Montana D.R.I.V.E. Advanced Driver Education

Develop skills to respond safely to driving risks with Montana DRiver In-Vehicle Education (DR.I.V.E.) on track in Lewistown, Montana since 1979.  Summer One-day Workshops cost $275.
Register online, by e-mail, MontanaDRIVE@mt.gov or telephone, 406.444.4432

2010 D.R.I.V.E Registration

Registration

You may register on-line (available this spring), and one of our staff will contact you to identify an open workshop date and arrange for payment. You may also download a PDF registration form to send to us through the mail or circulate among colleagues and friends. We encourage you to apply early by contacting our office at 406.444.4432 or e-mail your schedule request to: montanadrive@mt.gov

On a first-come first-served basis only 12 persons will be selected for each workshop. Registration fees are due and payable immediately to guarantee your reservation. We accept checks, purchase orders and Visa and MasterCard.

Vehicle Exercises

Directional/Motion Control Strengthen risk managing behaviors through proper visual skills, use of steering, and throttle control while driving through a series of cones.	Evasive Steering Acquire the savvy to avoid a crash by steering around an object in a shorter distance than would be possible by trying to bring the vehicle to a stop.
Controlled Braking Develop the ability to achieve maximum braking while still maintaining vehicle directional control.	Skid Control Experience how vision and targeting can quickly manage a skid and regain control.
Off-Road Recovery Learn techniques for safely returning to the roadway after running off the edge of the pavement.	Cornering Manage the risk dynamics of cornering through good vision and proper lane placement, braking, steering, and acceleration.

Montana D.R.I.V.E. Teen Workshops

Invest a day learning how to prevent or regain control in a skid, avoid a crash and safely recover when a wheel drops off the road.

Reduce risk with behind the wheel training.  Experience how vision and targeting can prevent or quickly manage a skid.

Our professional instructors will spend a day with teens to help develop their skills to keep their vehicle in balance and respond safely to driving risks.

One-day Teen Driving Workshops will be held at the Montana DR.I.V.E. Track, adjacent to the Lewistown Airport.  The cost is $250. On a first-come, first-served basis only 12 drivers will be selected for each workshop*.

*Students who came to Lewistown for the 2005 Teen Driving Research Project or participated as the control group are not eligible to register for a Teen Driver Workshop.

Lewistown, Montana Lodging and Camping Facilities

Personal Preparation - What to Bring?

Professional Development Credits

Participant Comments

WHAT PARTICIPANTS SAY ABOUT THE PROGRAM

• The class was awesome!!!! Really, I can't say enough about it. We had Bruce, Jeff, Kathleen, and Dave as our teachers, and they rocked!They had us doing things we didn't think we were capable of. It was such a great use of our time and will help in all driving situations. Paige - State of Montana
• I really improved my skills. The instructors were just AWESOME, patient, dedicated and FUN!!! It was great to watch our bus drivers gain more confidence in their driving skills. I know some were really nervous about coming, but in the end they learned and had fun doing it. Kathy – Wyoming School Bus Driver
• Missoula County Road Department drivers have taken your one day training and I have heard great response from them.In fact, we had an incident last winter where a car ran a stop sign directly in front of our snow plow and our driver said that the only way he avoided a serious collision was because of the training he received from your course....Thank you! Doug - Manager
• I just got back from taking the DR.I.V.E. workshop.Wow, the class is really outstanding! The combination of classroom time and drive experience in the different cars is excellent. I was really impressed with all of the instructors, they did a great job! I’m recommending the course to several people. Jason – Work Safe MT
• I encountered a deer on the dark interstate near Drummond while driving my family home from the ocean. I had less than one second to crash or steer around the deer and back onto the interstate. My Montana DRIVE training gave me the skill to prevent a rollover and keep my family safe on their long journey home. My wife woke when the car jolted around the deer and asked what happened. I said "You don't want to know" The deer was still standing on the highway. Doug – Livingston, MT
• I have sent our data collectors to your one-day class every year for the past nine years and it's well-worth the time and money. Last year one of our data collectors slightly over-controlled on a curvy, bumpy, gravel road full of wash-board ridges. Your training helped him maintain control while negotiating a curve. I am thankful neither of our employees was hurt in what could have been a major accident. Thanks again for a great training program. Marlin – MDT

