FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Below each question is the shortest answer I can provide. To learn more read the item with the same number in the center and right column.
I (Joda Collins) do all of the training. I do all of the admin work except for about one hours work per week. I do not anwer the phone because I have permanent vocal cord damage due to having life threatening Covid in December 2019. The more I talk the more I cough. I save my talking for teaching. You cannot catch damaged vocal cords from a cough. However, I try to return phone calls within two hours. If you will leave your email address on the voice mail, I can return all info via email and save my voice; that would be much appreciated.
Table of Contents for this Column
GENERAL OVERVIEW
1. HOW DOES TRAINING WORK?
Tell me what you want to learn, and I will teach that to you. At the end of the first lesson I can usually tell you, with a reasonable degree of accuracy, how many more lessons, if you, you will need to reach your started driving skill-level goal or goals.
2. IS A LEARNER'S PERMIT OR LICENSE REQUIRED?
Yes
3. THE CHARGE.
Charges vary depending on the specifics of service requested. Once I know what services I offer, you desire, I can give you a to the penny charge.
4. HOW LONG DOES THE TRAINING TAKE?
Lessons range from 75 minutes to four-hours in length. The training ends when you tell me it ends.
5. CO-TEACHING
Teaching between lessons is recommended if the co-teacher works in tandem with me. Co-teaching is not recommended if the co-teacher does not work in tandem with me.
6. FASTER PROGRESS....
Memorize the things I give you to memorize, and read the things I ask you to read equals faster progress.
7. WHAT IS DEFENSIVE DRIVING?
Driving in a manner where you do not become involved in the crashes that crash-prone drivers create.
8. THE DEFINITION OF A BEHIND-THE-WHEEL LESSON.
Behind the wheel training does not mean that the student is behind the wheel 100% of the time. Sometimes I am behind the wheel because some things are easier and faster to show than explain only with words.
9. DO I PROVIDE A VEHICLE FOR TAKING THE STATE EXAM?
No.
10. CAN I PROVIDE THE VEHICLE FOR TRAINING?
Yes.
11. DO I PROVIDE DOOR-TO-DOOR SERVICE?
Yes.
12. DO I SERVE PARTS OF ALABAMA?
No. All training, by Florida Law, has to be done in Florida because I am licensed to train in and by Florida.
13. WHAT I (Joda Collins) DO.
14. WHAT I DO NOT DO.
15. ARE CAREFUL DRIVERS SAFE?
Being careful is not the same as being safe. A driver with dangerous driving habits is not safe just because he or she is driving dangerously in a careful manner.
16. BRIEF BREAK
17. CAN PARENTS OR SPOUSES RIDE DURING TRAINING?
In some instances, yes.
18. HOURS OF OPERATION (Training)
10am to 4pm Tuesday.
10am to 8:45pm Monday and Wednesday through Saturday.
19. YOUR INSURANCE MAY BE LESS IF....
your insurance company gives a discount for driver training. Call them to find out.
20. WHAT HAPPENS IF WE CANNOT "GET ALONG"?
We part company with as much grace as possible.
21. STATE EXAMINATION INFORMATION
Call your local DMV for this information.
22. THE FINANCIAL VALUE OF SELF-STUDY
Everything learned by the student on his on his or her own time is without charge from me.
23. DRIVING AT NIGHT AND IN BAD WEATHER
The best and safest way to learn to drive at night and/or in bad weather, is to train at night and/or in bad weather.
24. WHY IS THERE A CHARGE FOR DOOR TO DOOR SERVICE?
Nothing I do is for free because nothing I do is without time and/or financial expense to me.
25. IS THERE A CONTRACT TO SIGN?
Yes. It is agreed on before scheduling and signed in paper format just before training at first meeting.
26. If you SIGNED THE WORKING AGREEMENT BUT I DID NOT READ IT,
then there will probably be problems that we face, unnecessarily.
27. I (Client and/or Driver) MISREAD THE WORKING AGREEMENT AND NOW THERE IS A PROBLEM. WHAT SHOULD I DO?
Bring your problem to my attention so I can do what I can to solve it.
28. WHERE ARE THE DRIVER LICENSES OFFICES?
29. WHY DON'T I ANSWER THE TELEPHONE?
The most difficult and time-consuming part of my job is answering the phone and explaining contract details to those who call, so I do not do answer incoming phone calls. However, I do return voice mail and email inquiries.
30. FREE PARKING AND THREE POIN TURN TRAINING IF...
the driver memorizes the steps in advance.
