Montana DR.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.
Check the Summer 2012 Workshop Schedule
Download the Summer 2012 Workshop Schedule and Registration
Register Online for a Summer 2012 Workshop
Drivers of cars, trucks and buses can register to learn and practice techniques for handling critical and emergency driving. Our experienced and professional instructors stay with you in each vehicle. Montana DR.I.V.E One-day Workshops are scheduled in Lewistown during June, July and August.
Register Soon – Workshops Fill Quickly
Montana DR.I.V.E. Workshops registration cost is $299. Workshops provide classroom instruction and behind-the-wheel training from 8:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. Only 12 drivers can register in each one-day workshop. Payment in full is required for reservation confirmation. We accept checks, Visa, MasterCard and Discover. Register online, by e-mail, MontanaDRIVE@mt.gov or telephone, 406.444.4432
Discounts Might Be Available
* Check with your insurance agent about discounts for successfully completing a Montana DR.I.V.E. training workshop. Auto insurance discounts for drivers age 55 or older are available. http://www.sao.mt.gov/drivingcourse.asp
Registration
SUMMER WORKSHOPS FILL QUICKLY! WE ENCOURAGE YOU TO CALL SOON!
Download the Summer 2012 Workshop Schedule and Registration
Call 406.444.4432
E-mail MontanaDRIVE@mt.gov
or Register Online
to schedule
your workshop date.
2012 One-Day Workshops
- 8:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.
- During June, July and August
- 12 drivers each day
- Registration fee $299 each
2012 TEEN One-Day Workshops
- 8:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.
- July 16, 17 or July 18 only
- 12 drivers each day
- Registration fee $275 each
- Download application for $200 State Farm scholarship. $75 deposit to reserve workshop.
Teens learn and practice how to control a vehicle in critical driving situations and recover when a wheel drifts off road. Teen drivers only drive the sedans.
2012 MONTANA DR.I.V.E. ONE DAY WORKSHOP SCHEDULE |
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| 2012 | M | T | W | TH | F | S |
| June | ||||||
| June | ||||||
| June | ||||||
| July | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | |
| July | TEEN 17 |
TEEN 18 |
19 | 20 | ||
| July | 23 | 24 | 25 | 26 | 27 | |
| July/Aug | 30 | 31 | 1 | 3 | 4 | |
| Aug | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | ||
Insurance Discounts Might Be Available
* Check with your insurance agent about discounts for successfully completing a Montana DR.I.V.E. training workshop. Auto insurance discounts for drivers age 55 or older are available. http://www.sao.mt.gov/drivingcourse.asp
What You Will Need:
- Bring a lunch
- Make lodging arrangements
in Lewistown, Montana - Payment in full is required to confirm reservations
- Mail registration form with your check or purchase order to:
- OPI - Montana DRIVE
PO Box 202501
Helena, MT 59620-2501
- OPI - Montana DRIVE
- Telephone (406) 444-4432 to pay with Visa, MasterCard or Discover
Registration and Refund Policy
Payment in full is required for reservation confirmation. Notify our office as soon as possible if you need to cancel or send a substitute.
Refunds are available as follows:
- 90% Refund with 20 or more days advance notice;
- 50% Refund with 10-19 days advance notice;
- Less than 10 days—No refund, but you can send a substitute with prior notice
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 DR.I.V.E. Teen Workshops
2012 Montana DR.I.V.E. One-Day Teen workshops are scheduled on July 16, 17 and 18 in Lewistown. The workshop cost is $275. We are pleased to offer State Farm Insurance $200 scholarships for teens who fill out a workshop application and write a paragraph explaining why they want to attend our advanced driver training. The balance of the fee ($75) must be paid prior to the workshop to confirm registration.
Download the State Farm Insurance $200 Scholarship and send to OPI by May 30, 2012. Only 12 teens will be selected for each one-day workshop. OPI will contact applicants by June 1 to confirm registration dates.
Call: (406) 444-4432 or e-mail: MontanaDRIVE@mt.gov
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 $275. On a first-come, first-served basis only 12 drivers will be selected for each workshop.
Click map for larger image. Our advanced driver summer training program began in 1979 in beautiful Lewistown, Montana. The track is surrounded by seven mountain ranges.
The Montana DR.I.V.E. Facility is adjacent to the Fergus County Airport.
The driving track is built on runways constructed for training bomber pilots during World War II. The driving track was completely resurfaced in 2004.
Lewistown, Montana Lodging and Camping Facilities
Super 8
102 Wendell
406.538.2581
800.800.8000
Yogo Inn
211 E Main
406.535.8721
800.860.9646
B&B Motel
520 E Main
406.535.5496
877.538.3563
Duvall Inn
Bed and Breakfast
406.538.7063
Mountain Acres Campground
103 Rocklyn
406.538.7591
The Calvert Hotel
216 7th Ave. South
(406) 535-5411
(877) 371-5411
For other lodging options, click here to visit the Montana Official Travel Website.
Personal Preparation - What to Bring?
- BRING YOUR OWN
LUNCH
If you are taking the One-Day Workshop, you will only have 30 minutes for a lunch break and you will not have time to leave the facility for lunch. Water and a microwave oven are available free at the facility—soft drinks for a nominal fee. You do not need to bring a lunch if you are taking the half-day refresher. - Make Your Own Overnight Accommodations
For more information, refer to the lodging and camping facilities listed above. If you must travel more than one hour to arrive in Lewistown, it is recommended that you stay overnight. - Dress Casual and Wear Comfortable Clothes and Good Shoes
You will be spending a lot of time in and out of a variety of motor vehicles. Sandals and flip-flops are discouraged because of safety reasons. - Do Not Bring Dependents
or Pets
You will not have time to care for them properly, and your personal vehicle is not an appropriate place for them to spend the day.
Professional Development Credits
- Renewal Units:
Montana teachers can obtain ten renewal units for licensure renewal upon successful completion of the One-Day Workshop. - College Credit: One semester of graduate or undergraduate credit can be earned through Montana State University—Northern.
Please indicate your wish for credit when you register. In addition to the One-Day Workshop, those requesting credit must also return a second day, student teach an exercise, and write and submit a short paper.
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
The mission of the Montana DR.I.V.E. program is to enhance driver risk management through in-vehicle training and education services to schools, governments, businesses and the general public. The workshops contribute to this by:
- increasing the participant’s awareness of driving risks;
- identifying driver and vehicle limitations;
- providing practice in driving behaviors that anticipate and manage risks;
- providing confidence-building opportunities to successfully manage critical situations; and
- encouraging and practicing "everytime" use of occupant protection measures.
Montana DR.I.V.E. Workshop Frequently Asked Questions
- 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. Turn at the Raceway Arrow near the red barn. The track is 100 miles east of Great Falls and 127 miles from Billings. Map to Facility - 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 for availability and register early in the spring since workshops fill quickly. Registration is $299. - 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. - 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. - 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. - Do insurance companies offer discounts for successfully completing Montana DR.I.V.E. training?
Check with your auto insurance agent. Auto insurance discounts for drivers age 55 or older are available. http://www.sao.mt.gov/drivingcourse.asp - 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, van and a fire truck. - 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. 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. - 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. - What is the student-teacher ratio?
Classes are limited to 12 participants with four instructors. There is one driving coach for every three participants. - What is required to attend a Montana DR.I.V.E. workshop?
Registration fee, $299, 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. - 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. - 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. - 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 - 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/ - 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. - 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 12,00 drivers drivers have been trained in Lewistown since the Office of Public Instruction Advanced Driver Training Program began during the summer of 1979.
