Civilian Vehicle Operation Course

UPDATE: CVOC is now available again using our completely immersive, full motion feedback, virtual reality driving simulator.

Students hear all the sounds of the vehicles engine, tires, brakes, the sounds of the road. They feel direct feedback thru the pedals, steering wheel and chassis of the vehicle (weight shift is very important in this equation). And they see everything in a 3 dimensional space, as  they would in an actual vehicle.

This fully immersive simulator is superior in several ways:

• Complete control of weather conditions

• Ability to work thru emergency maneuvers at both high speed and low speed

• Merging onto a highway with or without traffic, complete understanding of why stability at speed matters so much

• Limitations of vehicle assistive technology (Anti-lock brakes, Traction control, Electronic Stability  Control)

• Risks of overtaking on rural  highways (head on collisions, closing probabilities, mistakes in judging speed and space). This is done with actual traffic on our virtual reality simulator, something we could never do before (safely).

• Recovery of control of vehicle after tire has gone over shoulder

• Emergency braking on unequal surfaces (both grip and height of surfaces)

• Avoiding rear end collisions when braking

• Proper following distance in good weather vs adverse weather

• Forward and reverse bay parking is offered in this course 

• An ACTUAL EVOC course is included in this program, with emergency braking, emergency lane change, and slalom.

• Steering techniques (push pull vs hand over hand vs fixed hand) are explored as well as when each technique has advantages or disadvantages.
• Drivers will experience driving on highways, in a city environment with stop signs, traffic lights, straight roads, left and right turns, and safely be able to explore decisions regarding right of way before ever going on the road.

Our precision skills course for new drivers was inspired by the known benefits of EVOC (Emergency Vehicle Operation Course) and technical skills courses taught to emergency services operators, commercial truck and bus drivers. 

We believe student drivers should be offered the opportunity to start their training on a closed driving range that allows them to explore their current skill while learn new techniques that will quickly advance their handling of a vehicle and decision making on public roads. 

​We teach proper use of vision, correct steering techniques, smooth acceleration, braking smoothly, braking before turning, braking for emergencies, use of crash avoidance techniques (such as blocked lane maneuver)  reversing straight, reverse 3 point turnaround, diminishing lane clearance (operational space, centering skills), pivoting forward (slow speed slalom around delineators), where to stop safely and legally for intersections, and use of vehicle controls as well as proper seating and mirror positioning.

New drivers who have experience will find this course fun and challenging, and will definitely learn new skills that will help them be far safer on the road or in parking lots. 

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New drivers with little or no experience will really appreciate this course as it allows them to gain skill and confidence without worrying about keeping up with traffic on their first drive. 

Repetition is vital in learning new skills, and learning these skills in a safe, fun environment is definitely a key advantage for any driver.

Safe driving is emphasized in this course. Our class is intended to teach civilian drivers the proper skills needed for lawful operation while driving in public. EVOC (Emergency Vehicle Operation Course) and racing courses differ from this class in that their goal is to get drivers to push vehicles to their limits. 

We specifically do not want our civilian drivers pushing the vehicle to the limit. Our SKIDCAR class is intended to fill the role of learning about controlling a vehicle safely in low traction environments (SKIDCAR is also now available at anytime of the year on our full motion platform, we are now able to allow students to experience in all weather conditions including snow, rain, limited visibility and at actual speeds encountered on the road. Using the VR system, we can also incorporate traction issues with downslope, upslope, off camber and on camber banking turns, at normal speeds. This was impossible in our parking lot SKIDCAR course).

Collision avoidance and crash prevention are taught throughout our full curriculum. EVOC and some "race" inspired teen courses do teach this as well. However, our emphasis is on defensive driving as opposed to reactive driving (proactive versus reactive means planning ahead so as to avoid critical situations, but being capable of handling situations that do occur).

4000 W Dimond Blvd Unit 220 Anchorage, AK 99502

 AlaskA Safe Driver Academy LLC

907.330.9046