31. WHY DO I TEACH HAND-OVER-HAND STEERING AS THE PRIMARY METHOD OF STEERING?
It is, in my opinion, the best method of steering. No method is perfect, however.
32. IN THE THREE POINT TURN, WHEN USING MY VEHILCE, WHY DO I REQUIRE DRIVERS TO STEER ONLY WITH THE VEHICLE MOVING AT A SPEED OF AT LEAST ONE-HALF MILE PER HOUR?
Steering with a vehicle stationary is not recommended by any manufacturer or any vehicle. It is good advice. It causes unnecessary and costly repairs.
33. WHY DO I REQUIRE THE NON-ADULT (UNDER 18 YEARS OF AGE) STUDENT-DRIVER READ, UNDERSTAND AND SIGN THE SERVICE CONTRACT?
So, that driver knows the details of service, knows the sacrifice others are making for him/her and because I know a student that refuses to read the contract is rebellious to authority and I need to know that before he or she gets behind the wheel of my vehicle. Safety first.
34. WHY DO I (Joda Collins) PREFER COMMUNICATING BY EMAIL RATHER THAN THE TELEPHONE?
Those who claim to know of such things, state that the average (50% of more of) Americans age 16 and older, thinks, hears, writes and reads at a third-grade level. Having things in writing protects me from the dreaded words that follow, "But, you said...!, when I never said it.
35. WHY DON'T I (Joda Collins) CALL THE CLIENT OR CO-CLIENT TO SCHEDULE LESSONS?
I want clients to schedule when they have had time to carefully review their future plans, not on the spot at my phone call.
37. WHY DO I REQUIRE CLIENTS TO SCHEDULE VIA EMAIL.
Documentation.
38. WHY ARE MY CONTRACTS SO LONG AND BORING?
They are boring because that is the nature of legal documents. They are long for our mutual protection or our rights and responsibilities.
39. FREE TRAINING FROM WORKBOOK.
Much of what I say during paid training is written in a book that a student can read for free.
40. WHY DO SO MANY YOUNG PEOPLE STRUGGLE SO MUCH WITH LEARNING TO DRIVE SAFELY IN TRAFFIC?
This generation as grown up in the car giving attention to there electronic/battery phones and toys, not seeing driving or traffic patterns.
41. MY SOCIAL MEDIA RECOMMENDATIONS ARE TYPICALLY FIVES OR ONES.
Typically, I am either loved or hated. Most people call me "old school."
42. I DO NOT INITIATE PHONE CALLS TO SCHEDULE TRAINING.
43. WHY DO I NOT ALLOW MY VEHICLE STEERING WHEEL TO BE TURNED WHILE MY VEHICLE IS STATIONARY?
44. WHY AREN'T ALL OF MY RECOMMENDATIONS ON SOCIAL MEDIA GLOWINGLY POSITIVE?
I do not tolerate disrespect. I do not let drivers drive the way they want to if doing so is dangerous.
45. WHY STOPPING TRAINING WITH ME BEFORE A DRIVER REACHES 90-GENERAL SAFETY POINTS IS A BAD IDEA.
At 91 points (if the driver is on the point system), I no longer need to use the brake or take over steering to avoid crashing.
46. WHAT ARE THE ETHICAL PRINCIPLES OF MY BUSINESS.
Treat each other with a reasonable degree or respect. Read and understand the Contract before signing it and keep your word; I will do the same.
47. ESTIMATE OF FUTURE PROGRESS
48. IS GRADUATION GUARANTEED IN THE SUGGESTED TIME FRAME FOR EACH SPECIFIC COURSE?
No.
49. WHY DON'T I (JODA COLLINS) ANSWER THE PHONE?
GENERAL OVERVIEW
I (Joda Collins) put the driver behind -the-wheel for one driving lesson. A lesson is one hour and 15-minutes unless otherwise arranged.
There are eight major Courses.
1. Experience Only.
2. Time Only.
3. Specialized training in specific and specified areas of need.
4. Basic Vehicle Control
5. Pass the State Exam Only
6. Generally Safety Course (reasonably safe among other reasonably safe drivers). (Level One, Two and Three.)
7. Defensive Driver (reasonably safe among crash-prone drivers). (Level One, Two and Three.)
8. Three-in-Three Program to meet State requirements to keep or regain one's driver license.
Each lesson comes with between 10 and 30-pages of optional reading. Drivers who do the reading will usually progress through training twice as fast, therefore, at half the expense and with much more ease. It is faster progress, because I do not have to stop the car and explain a lot of things to the driver because he or she has read the information, therefore, the driver gets more driving time with the car moving and has a better and clearer understanding of the driving techniques. With greater ease because information creates ease.
