In-car instruction is at the heart of Freedom to Drive’s driving instruction program.
Classroom study provides basic knowledge and develops the proper mindset and attitude for driving. Simulator instruction and practice develops life saving habits and the ability to react appropriately to a potentially hazardous situation. But instruction and practice in the vehicle is where everything comes together in the making of a skilled and safe driver.
The more practice you can get outside the in-car lessons, the more skilled you will become.
In-car instruction cannot be rushed. It is estimated that it requires 50-60 hours of lessons plus practice for a novice or green driver to earn a class 5.
What do we mean by a Green Driver? By green drivers we don’t mean environmentally conscious drivers (although that’s not a bad idea) – these are just drivers with little or no previous driving experience.
Green drivers must finish the entire classroom series as well as the introductory simulator session before starting in-car lessons. If you are a scared stiff green driver you will start off in a big empty parking lot with nothing to hit except plastic pylons! In any case our innovative simulator program will develop your confidence so you may not actually be as green as you think you are!
In–Car Lessons go to all areas of Edmonton, so that the student can experience driving in a wide variety of road and traffic situations. Students are taught basic skills then encouraged to practice extensively with their driving coach until these skills become a part of their automatic driving repertoire.
Basic Skills include:
- Blind Spot Awareness
- Shoulder Check
- Use of Mirrors
- Steering Control and Recovery
- Lane Changes
- Use of Signals
- Right and Left Turns
- Five Standard Parks (Including Perfect Parallel Park - Every Time!)
- U Turns
- Intersections
- One Ways
- Traffic Circles
- Backing Around Corners
- Driving in High Traffic areas
- Road Hazards
- Merging
More Advanced Skills Include:
- Emergency Stopping
- Threshold Braking
- Defensive Driving Maneuver
- Rear Collision Avoidance
- Head-On Collision Avoidance
- Serpentine
- Find, Escape and Execute
- Evasive Manoeuvres
- Forward and Reverse Figure Eights
- Power Brake Failure (Use of Emergency Brake)
- Off-Road Recovery
Standard Transmission
All of the above skills can be taught in a vehicle with automatic or standard transmission. However, it can be a bit overwhelming to learn to shift gears while at the same time learning to perform all of the basic skills. Since a Class 5 licence in Alberta allows you to drive either a standard or an automatic transmission regardless of the type of vehicle in which you were tested, Freedom to Drive students earn their Class 5 first on an automatic transmission, then take Freedom’s STICK (Standard Transmission In Car Knowledge) package to learn how to drive standard. Check under Prices and Packages for more details about the STICK package.
Adaptive Controls for Persons with Physical Disabilities
Freedom to Drive is very in touch with the needs of persons with disabilities. Drew used to drive DATS, and Margaret has been disabled for over 20 years. Our aim is to provide a driver training experience for persons with disabilities that is on par with instruction for non-disabled people. All necessary driving skills will be taught, but because it usually takes considerably longer for a person with a disability to master these skills, many more hours of instruction will be required.
Pick up/drop off locations
Whenever possible, Freedom to Drive will accommodate home or school pick-up at no extra charge. Occasionally on weekends or in the busy summer season we may have to arrange pick up or drop off at major transit terminals.
