Defensive Driving Course

The defensive driving course at the Rocky Mountain Emergency Services Fire Training Center contains three main parts. These three parts are classroom instruction, skid car training, and NEVO (non emergency vehicle operations).

The course begins in the classroom. Students are introduced to various theoretical situations, and are shown ways to both avoid and recover from each if they occur. Students receive numerous course materials, such as a participant guide, which can be used to follow along with the instructors throughout the day.

The second phase of the course involves the beginning of the hands-on driving experience. Students are broke down in to two groups. One group drives the skid car, which is a high-tech vehicle designed to simulate skids from a loss of traction on deteriorated road conditions. The skid car is an unmodified front wheel drive 2002 Chevrolet Impala, which has been outfitted to a Skid Car Systems chassis. This chassis employs the use of four outrigger wheels. These wheels provide two things: The wheels have a hydraulic system which can take pressure off any two of the tires, simulating a loss of traction. The second item the outrigger wheels provide is a safe, stable platform in which to teach skid control and recovery. This removes any possibility of the vehicle rolling over and injuring the students.

The second group drives through a non-emergency vehicle operations (NEVO) course. This is accomplished by learning to maneuver a regular sedan in numerous low-speed situations such as backing, parking, and tight turning.

The defensive driving course provides drivers with many valuable tools to be utilized during everyday driving throughout all times of the year.

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