I teach Tuesday through Saturday 10am to 10pm.
For lesson one, I do not accept cash. Fro lesson two and following, I accept cash, local (Santa Rosa or Escambia County) check (upon approval), money order, cashier's check, bank debit cards, Visa and MasterCard.
Drivers are required to have a permit or a license before taking behind-the-wheel training.
1. HOW DOES TRAINING WORK?
Unless otherwise noted and agreed, the first lesson (75-minutes) is a training session.
2. IS A LEARNER'S PERMIT, DRIVERS LICENSE OR SOME FORM OF TEMPORARY LICENSE REQUIRED?
Yes.
3. THE CHARGE. Each lesson is 75-minutes unless otherwise agree-on. Charges vary depending on several detail. Contact me. I will ask several questions and then give you a to the penny price quote.
4. HOW LONG DOES THE TRAINING TAKE?
If your driving goal is a certain number of hours, then your goal can be measured and predicted. If your goal is a certain degree of driving skill reflecting driving safety, then the time it takes to reach your driving goal will depend on the speed of your progress.
5. CO-TEACHERS
If the student-driver is being taught by someone else between lessons with me that is, almost always a bad idea. See #5 in middle column for a list of the negatives of co-teaching between lessons.
6. NON-BINDING ESTIMATE OF PROGRESS.
After the first or second lesson, within 24-hours and by email I will tell you (if you so request) how many more lessons I think it will take, if any, for the driver to reach his or her stated driving goal(s).
7. WHAT IS DEFENSIVE DRIVING?
Defensive driving is driving in a manner where crash-prone drivers do not involve you in their crashes. See #7 in the column to the right for more details.
8. THE DEFINITION OF A BEHIND-THE-WHEEL LESSON.
Seventy-five minutes of training with as much of that time devoted to the student-driver behind-the-wheel as possible. See #8 in the column to the right for more details.
9. DO WE PROVIDE A VEHICLE FOR TAKING THE STATE EXAM?
No.
10. WE PROVIDE THE VEHICLE FOR TRAINING, however, we can use your insured and road-worthy vehicle if you sign a liability waiver assuming all liability. See #10 in the column to the right for more details.
11. WE PROVIDE DOOR-TO-DOOR SERVICE FOR ESCAMBIA SANTA ROSA AND OKLAOOSA COUNTIES FOR LESS THAN THE COST OF A TAXI OR UBER.
Go to http://www.mapquest.com/. Click on "Directions." Enter 32583 in the "A" box and your address in the "B" box. Double the miles to = round trip miles and increase total to next whole number. Multiply the number of miles by $2.25 or $2.42 depending on Contract status. Or call 850 981-3355 for an estimate. See #11 in the column to the right for more details.
12. WE DO SERVE PARTS OF ALABAMA?
Yes. See #12 in the center column for more details.
13. WHAT I (Joda Collins) DO.
I tell the truth about your driving progress and do my best to help you reach your driving goals. See #13 in the center column for more details.
14. WHAT I DO NOT DO.
I do not lie about your driving progress or reduce my prices. I do not refund money for lessons already started or not cancelled in time and in according with the Contact. See #14 in the center column for more details.
15. ARE CAREFUL DRIVERS SAFE?
Careful drivers are reasonably safe among other careful drivers. Only Defensive Drivers are reasonably safe among poor drivers. See #15 in the center column (immediately to your right) for additional details.
16. BRIEF BREAK
If a break is taken for safety, that is part of the training. If a break is taken for any other reason other than a safety break, additional time to cover the break will be added to that lesson. See #16 in the center column (immediately to your right) for additional details.
17. CAN PARENTS OR SPOUSES RIDE DURING TRAINING?
Yes. Parents and spouses are welcome and invited to ride along for the first lesson only if we are using the Academy vehicle. If the training is not being done in the Academy vehicle the vehicle owner decides who can and cannot ride since the vehicle owner is assuming all liability. In the USA, the crash rate for driver's training when a non-student is in the back seat is estimated to be 2.5 times greater. Therefore, there is a one-minute speech all riders have to listen to before riding. Safety first. If you feel you must ride in the Academy vehicle during training beyond lesson one, talk to me about it and I will see what I can do to accommodate your request. Anyone can follow us to see the training from the outside of our vehicle. Up to 24-hours before your lesson start, I will provide any client (parent, spouse, etc.) a free 10-minute driving session with client behind-the-wheel to get an idea of my teaching ability.
