variations and
conditions
- brake and control
skids with both ABS and regular braking systems
- special problems
involved with large trucks, buses and trailers
- dangers associated
with railroad crossings
Day
10
To
understand
- freeway driving
procedures
- control space on high
speed roadways
- handle vehicle
malfunctions and failures
- hazards and legal
requirements driving with limited visibility and at
night
Day
11
To
understand
- danger signs of
falling asleep at the wheel
- how
aggressive driving and road rage develop and how to respond
- internal factors, such
as emotions and attitudes, affect driving performance
Take Test
3
Day 12
To understand
how
- alcohol and other
drugs affect the body and driving performance
To
understand
- laws concerning
alcohol and drugs and driving
- consequences to the
Transportation System by people who drink and drive or use other
drugs and drive
- costs and penalties
involved if found guilty of an alcohol violation
Day
13
To understand
how
- legal prescription and
over-the-counter drugs affect the body and driving
performance
To
understand
- legal requirements
involving insurance and collisions including post-crash
responsibilities
- accident procedure and
bystander care
- legal responsibilities
and procedures regarding owning, licensing and registering of
vehicles
Day
14
To
understand
- the
need for fuel conservation
To understand how
to
- conserve natural
resources in relation to vehicles and how to recycle automotive
products responsibilities
- plan trips to travel
destinations
- preventative
maintenance and car inspections
- basic mechanics
involving how a motor vehicle operates
- legal responsibilities
and procedures regarding buying, owning, licensing and registering
of vehicles
Take Test 4 (final
test)
Day 15 (last
day)
To
review
- Driver Guide written
and driving tests
- the
problem of drinking and driving
- the
importance of seat belts in preventing death and injury
To
understand
- needed improvements in
the highway transportation system
Receive certificate
of completion
Behind-the-wheel Lessons
Lesson
1
- pre-drive
procedures
- starting the
engine
- moving forward
- slowing and stopping
the car
- securing the car
- pulling to and away
from a curb
- lane control
- backing the car
- left and right
turns
- speed control
- uncontrolled
intersections
- reference
points
Lesson
2
- up
and downhill parking
- pulling to and away
from a curb
- parallel and angle
parking
- backing
- u-turn
- left and right
turns
- lane control
- speed control; slowing
and stopping the car
- reference points and
target areas
Lesson
3
- review of
maneuvers
- scan-evaluate-act in
moderate traffic
- defensive
driving
- controlled
intersections
- following
distances
- lane changing and lane
control
- traffic lights
- signs and
controls
- right-of way
- review of
maneuvers
Lesson
4
- scan-evaluate-act in
moderate traffic
- defensive
driving
- following
distances
- lane changing and lane
control
- traffic lights
- signs and
controls
- review of
maneuvers
Lesson
5
- freeway driving
- entering and exiting
limited access roads
- emergency procedures:
stuck accelerator and stalled engine
- general
review
Lesson
6
final on-street
evaluation and test
Other
topics:
Traffic
Education
1330 North 90th Street, Building 400, Room 404
Seattle, WA 98103
Phone: (206) 252-4735
gemiller@seattleschools.org