Mission and Objectives of the Workshops

Montana DR.I.V.E. Workshop Frequently Asked Questions

1. Where are the workshops located?
   The Montana DR.I.V.E. track is three miles west of Lewistown, Montana off Cottonwood Creek Road near the Lewistown Raceway. The track is 100 miles east of Great Falls and 127 miles from Billings. Map to Facility
2. When are the summer workshops?
   The Montana DR.I.V.E. workshops are offered Monday through Saturday from early June to mid August. Saturday dates are limited. Check the schedule (add link) for availability and register early in the spring since workshops fill quickly. Registration is $275.
3. What are the hours?
   One-day workshops are scheduled from 8:00 a.m. - 6:00 p.m. Sign in on-site at 7:45 a.m.
4. Do I need to bring a lunch?
   Participants need to bring their own lunch. There is a half hour lunch break, but it's not enough time to get into town and back. A refrigerator, water and a microwave oven are available free at the facility and soft drinks for a nominal fee.
5. How much time is spent driving?
   Montana DR.I.V.E. classes are 8 – 10 hours in length. Two hours are dedicated to classroom instruction and six or more hours are spent practicing how to control critical driving situations with various vehicles.
6. Do you provide the vehicles?
   Yes. The Montana DR.I.V.E fleet has a variety of vehicles, including school busses, sedans, an SUV, ambulance, dump truck, 15-passenger van and a fire truck.
7. What kind of training do you offer?
   Montana DR.I.V.E. One-day Workshops put drivers behind the wheel to develop skills to respond safely to critical driving risks. Participants include new and experienced bus drivers, truck drivers, firefighters, EMS, fleet drivers and anyone who drives cars, vans and pick–up trucks. There are workshops designed specifically for teen drivers. (add link) The in-vehicle exercises are based upon the kind of situations that cause the most types of crashes in Montana. These include off-road recovery, cornering, controlled emergency braking, evasive steering, skid control, and an exercise in a specially equipped Skid-Monster vehicle that combines vision, targeting, braking/accelerating transition and vehicle balance.
8. Do the instructors ride in the car?
   The Montana DR.I.V.E. Program puts an instructor in every vehicle so that they can observe all driver actions and provide immediate feedback. Educational research indicates that immediate feedback provides the best learning opportunity.
9. What is the student-teacher ratio?
   Classes are limited to 12 participants with four instructors. There is one driving coach for every three participants.
10. What is required to attend a Montana DR.I.V.E. workshop?
    Pre-registration, the $275 registration fee, and a valid driver license or permit along with a desire to develop skills to respond safely to driving risks. Remember to bring a lunch and wear comfortable shoes. For safety reasons, sandals and flip-flops are discouraged.
11. May I reserve a spot now and pay later?
    No, payment is required to confirm your registration. However, groups may register early for specific workshop dates, pay the invoice and send driver names later.
12. What if my plans change and I can't come?
    Notify the Traffic Education Programs office as soon as possible if you need to cancel, reschedule or send a substitute. Contact us by e-mail MontanaDRIVE@mt.gov or telephone, (406) 444-4432. Workshop space is limited. Refunds are available as follows:
    90% Refund with 20 or more days advance notice;
    50% Refund with 10-19 days advance notice; or
    Less than 10 days – No refund, however you can send a substitute with prior notification.
13. Can my teen driver who is 15 years old and just got her\his instruction permit attend?
    Yes. Our professional instructors guide teen drivers through off-road recovery, skid control and evasive maneuvers. Teens receive an individualized report evaluating ten specific driving skills with practice recommendations. Teen one-day workshops are designed for teens that have been driving for six months or more. Teen workshops based on research, are designed to help teens develop skills to handle critical and emergency driving situations which cause most types of crashes in Montana. Teen Workshops
14. Where can I stay in Lewistown?
    If you must travel more than one hour to arrive in Lewistown, we recommend that you stay overnight. Arrange your own accommodations. For more information, refer to the lodging and camping facilities at the Montana Official Travel Web site http://visitmt.com/
15. Are discounts offered to groups?
    No. There are no discounts offered to keep fees as low as possible for everyone. Montana DR.I.V.E. is a government nonprofit user-supported program providing services to schools, state agencies, companies, and individuals for the benefit of the public safety.
16. Do insurance companies offer discounts for successfully completing Montana DR.I.V.E. training?
    Some insurance companies offer discounts. Check with your auto insurance agent for details.
17. What is the history of the Montana DR.I.V.E. program?
    The driving track is built on runways constructed in 1939 for training B-17 Flying Fortress pilots and crew during World War II. In 2004, the track was improved and resurfaced. Over 11,500 drivers have been trained in Lewistown since the Office of Public Instruction Advanced Driver Training Program began during the summer of 1979.