18. HOURS OF OPERATION (Training)
19. YOUR INSURANCE MAY BE LESS IF YOU TAKE BEHIND-THE-WHEEL TRAINING FROM A STATE LICENSED DRIVING SCHOOL. My Driving Academy is State Licensed. See #19 in the center column (immediately to your right) for additional details.
20. WHAT HAPPENS IF WE CANNOT "GET ALONG"?
If we cannot work together with a reasonable degree of harmony and mutual respect, we part friends, if possible. But, we part. Life is too short to do otherwise. If you quit early, I will not charge you for lessons not taken if canceled in a timely manner and in accord with your Contract. If I quit early, I will not refund money to you for lessons completed otherwise all a person would have to do is consistently irritate me on purpose until I quit and have to refund all money. See #20 in the center column (immediately to your right) for additional details.
21. STATE EXAMINATION INFORMATION
Ask and I will tell you what is required to pass the State Exam. See #21 in the center column (immediately to your right) for additional details.
22. THE FINANCIAL VALUE OF SELF-STUDY
Driver can do self-study in conjunction with their behind-the-wheel training. Most students who do the self-study progress up to twice as fast in training compared to drivers who do not do the self-study. This is a 50% savings, not 50% off. Self-study is not required, however. Only about one in 20 students take advantage of the self-study option. I am not negative towards that because if every student took advantage of this officer, I could not stay in business at 50% of my current income rate. See #22 in the center column (immediately to your right) for additional details.
23. DRIVING AT NIGHT AND IN BAD WEATHER
The only way to learn to drive at night is to drive at night. The best way to learn to drive in bad weather, is to drive in bad weather. See #23 in the far right column for more details.
24. WHY IS THERE A CHARGE FOR DOOR TO DOOR SERVICE?
It costs me to provide door-to-door service. I do not add that cost to the base price for everyone including those who do not use door-to-door service so I can provide it to others for free (no additional charge). I charge those that use the service about 90% of what it costs me to provide weekday door to door service. See #24 in the center column (immediately to your right) for additional details.
25. IS THERE A CONTRACT TO SIGN?
Yes. You can see it on this Web Page. Go to www.jodacollins.com, Agreement page, Section Six and Attachment One that follows there. We do not enter into a confirmed service without an agreed service Contract, otherwise, that obligates us to everything you think we ought to do and you to nothing. See #25 in the center column (immediately to your right) for additional details.
26. If you SIGNED THE WORKING AGREEMENT BUT I DID NOT READ IT or did not read it carefully enough to understand it, there is a good chance you will be unhappy you did. When that day and times comes, what should you do?
Talk with me (Joda Collins). We can probably resolve most issues. Let me try. See #26 in the far right column for more details.
27. I (Client and/or Driver) MISREAD THE WORKING AGREEMENT AND NOW THERE IS A PROBLEM BECAUSE I MISREAD IT. WHAT SHOULD I DO?
Talk with me (Joda Collins). We can probably resolve most issues. Let me try. See #27 in the far right column for more details.
28. WHERE ARE THE DRIVER LICENSES OFFICES?
At the tax office in your town. See #28 in the far right column for more details.
29. WHY ISN'T THE PHONE ALWAYS ANSWERED BY A LIVE PERSON?
My office is open for eight hours between 8am and 11pm Monday through Saturday. The open hours vary depending on the work load and the activity for the day, but we are seldom out the office for more than a two-hour increment of time. While not a promise, we usually return calls within two-hours.
30. FREE TRAINING (PARKING AND THREE POINT TURN)
We do not charge for parking and/or three point turn training, in whole or in part, if the conditions clarified in Item 29 in far right column are met.
31. WHY DO I TEACH HAND-OVER-HAND STEERING AS THE PRIMARY METHOD OF STEERING?
There are only two forms of steering taught. One his hand-over-hand which is the fastest method of steering and will deliver a driver from a crash that slow steering could not avoid. The other form of steering is shuffle steering which is the slow form of steering. The advantage of shuffle steering is that it is so slow that it is the safer form of steering when making turns on ice or slick snow. In Florida the chances of needing quicker steering is higher than the chances of driving on ice or slick snow. Unless otherwise directed I teach hand-over-hand only, but will teach shuffle steering ALSO if requested.
32. IN THE THREE POINT TURN, WHY DO I REQUIRE DRIVERS TO STEER ONLY WITH THE VEHICLE MOVING AT A SPEED OF AT LEAST ONE-HALF MILE PER HOUR?
Turning the steering wheel with a vehicle stationary is not recommended by any vehicle manufacturer in the entire world because it is very hard on the steering assembly. It takes about 200 turns of the wheel in stationary vehicle before that vehicle needs front end repair work. That would be about every 10 to 12 days in my training vehicle. Drivers or Clients that want to or need to steer with the vehicle stationary will need to use their own insured vehicle for parking and three point turn training.
