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Drive Safe Sacramento

ATTENTION: Please be advised that Drive Safe Sacramento (DSS) is currently unable to offer any public courses through the end of 2020. for future training dates, please periodically refer to this web page which will be updated once we are able to offer these courses again.

Drive Safe Sacramento is an exclusive driver's training program committed to teaching the driving skills necessary to become a safe, defensive driver. The most important aspect of driver's education is SAFETY. Our instructors are highly trained in every aspect of controlling a vehicle and can teach the latest in defensive driving techniques. The students will be provided with the skills necessary for safe driving on today's roads.

Drive Safe Sacramento is a hands-on program for young drivers, drivers who would like a refresher, and public safety employees, run by first responder personnel. Here at DSS we offer closed course driving which gives the instructor and the student the opportunity to manipulate and control the training in order to place you in specialized situations that will help you sharpen your defensive driving skills. At DSS we are able to offer extensive training in developing skid control skills, how to react in oversteer and understeer conditions, safe driving in on wet roads, maneuvering your vehicle while sliding, ABS braking with ability to turn ABS on and off and many more exercises that will help our students be excellent defensive drivers.

Drive Safe Sacramento is a course in safe driving.  Our goal is to foster experience and raise awareness about the dangers of driving specific to young drivers. Regardless of the program that you are interested in you are guaranteed expert training with experienced and very knowledgeable instructors who are all certified by the Peace Officers Standards and Training Department. The in-service courses are specialized to meet P.O.S.T. requirements. The civilian courses will be instrumental to students who want to learn how to be safe drivers with defensive driving skills. Our course will offer training in areas that are not offered by common driving schools such as our skid car, driving on the wet track, high speed braking and accident avoidance all of which are not matched by any other driving school in the region.

The Drive Safe Sacramento (DSS) facility was created in 1976 for in-house officers by the head Sergeant of the Major Vehicle Collision division who assisted in developing an innovative and concentrated program, which has truly advanced into a remarkable training program. Some of these same instructors that aided in the development of the program over 30 years ago continue to train in driver safety at DSS. The instructors are active/retired fire fighters and police officers with over 100 years of combined service specific to driver training. Most of our excellent instructors are former traffic officers who have first hand experience with the ways of the road.

The following are a few of the reasons why Drive Safe Sacramento is the right program for your driver training needs.

  • First and foremost, we offer fun, friendly, interactive, and extremely valuable classroom and behind the wheel training. When you take a course from us, you will immediately feel the comfortable atmosphere and no-pressure instruction that will give you the confidence you need to learn.
  • Our instructors are all duly appointed State of California public safety personnel from both fire and law enforcement specialties. They have a vested interest in creating a safe traffic environment and are experts in motor vehicle laws.
  • DSS offers more teaching experience than anywhere else in the region with over 100 years of combined driver training experience.
  • When taking an DSS course, you will be part of a small group where training can be specialized for your greatest areas of need. Our goal is not just to have you complete the course, rather we make every effort to provide one-on-one training for your driving safety and education. We make sure you leave DSS that you have a complete understanding of every aspect of your course.
  • Being behind-the-wheel is an unparalleled experience giving you the thrill of high-speed lane changes, swerving through the skid pan, instantaneous braking at accelerated levels of speed, and experiencing accident avoidance situations. 

"The principal factor that makes DSS the best in business is our emphasis on the importance of offering the student hands on training. We strongly believe in hands on behind the wheel training that positively contributes to the students understanding of the safety concepts that we teach and builds confidence and awareness of the student." - Training Staff, Drive Safe Sacramento

Training Courses

There are four different types of training offered. Find out the ways we can make your driver training experience a pleasant one. We will give you the skills necessary for safe and defensive driving. Choose the program that fits your needs:

  • New Driver - If you are a new driver, find out in the New Driver section the ways we can make your driver training experience a pleasant one. We'll give you the skills necessary for safe and defensive driving.
  • Supplemental Training - Our Supplemental training is designed for those who would like to brush up on their skills. Or maybe it has been awhile since you've been behind the wheel. Either way we've got you covered and offer the training you need to refine the driver skills you already possess.
  • Fire Service Personnel - Our Fire training is geared toward fire department employees. We give you the skills you need in your fire fighting career and offer continuous driver training no matter your agency size.
  • Law Enforcement Personnel - For sworn law enforcement personnel, we take you through the drills you need to make it through your law enforcement career and offer continuous driver training no matter your agency size. Our courses also fulfill the P.O.S.T. Emergency Vehicle Operations Training mandated every two years for sworn personnel.
 

Schedule

The New Drivers and Supplemental Training courses are offered Saturdays from 8:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. The cost is $250, payable up front. A typical course consists of 10 students per class with 1 hour of classroom lecture covering laws, rules of the road and videos and 7 hours of behind-the-wheel training on the various courses. Students in these courses typically are excused for a one-hour lunch. There are various eating establishments located in the vicinity of the DSS facility.

 Upcoming Training Dates: (TBD)

Unfortunately, DSS is unable to offer any public courses at this time. This page will be updated with scheduling information once training sessions resume.

The Fire Training courses are two days and typically offered Monday through Thursday, beginning at 7:00 a.m. and ending at 5:00 p.m.

The Law Enforcement Training courses are two days and typically offered Tuesday through Friday, beginning at 7:00 a.m. and ending at 5:00 p.m.

  Drive Safe Sacramento training chart

 

Program rules and guidelines

  • Drivers who participate in the course will be required to show proof of a valid drivers license. No permits will be allowed for training. 
  • Drivers will be required to sign waivers prior to the beginning of the class.
  • Wear neat, clean, appropriate clothing. Shorts, sweat suits or jogging suits, tank tops, halter tops, or clothing which is torn, soiled or displays offensive language or symbols shall not be allowed.
  • Drivers shall conduct themselves in a civil and courteous manner at all times.
  • Drivers must wear their seat belts at all times while in the training car.
  • No tape recordings, cameras, or similar devices are allowed without prior approval.
  • Failure to comply with any of the above listed rules and guidelines will result in the immediate termination from the program.
     

Instructors

The instructors at Drive Safe Sacramento are all Peace Officer Standards and Training (POST) certified, with several of our instructors dual-certified in Coaching the Emergency Vehicle Operator (CEVO). All instructors are certified in Emergency Vehicle Operations Course (EVOC), Pursuit Intervention Technique (PIT), Skid Car, Driving Simulator, and Training Academy instruction. Drive Safe Sacramento instructors average nearly 30 years each of service in law enforcement or fire service experience. Our instructors have gone through years of rigorous training in EVOC, PIT, and various other facets of driver training.

A full-time staff of driving instructors provides expert instruction utilizing adult learning concepts in precision driving, skid pan, pursuit mobilization technique, and code-3/pursuit driving.