Saskatoon and District Safety Council now offers AutoSmart course

SASKATOON — The Saskatoon and District Safety Council now delivers AutoSmart.

Beginning this week, Saskatchewan drivers can take an online version of the Canada Safety Council's popular Defensive Driving Course.

With the addition of toll-free calling and online credit card processing, the Saskatoon and District Safety Council is making its programs more widely available and more convenient to take, regardless of where people live.

The Saskatoon and District Safety Council, run entirely by volunteers, is the first and only organization offering the new course in Saskatchewan.

For more than 35 years, the Canada Safety Council's instructor-led Defensive Driving Course has taught drivers how to prevent collisions. The new "Green Defensive Driving Course" also helps them become more environmentally responsible. Drivers can take the entire course online.

To help drivers get the most out of the new course and to make sure that students are completing all the work, Canada Safety Council certified instructors from the Saskatoon and District Safety Council will be available to answer questions and help with other concerns. An instructor will conduct a follow-up interview with each student before issuing a certificate for the online course.

To provide a convenient means for drivers to sign up for the course, the safety council has established online credit card processing. Course participants have a wide range of options that were not available previously.

A toll-free telephone number was added to save participants the cost of calling long distance to sign up for the course. The new telephone number helps the safety council extend its full range of services beyond the local Saskatoon calling area.

In addition to the Defensive Driving Course, the Saskatoon and District Safety Council teaches the 55-Alive driver refresher course for mature drivers and offers advice on safety around the home, in the workplace, at play and in the community.

Anyone who wants more information on the safety council or defensive driving may call 1-877-955-4003 or visit www.SaskatoonSafety.org.

– 30 –

Background — Saskatoon and District Safety Council

The Saskatoon and District Safety Council is a non-profit volunteer organization committed to safety. Membership is open to anyone with an interest in safety.

Membership currently includes farmers, seniors, business owners, professional engineers, driver educators, accident reconstructionists and professionals in education, public safety, law enforcement and health. Most members are regular folks with a commitment to making Saskatchewan as safe as it can be. Regular meetings are held monthly.

The Saskatoon and District Safety Council conducts Defensive Driving Courses, 55-Alive driver refresher courses for mature drivers and safety programs for seniors, around the home, in the workplace, at play and in the community.

Nine Defensive Driving Course instructors dedicate their time to teaching courses. The safety council conducts about 30 DDC classes for about 550 students each year.

The Saskatoon and District Safety Council was established in 1963, expanding the role of the Saskatoon Traffic Safety Council which had been organized in 1955. In 1967, the Saskatoon and District Safety Council became one of the first organizations to embrace the Canada Safety Council's new Defensive Driving Course. The current edition of the course was introduced in 2003.

Anyone who wants more information on the safety council or defensive driving may call 1-877-955-4003 or visit www.SaskatoonSafety.org.

– 30 –

Background

The New Green DDC — a Web-Based Learning Experience

The Green Defensive Driving Course is "e-Learning" at its best. This philosophy of adult education goes beyond CD-ROM and computer-based training. It lets you get the most out of computers and connectivity - while still offering personal interaction.

For more than 35 years, the Canada Safety Council's instructor-led Defensive Driving Course (DDC) has taught drivers how to prevent collisions. The new Green DDC also helps drivers become more environmentally responsible.

Advantages of e-Learning

• Self-Paced — trainees learn at their own speed but everyone is tested the same way.
• 24/7 Access — e-Learning is available all day, every day via the Internet.
• Motivation — immediate feedback and individualization; Flash demonstrations add interest.
• Tracking — the administration component meets occupational safety requirements.
• Lower Costs — eliminates travel, per diems and learning materials.
• Ongoing Resource — graduates can continue to use the online knowledge bank.
• Flexibility — smaller companies and new employees can train as needed.
• Certification — a wallet card and wall certificate are issued for successful completion.

This course is available to everyone, from individuals to corporate fleets.

Green DDC Online is based on the current Canada Safety Council Defensive Driving Course. The course includes eight modules and a Support Web Site that provide an opportunity to learn:

• what is involved in driving defensively;
• why and how various types of motor vehicle collisions occur;
• what it takes to prevent them; and
• how to reduce the environmental impact of driving.

The course takes two to three hours to complete online. In addition, Canada Safety Council certified Defensive Driving Instructors from the Saskatoon and District Safety Council will be available to participants throughout the course. An instructor will follow up with each participant before the course graduation certificate is awarded.

Technical Considerations

The course utilizes multimedia animation and sound to provide learners with interactive driving scenarios and the opportunity to consider how collisions can be prevented. To properly view and complete this course, participants must have:

• 56 Kb modem access to the internet (at minimum) or a high speed internet connection;
• Flash Player 7 installed; and
• Internet Explorer version 5.5 and above or Netscape version 7.0 and above, with JavaScript enabled.
• It is also recommended that participants have a sound card and speakers to access the audio components however, text equivalents are included for all audio files. The program will run with Windows 95, 98, NT, 2000 and XP, but has not been tested using the MAC platform.
• The course is hosted by Jacques Whitford at www.solutions.ca/gddc-cep.

Fully Recognized

The Green Defensive Driving Course was developed using Canada Safety Council course material. The Canada Safety Council conducted a peer review prior to release.

A Canada Safety Council certificate is provided to participants who successfully complete the course.

Instructor-Led Defensive Driving Course

The in-class Defensive Driving Course is an established, proven program. The course is designed for experienced drivers. Complete concepts are presented so they are easily understood. Materials are fully integrated. This enables participants who can't read well to learn visually and through group discussion.

Course outline

• Five core modules and choice of three optional modules, taught in six hours (all eight modules are covered in the Green DDC online course).
• Case studies and written exercises.
• Interactive class discussion.
• Specific techniques to help drivers avoid all types of traffic collisions despite the actions of others or the driving conditions.

Drivers learn the principles of defensive driving and essential collision avoidance techniques.

Return to main News page

Site designed and maintained by:
Borealis Outdoor Adventure
Webmaster:
Darrell Noakes