33. WHY DO I REQUIRE THE NON-ADULT (UNDER 18 YEARS OF AGE) STUDENT-DRIVER READ, UNDERSTAND AND SIGN THE SERVICE CONTRACT?
The Service Contract has some information directly related to the Student-driver regardless of age. While I cannot legally hold a person under 18 years of age to any responsibility outlined in the Contract it is to the Student-driver's advantage to know what is expected of him or her. In addition, it is wise if the Student-driver knows of the responsibilities and commitment the Client (financially responsible person) is making on his or her behalf; knowing this better fosters a "Thank you" from the mature Student-driver to the Client.
34. WHY DO I (Joda Collins) PREFER COMMUNICATING BY EMAIL RATHER THAN THE TELEPHONE?
A. I put everything that has to do with benefits, responsibilities, service, promises and/or money in print. If these things are discussed on the phone I have to invest more time in putting them in print on an email also.
B. A written email gets rid of all comments that follow, "But you said.....!" and keeps the speaker from attempts to hold the listener hostage to verbal misunderstandings. The best speaker does not say 100% of all things perfectly. The best listener does not hear 100% of all things perfectly. I cannot prove what I said your you said, but written info can be verified. We have nor honor any verbal statements, no matter who said what. If it is important, get it in writing. We do! Verbal communication is a best friend to narcissists, psychopaths and sociopaths because they rejoice to take advantage of others for personal gain by misstating things other said; I have had my fill of those deviant and disgusting people.
C. Then there are the disfunctional; those who lack the sense to engage in any interaction that requires basic logical skills. They seldom gain any benefit from their lack of comprehension of reality or ability to l understand simple facts, but their lack causes harm/damage to everyone they have anything to do with.
https://getpocket.com/explore/item/the-five-universal-laws-of-human-stupidity?utm_source=pocket-newtab
The more such people associate with you or me, the more damage they cause you or me, so we simply decline to try to work with such people. I do not afford mentally-unbalanced or severely logically-impaired people that advantage.
35. WHY DON'T I (Joda Collins) CALL THE CLIENT OR CO-CLIENT TO SCHEDULE LESSONS?
A. I do not like playing telephone tag.
B. If I make a telephone call to schedule, there is a high probability I have reached the Client about scheduling when he or she has not carefully reviewed their or the Student-driver's future responsibilities and will set training dates that will be canceled because the Client forgot about __________ that takes priority over the driving appointment.
C. A Client that is not motivated enough to check our on line Scheduling Calendar for available times (www.JodaCollins.com) or call the office (850 981-3355) to schedule after verifying their calendar availability is not motivated enough to enter into any agreement with me for driver's training. If I have to beg a person to schedule, then i have to beg them to show up for training. I do not beg for Student-drivers. I offer life-saving service. If I have to beg someone to take it, they are not yet mature enough to drive or appreciate the service.
37. WHY DO I REQUIRE CLIENTS TO SCHEDULE VIA EMAIL.
Only the Client (the financially responsible person) can schedule, cancel or reschedule appointments. I do not take charges from people who use other people's credit card. I cannoy enforce such charges; fraud and all. The most difficult and stressful thing about my job is trying to work with people who agree to, accept and promise to honor the Service Contract but want Service that is contrary to and/or not part of the Service Contract Agreement. It is usually because they have not carefully read the Service Contract before signing it. There are specific do's and don'ts specified in great detail in the Contract. I have grown weary of trying to explain the specifics of the scheduling options and procedure on the phone. If a Client's scheduling attempt does not meet the contractually agreed on process or procedure, it is easier for me or my staff to reference the Service Contract for the Client's re-reading, than to explain the Service Agreement on the phone. While I encourage and welcome any questions about the content of the Service Contract, I do not welcome being expected to explain or read the Contract to those who have chosen not to read it carefully or who cannot read well. That is not how adults are supposed to function/act. Also, when reserving time via phone many people say something like this, "We will try for that time and I will let you know if the driver is available."
