California Defensive Driving School

Classroom (805) 967-9333       Behind-the-Wheel  (805) 967-0831


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Why Choose CDDS?

We provide classroom driver education and behind-the-wheel driver training experiences unlike that of traditional schools:

  1. Our driver education IS TAUGHT BY ONE INDIVIDUAL, Jarrod Bradley, who has the ability to communicate information as well as relate to young people. Mr. Bradley is a local educator with a B.S. in Geophysics and an M.A. in Education, both from the University of California. In addition, Mr. Bradley possesses a valid California Teaching Credential. No other school offers an instructor with the combination of an academic background and the ability to relate to young people.

 

  1. Our driver education classes INVOLVE instruction using a variety of media and print resources. The key word is INVOLVE. Students are expected to participate in discussions, presentations and hands-on demonstrations rather than intuit information through lecture format only. Online courses and other school do not provide the same multi-faceted approach to driver education because their instructors are not professional teachers.

 

  1. Students are PROVIDED WITH MATERIAL to peruse at home to prepare them for the California Provisional Driver Examination. While not the same as traditional homework, students are given organized study guides to assist them in preparing for their written exam. We are cognizant of the embarrassment of failure and do everything possible to prevent it.

 

  1. Our driver training model is unique because it matches each student driver with only ONE INSTRUCTOR WITHOUT FULL PAYMENT UP FRONT. At other schools, students may receive instruction from as many as four different instructors and parents are charged the entire amount before beginning the process. Beginning drivers are nervous enough behind the wheel, so we try to make them as comfortable as possible. Adjusting to different instructors is not easy. Would you want your student receiving instruction from different teachers at school everyday? Imagine learning English or Math from a different teacher each day! This is not consistent with good instructional methods and we agree. Furthermore, what if your student doesn't like your instructor? At other schools the entire payment you made is non-refundable whereas at CDDS you will be charged on a per lesson basis.

 

  1. Our vehicles are UNMARKED. While you may think that having a large STUDENT DRIVER sign on the side of the car is helpful for other drivers, anecdotal evidence suggests the opposite. Our instructors have driven both marked and unmarked vehicles and have noticed an increased incidence of driver distraction and dangerous maneuvers around marked vehicles compared to unmarked vehicles. Newly licensed teenagers feel the need to embarrass and harass student drivers and we would like to avoid this distraction.

 

  1. Our driver training instructors TEACH STANDARDS, similar to a classroom teacher. Just like the state of California has developed standards for each grade and subject matter to ensure consistency from school to school, we have a set of objectives that student drivers should achieve at different stages in their educational process. These objectives are taught during different lessons depending on the difficulty and experience of the student. For example, during the first lesson students are shown how to pull away from and toward a curb, while in lesson two they are taught to park in spaces. Finally, in lesson four they are taught how to parallel park. Regardless of the instructor, each student is receiving the same instruction, ensuring that every student is taught the important skills necessary to drive defensively. At other schools, a combination of different instructors and a lack of objectives means that a student driver may not receive important instruction imperative to safe operation of a motor vehicle.

 

  1. We are COMPETITIVELY PRICED and offer a discount if you complete both driver education and driver training. We are locally owned and operated and all of our employees are residents of Santa Barbara. We strongly urge you to speak with us before committing with another school. You may find a cheaper quote but do you really want the cheapest instruction? Driving is a skill that you use your entire life. We offer a combination of quality instruction and competitive prices.