DRIVERS EDUCATION CLASSROOM
El Cajon Driving School offers Driver's Education classes on Saturdays during the year (see schedule below), conveniently located in the meeting room at Parkway Bowl in El Cajon. Click here for a map to the classroom.
Advance Reservation Requested—call
619.401.5342
Parkway Bowl meeting room (ask at main desk)
1280 Fletcher Parkway, El Cajon 92020
Questions? Call 619.401.5342 weekdays
We have chosen Parkway Bowl as the site for our classroom because it
is centrally-located in East County, it's a safe place to drop off
teenagers and for them to relax for breaks, lots of air-conditioned
indoor space and clean restrooms are available, and several food
options exist nearby, including a café and snack bar on site and
fast-food restaurants within 2 blocks. Students
must
bring
a
pen
and note paper to each class
and we will provide a California Driver Handbook, DMV Application,
sample test and an accident information form. Few driving schools
offer a classroom option.
Class fee of just $100 includes 4 sessions and the DMV Certificate, and
is payable at the first session.
Since so
few Driving Schools offer Drivers Education in a classroom, our classes
are often at near capacity. To be sure we have space available,
please call our Office at 619.401.5342 in advance so we can hold a spot.
Future drivers may enroll in Drivers Education as young as age 15, but we recommend no earlier than 15 years and 4 months, two months before eligibility for a Learner's Permit at age 15 ½ to keep information fresh for the written test. Throughout the year, these 7 ½-hour classes are offered on scheduled Saturdays. In addition, during Summer Break and in the week of Spring Break and Winter Break, we often will offer 4 weekday Sessions to complete Drivers Education in 4 consecutive days. See our schedule for upcoming classroom session dates.
Our DMV-approved classroom curriculum includes lecture, interactive discussion and videos. Each session is independent, so you may start at any time and complete the sessions in any order. For example, a Student may start at Session #3, then do Session #4, #1 and #2. Each Student must attend all 4 Sessions at some point to gain their required completion Certificate, so carefully check the schedule for available dates since some holidays and months do not have classroom sessions.
Our goal in the Drivers Education class is to do more than simply prepare a Student to pass the DMV written test on laws and signs. Just reading the California Driver Handbook might allow someone to pass the test, but that's not enough to start a new driver along the path to safe driving habits that will last a lifetime. Our class covers a variety of topics and insights that will lead to safer driving, better choices, and may even save them money in the future. Some of the subjects we discuss in Drivers Education include:
- LAWS – California Vehicle Code for traffic, pedestrians, bicycles, and latest changes. A 92-question sample test and discussion of each question is included.
- NATURAL LAWS – How laws of Physics affect driving and cannot be broken.
- DRIVERS LICENSE – How to get it, how to keep it, different classes of licenses.
- ALCOHOL AND DRUGS – Effects on drivers abilities and drivers licenses.
- WHAT TO DO AT THE SCENE OF AN ACCIDENT – sequence of actions, first aid, required reports, insurance information. An Accident Information Sheet is provided.
- AUTO INSURANCE - learning the different parts of the policy, which are required, how to save money.
- LEGAL SYSTEM - dealing with a police officer and court system, traffic school.
- UNDERSTANDING AUTOMOBILES – how they work, how to buy, how to maintain.
- DEFENSIVE DRIVING - vision habits, space management, driving techniques.
- THE LANGUAGE OF ROADS AND SIGNS – a picture is worth 1000 words…
Students must take notes in class and share with their parents, making this class a “family learning experience.” WHY? Because Mom may believe the law still says you can't legally change lanes in intersections, and Dad might think it's best to hold the steering wheel at "10 and 2" because that was good advice before cars had airbags.