38. WHY ARE MY CONTRACTS SO LONG AND BORING?
The financial investment can be hundreds or thousands of dollars. The time investment can be dozens of hours. The energy investment can drain all of a person's energy. The questions to answer are many and the words to give a good, thought out and deserved answer are many.. The Service Contract is a legal document reviewed annually by our attorney for accuracy and legally required content. Services offered. responsibilities and benefits are many. Options are many. The average adult reader in the United States reads at a 7th grade level so grandiose (big) words have to be replaced with many simple-little words that clarify, compound sentences have to be replaced with two or three simple sentences, concepts that many easily understand with a few words of explanation have to be explained with many words in great detail for the many who do not easily understand. For example, one of my Contracts reads, "If a Student-driver will memorize the procedure for the three point turn on his or her own time for free, that will require less training time and typically saves a driver up to 50% since he or she is not using paid driving time to memorize." Over and over I have been asked why a Client did not get 50% off the training fee since the driver memorized the three point turn procedure on his or her own time for free. Out of consideration for those with lower reading comprehension skills I added the following, "Spending 50% less time on learning the three point turn because a driver memorized the steps on his or her own time for free is not the same thing as getting training for half-off." The entire Contract has such added words to clarify. How could such a document be anything other than long and boring? It is as short a possible and still serve the need. I am open to any suggestions about how to make the Service Contract shorter without removing important and relevant information. Show me something that is fun to read and I will show you something that is not a legal Contract. Read the Contract with pen in hand. As you read it write down in your own words, everything that is a responsibility you have and your best understanding of every sentence with a dollar amount in it; and you will have a short contract summary that is easy to read and remember.
39. FREE TRAINING FROM WORKBOOK.
How is it that the self-study from the workbook can make at 40% to 50% difference in the student-diriver's rate of progress behind the wheel? Learning to be a safe-defensive driver not a physical endeavor such as football, golf or playing the piano, where repetition of physical movements and learned or natural physical ability/coordination are primary keys to success. The only significant physical ability (coordination) that is needed in driving is proper steering. The rest of it is primarily about the:
1. Driver's attitude, the
2. Rules of the road, the
3. Twelve General Safety Skills and 23 Defensive Driving Techniques as facts, and
4. The logic that under gird the 12 General Safety Skills and the 23 Defensive Driving Techniques.
5. The application of the rules of the road, 12 General Safety Skills, 23 Defensive Driving Skills can only be accomplishes while in the car. Everything else (1, 2, 3 and 4 above) can be learned by reading.
Just from a mathematically standpoint only one out of five things (20%) that create a safe-defensive driver have to be learned while in a training car. Eighty percent of what it takes to become a safe-defensive driver can be learned at home, from a book, for FREE.
For more info, see item 39 near the bottom of the column to the far right of this page.
40. WHY DO SO MANY YOUNG PEOPLE STRUGGLE SO MUCH WITH LEARNING TO DRIVE SAFELY IN TRAFFIC?
Read #39 above. Also go to:
https://ppsimmons.blogspot.com/2019/09/most-people-prior-to-age-25-lack-good.html
In addition, many if not most people, new and experienced driver alike, are convinced they are much better drivers than they are. It is impossible to teach a lot to a person that is convinced they do not have a lot to learn. In my estimation, 85% of drivers think they are better drivers than 50% of the drivers on the road. To a large degree driving on the open road is considerably more deadly than is should be simply because people who should be terrified to drive due to the danger they cause themselves and others, feel very confident they are very safe drivers.
41. MY SOCIAL MEDIA RECOMMENDATIONS ARE TYPICALLY FIVES OR ONES. It appears I am either a hated or loved instructor. PROVERBS 9:7-8 states, "If you provide instruction and correction to a foolish person, you will get a rude response. He will snarl at you. So don’t bother with him and don't waste your time or energy on him; he will only hate you for trying to help him. But a wise man, when rebuked, corrected and/or instructed, will love you all the more and become wiser." (Amplified Version as influenced by other translations.)
42. WE DO NOT INITIATE PHONE CALLS TO SCHEDULE TRAINING. If you want to know why, go to Item 42 in the far right column for more information.
43. WHY DO I NOT ALLOW MY VEHICLE STEERING WHEEL TO BE TURNED WHILE MY VEHICLE IS STATIONARY?
It is too expensive to allow. For details see #43 in far right column.
44. WHY AREN'T ALL OF MY RECOMMENDATIONS ON SOCIAL MEDIA GLOWINGLY POSITIVE?
This is too complicated a question to answer briefly. See Item 44 in far right column.
45. WHY STOPPING TRAINING WITH ME BEFORE A DRIVER REACHES 90-GENERAL SAFETY POINTS IS A BAD IDEA.
When a driver has less than 90 General Safety Points that driver is doing a lot of the basics for safe driving wrong. That is why I never suggest a driver drive with anyone except me until said driver reaches 90 General Safety Points, otherwise, driver is just reinforcing (make more of a habit) really bad driving that takes me longer to correct.
