Acknowledgements

Driver education has expanded significantly in Saskatchewan schools since 1967 when Saskatchewan Education assumed overall responsibility.

To meet the ever-increasing demands on schools for quality programs, a new enriched curriculum was released in 1996 as the basis for all high school driver education programs.

Saskatchewan Education acknowledges the Driver Education Reference Committee whose members have contributed to the renewal of this document.

Forward

Saskatchewan Education assumed responsibility for driver education courses in Saskatchewan high schools in 1967. The 1967 departmental policy provided for 20 hours of classroom instruction on the traffic system and 8 hours of on-street training in vehicle operation and control.

Beginning in 1974, the department introduced major structural changes to the driver education program. School boards were required to offer the program without charge to all eligible students in their jurisdiction. While driver education remained an elective, non-credit option, school boards were expected to offer the program on a curricular, regular school day basis whenever possible. Other changes included improving the quality of course content and instruction. Classroom instruction was increased to 30 hours to allow for the inclusion of a new alcohol and driving component, and the expansion of the segment on practical aspects of vehicle operation and care. Behind-the-wheel instruction was established at 6 hours minimum. In addition, the driving task analysis concept -- Identify, Predict, Decide and Execute (IPDE) -- was formally adopted as an integral part of the course of studies. At the same time, the Department recognized the need to re-train and up-grade driver instructors on an on-going basis. It became official policy that all high school driver educators participate in a professional development course at least once a year with a renewal process every three years. Finally, supervision of the high school program was assigned to local directors and superintendents.

In an enriched program, both instructional and driving objectives centre around the structuring of specific performance skills in ways that have direct application for the types of traffic situations young drivers confront. This includes analyzing the most common types of collisions and driving errors made by young drivers in Saskatchewan.

Effective June 1991, responsibility for conducting the driver instructor preparatory course was transferred to the Saskatchewan Institute of Applied Science and Technology (Woodland Campus). Recently, the basic five-week program for driver instructor training has been expanded to include a two-week practicum (effective March, 1999).

Effective August 1997, the Saskatchewan government made driver education a mandatory program for all novice drivers.

Introduction

This publication has been written primarily for school administrators and instructors of Driver Education. The school administrators may be most interested in those areas dealing with administration and recommended procedures related to conducting the program. The driver education instructor will be concerned with the standards established by the department and SGI, and with the suggestions related to program organization, content, and instructional processes.

It should be emphasized that the course is intended to provide a foundation of knowledge, attitudes, habits, and basic skills necessary for the growth and development of safe, efficient new drivers. Inherent in the school's responsibility to teach a skill is the greater responsibility to help instill safety habits and attitudes. The experiences from which young people will learn to make traffic decisions will come from the home, the school, and the community. More often than not, the experiences from which young people learn are what they observe and experience, rather than what they are told. It is important, therefore, that the driver instructor utilize all available resources at his/her disposal to ensure the program is as experiential for the students as possible. It is also important that parents be apprised of the major role that they must play in developing proper attitudes, behaviour, and skills in their student(s) related to driver and traffic safety. Parents must complement the endeavours of the instructor. Hopefully, through close cooperation between school officials and parents, a reduction in collisions, injuries, and deaths involving young people on the highways of this province will be realized.