Course Description
Who Should Attend?
Drive Smart–Driving With Emotional Intelligence (DSC-ALT)
Drive Smart–Driving with Emotional Intelligence is a course aimed at helping drivers with a record of multiple and serious driving violations make significant behavioral changes. The goal of the course is to help students choose safe and legal behaviors when they drive.
Research showed that a class approach emphasizing driving knowledge was not working with repeat offenders. Rather, what was needed for this group was a course emphasizing the modification of negative driving attitudes. The course focuses on providing a more thoughtful remediation for serious traffic violators.
The conceptual framework for Drive Smart–Driving with Emotional Intelligence is based on Emotional Intelligence, originated by psychologist Daniel Goleman, which says that a persons emotional competence directs improved performance in personal and social areas of their lives. A portion of the course also uses the Drivers Angry Thoughts questionnaire, developed by Dr. Jerry Deffenbacher, to assist the student in perceiving their behavior behind the wheel. Deffenbacher's research has shown a correlation of patterns of angry thoughts to the likelihood of aggressive driving behaviors. As a driver perceives and understands their behavior, it allows them to then manage the correct behavior behind the wheel.
The course encourages active student participation and builds on well-established findings from behavioral science that people will be much more likely to change their attitudes and behavior if they are personally involved in the process. This involvement takes a number of forms including individual and group exercises, a self-assessment profile and a discussion of video-taped scenarios. Student contributions are written on appraisal pages that are reviewed throughout the course by all participants.
The course content, training aids and instructor training have been carefully developed by the Traffic Safety School's professional staff of educators, trainers and driving safety experts. At the conclusion of the course, each student creates a specific and practical driving improvement plan that is then discussed with the group.
The negative consequences of continuing to receive violations are emphasized and reinforced throughout the course.
Who Should Attend?
Drive Smart–Driving with Emotional Intelligence benefits drivers with a record of multiple and serious driving violations.