Also, see Item 45 in far right column for more detailed and additional response.
46. WHAT ARE THE PRINCIPLES OF MY TRAINING? (AKA PR)
A. Awareness = I see....
B. Knowledge = I know.....
C. Application = I do....
D. Patience = I wait....
E. Responsibility = I accept my.....
47. WHAT ARE THE ETHICAL PRINCIPLES OF MY BUSINESS.
A. The Golden Rule.
B. The Better Business Bureau Ethical Guidelines as found at: https://www.bbb.org/bbb-accreditation-standards and/or
BBB Accreditation Standards | Better Business Bureau®
If the above links do not work by clicking on them, copy and paste the www address to your search engine bar.
48. IS GRADUATION GUARANTEED IN THE SUGGESTED TIME FRAME FOR EACH SPECIFIC COURSE?
No. See #48 in far fight column for reasons why.
49. WHY DON'T I (JODA COLLINS) ANSWER THE PHONE OR RETURN PHONE CALLS?
My Contract Attorney suggests that I do not do so. See #40 in far right column for details.
Call 850 981-3355 or
email JodaCollins@aol.com
For no door-to-door pick up fee the second and following lessons begin and end in the parking of the Dollar General Store that is immediately across the street from where the first lesson started. I will be in my marked vehicle on your left as you enter the only parking lot entrance to this small business.
Disclaimer: There are a lot of words on this site. It is quite possible that as things change in our Contracts some of the corresponding words in these five pages of print might not be corrected. In the event of a difference between my Contracts and the content of all other printed material in this web site, the Contracts are the final authority.
My Commitment to You!
Excellent teaching from a
patient and experienced Instructor.
\
+7pnpThis is not a secure website meaning anyone can read everything on it; therefore, personal information about clients or drivers can never entered on this web site.
Email (jodacollins@aol.com) or provide by voice mail (850 981-3355) to schedule and provided your requested dates and/or any personal information.
LIST OF AVAILABLE START DATES/TIMES
(See month and days listed in blue ink.)
DATE/TIME AVAILABILITY IDENTIFIED BY LESSON LENGTH.
A. Up to a 75-minute lesson: Select any time in any color.
B. 1.5-hour lesson: Select any time and date
regardless of print color EXCEPT Saturday
morning and/or Tuesdays 10am to 3pm, unless otherwise notified.
C. 2-hour lesson: Select any time and date
regardless of print color.
D. 2.5 to 4-hour lesson: Select any time in
purple print only.
Red print, in whole or in part, means no door-to-door service available.
To avoid too many duplication of requests, I only schedule via one format, which is from this page via email request. This is NOT an interactive page. You cannot click on a time or sign anything on this web site. Request via email to JodaCollins@aol.com your desired time and corresponding date from the list below.
The best way to learn to drive at night is to train at night.
Request your dates/times by email to JodaCollins@aol.com.
Please read this entire section before making your appointment request.
I stay busy about one week in advance. Closed Sun & Mon.
Drivers must have a permit for at least 91-days to drive after sunset.
CALENDAR OPENINGS.
Please read everything above before selecting an appointment for training. Appointments, once requested in accordance with directions above, must be confirmed.
The best way to learn to drive at night, is to train at night.
Dec 7: 4:30pm
Dec 11: 1:30pm, 2pm, 3pm, 4pm,5pm, 6pm, 7pm, 8pm
Dec 13, 17 and following:
Tue 10:30am,11am, 12Noon, 1pm
Wed & Thurs: 10:30am,11am, 12Noon, 1pm 2pm, 3pm, 4pm, 5pm, 6pm 7pm, 8pm, 8:30pm, 8:45pm
Sat: 12Noon, 1pm,2pm, 3pm, 4pm,5pm
Please read everything in this column before scheduling. Questions? Just ask via phone (850 981-3355) or email (jodacollins@aol.com). Thank you!
Appointments, other than AM appointments,can begin 15-minutes before or 15-min after noted time. No door-to-door service is offered at the 10:30am start time except Tuesdays. No door-to-door service is offered on Saturday mornings. Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday is about $8 less per hour per compared to Friday and Saturday training.
The scheduling dates and times on his page are constantly changing. I (Joda Collins) try to keep this page as current as I can, but it has to be updated manually and there are times when the same date and time is requested by two different people within minutes of each other. This is especially true for the AM lesson times and all Saturday training. I will not accept responsibility for any selected or requested date or time that is not confirmed by me by return email.
Must have permit 91-days to drive at night.
