With the individual expense of school bus transportation,
coupled with the lack of public transportation and the wide
geographic area of Cape Cod, many youth are unable to access
the services needed to become self-sustaining. With the skyrocketing
cost of driver education programs (doubled since September
of 2007) many youth are unable to obtain a driver's license
which precludes them from driving to schools, obtaining jobs,
and participating in community activities.
We
believe we have the solution:
The
Robert F. Kennedy Children's Action Corps is now taking applications
for its Youth in Progress Driving School. The Youth in Progress
(YIP) Driving School offers driver's education to area youth
at a reduced fee in exchange for community service. In order
to participate in the Driver's Education offered by YIP, youth
will be required to participate in community service learning
projects such as food drives, local senior centers or shelters.
Students will have the opportunity to design and execute their
own community service project prior to obtaining their driver's
education certificate. This unique program supports RFK's
commitment to provide innovative, accessible and affordable
programming for youth. The YIP program enables youth to obtain
a driver's license but more importantly, will imbue youth
with a sense of civic responsibility, empowering them to make
a difference in their own lives and make significant contributions
to their communities as well.
The
program at the YIP includes:
~ 30 hours of classroom training
~
12 hours of behind the wheel driving instruction
~ 6 hours of observation
~ 2 hour required parent class
The program at the YIP is a two phase, integrated, 12 week
program that is taught concurrently, consisting of the following
phases.
Classroom
Phase
This is an important part of the Driver Education program.
It is designed to give students basic information on a variety
of topics related to the safe operation of a motor vehicle
including motor vehicle laws, the physics of driving, perception,
judgment, driver fitness, and most importantly, how to interact
with people on the road. Driving is more than just maneuvering
a car through traffic. A driver must learn to interact with
other users on the road and the classroom provides this instruction.
Behind-the-Wheel
Phase
The Behind-the-Wheel (BTW) phase is designed to give the practical
skills needed to drive a car and to integrate what has been
taught in the classroom and simulation.
Our
course covers all of the requirements set forth by the Massachusetts
Registry of Motor vehicles.
Module
1 - Introduction to Driver's
Module 2 - Signs Signals and Road Markings
Module 3 - Understanding the Vehicle and Its Controls
Module 4 - Basic Driving Skills
Module 5 - Rules of the Road
Module 6 - Making Safe Driving Decisions
Module 7 - Sharing the Road
Module 8 - How Natural Law Effect Driving
Module 9 - Different Driving Environments
Module 10 - Driving in All Weather Conditions
Module 11 - Mental and Physical Effects on Driving
Module 12 - The Dangers of Alcohol, Drugs & Driving: PART
I
Module 13 - The Dangers of Alcohol, Drugs & Driving: PART
II
Module 14 - Consequences of Unsafe Driving and Poor Decision
Making
Module 15 - Handling Emergencies and Breakdowns; Final Review
These
modules instruct students in necessary skills such as:
BASIC DRIVING MANEUVERS: Drive centered in the lane
with good speed control without excessive braking, making
squared off lefts and rounded off rights using hand-over-hand
method of steering with eye/hand coordination, lane changes.
DRIVERS EDUCATION PROCEDURES: Procedures used to maneuver
the vehicle, use of mirrors, 12-15 second visual lead, 3 or
more seconds following distance. SMITH SYSTEM: Aim high in
steering, get the big picture, keep your eyes moving, leave
yourself an out, make sure others can see you, space cushion
driving (this method is stressed throughout the entire class
and during driving lessons).
DEVELOPMENT OF VISUAL PERCEPTUAL SKILLS: Establishing
a visual lead, night driving, railroad crossings, blind spots,
using the mirrors effectively.
HIGHWAY SYSTEMS & HIGHWAY DRIVING: Color codes, road
side markings, exiting and entering the highway, passing,
merging with traffic, highway hypnoses, use of maps.
KNOWING ABOUT THE SAFETY FEATURES IN THE VEHICLE: Seatbelts,
airbags, ABS brakes, children riding safely in the vehicle.
MASSACHUSETTS MOTOR VEHICLE CODE: Insurance and registration
procedures, accident information and reports, required motor
vehicle equipment, inspection process, traffic controls, responsibilities
of the operator and owner, safe operating practices.
DRUG AND ALCOHOL EDUCATION: Six (6) hours of instruction
including: physical affects, blood alcohol content, serving
equivalents, under-21 offenses, repeat offenses, penalties,
and legal implications.
DRIVING IN INCLEMENT WEATHER: Use of lights, cruise
control, front wheel drive, black ice, threshold braking,
hydroplaning, skid control, rain, ice, fog, snow, winter driving.
DRIVING AND INTERACTING WITH OTHER TYPES OF VEHICLES:
Advantages and disadvantages of driving a small car, small
cars in crashes, sharing the road with big trucks and motorcycles.
DRIVING EMERGENCIES AND WHAT TO DO IF ONE OCCURS: Brake
failure, blow outs, going off road, slick surfaces, headlight
failure, emergency braking, hydroplaning.
VEHICLE PURCHASE NEW AND USED: Style, size, economy,
insurance cost, safe colors, standard safety features, leasing
a car, depreciation, classic cars.
HELPFUL DRIVING TIPS AND PREVENTION OF VEHICLE ABUSE:
Safe operational practices, preventative maintenance, tire
inspection, alignment and balance, radials, all season, or
bias ply.
OPERATION OF THE INTERNAL COMBUSTION ENGINE: Mechanics
of the drive train, vehicle systems.
CAR MAINTENANCE: Checking fluids, replacing fluids,
differences in gasoline octane, identifying problems, car
care, automotive first aid, winterizing your car.
INSURANCE INFORMATION: Premiums, what accidents do
to insurance rates, coverage in Massachusetts, what to do
in the event of an accident (who to call, what to file and
why).