I do not schedule service without an agreed-on Service Contact. I cannot accept scheduling requests from anyone except the person who signs our Contract as the Financially Responsible Person without that person's approval; I cannot hold the financially responsible person financially responsible for someone else's actions without the financially responsible person's approval. You can secure an email copy or reference to our service contract by calling 850 981-3355 and providing to me your email address and how I can serve you, or by emailing me at JodaCollins@aol.com
IMPORTANT DETAILS
1. The best way to learn to drive in the rain is to train in the rain.
2. Learn to drive at night by nighttime training. Must have permit 91- days to drive at night. Type in any search engine Sunset for Pensacola, FL to discover sunset for your selected day.
3. Caution: I do not reschedule lessons due to wind/rain unless there is a National Weather Advisory that predicts adverse weather will exist in Santa Rosa or Escambia Counties within three-hours of your lesson. A scary forecast is not a national weather advisory. If
4. If you cannot find times that are good for you, let me know and I will see about adjusting the schedule of others to better accommodate you.
5. I give priority scheduling to email requests.
6. This web page is manually (not automatically) updated with each lesson scheduled so there is a slight chance of overlapping requests. If this happens, I can only apologize and honor the first request. My best attempts to find a program that can auto update our scheduling calendar continues to fail because we offer varied times.
7. All listed times are start times and each lesson is one-hour and 15-minutes unless otherwise stated in your Contact.
8. Unless otherwise stated in your Contract, weekday training is $11 per 75-minute lesson less than Friday and/or Saturday training in an effort to free needed Friday and Saturday time, which fills up first and fastest.
9. I (Joda Collins) stay busy about three to seven days in advance.
10. The best learning curve for most students is one or two days between lessons for drivers who do not do the self-study between lessons or two, three or four days between lessons for driver that do the self-study.
11. Your email or voice mail does not obligate me, Joda Collins, to reserve your requested date or time or "show up" at the date and time you designate or request. You must have a return confirmation email from us to have a valid reserved date and time. Sometimes my response is nearly immediate and sometimes the next day. If you do not my response by 5pm the next day confirming your date and time selection/request, please contact me again; I may have missed your email or voice mail. I receive about 400 emails per day and once in a while I overlook one accidently. I do not accept responsibility for any selected or requested date or time that is not confirmed by me by return email.
MY RESPONSE TO
NEGATIVE ONLINE REVIEWS
I do not pay agencies to get rid of negative reviews (https://guaranteedremovals.com), nor buy fake positive reviews from those who sell them in bulk
(https://getreviews.buzz/buy-reviews-online), nor give free service or discounts in exchange for positive reviews, nor ask my friends to write bogus positive reviews. When you see a business with 100% positive review, be suspect. Jesus was absolutely perfect, but even he did not make everyone happy.
I cannot get into some of the web sites to respond to negative reviews for some reason. And some web sites do not allow a business owner to respond! In 16-years of service, training more than 3,000 drivers and working for more than 4,300 parents/spouses I have, at last count, 17 negative reviews. Three come from the same person who posted under three different names. One person lives in Miami, and I have never met the person, she has never been a student of mine nor ridden in any vehicle where I was the instructor. She has absolutely NO first-hand knowledge of me or my business. Her original post was several years ago, and she re-posted it recently on another platform. She did call me on the phone in 2017 and yelled at me for about five-minutes like some kind of wacko. I remained silent until she ran out of energy. I do not engage in conversation with lunatics. I thanked her for her call, graciously said good-bye and hung up. Everything she wrote sounds absurd because it is. She is very off, to say the least. Nothing of what she wrote is true, I assure you.
Yelp has 22 reviews. Two are negative (1 star) and 20 are overwhelmingly positive (I will assume 5 star). Yelp only counted the two one-star reviews because 20 positive reviews, "Did not meet their algorithm requirements." Go-figure!
Four negative reviews use full (real?) names of which I have never had any association with any of those four people. The BBB assures me that such lying is common practice on review sites because hateful people can lie with no consequences to them. One negative review, I am sure, comes from an impetuous man behind me at stop sign honking his horn because I did not make a right turn into congested and fast-approaching oncoming traffic in my four-cylinder vehicle soon enough to make him happy. When I was able to make a safe right turn, he gunned his pick-up through the stop sign into the passing lane to my left and zoomed pass me with his tires screeching. His online com- plaint that evening was that I, "do not know how to drive."
That leaves 10 negative reviews out 4,000+ business relationships over a 16-year period of time.
One is from a woman who took offense because I am well-educated in serving mentally and physically handicapped drivers. I have a BA in psychology, about 10-years of substitute teaching K-12 and was the first one called in two counties when there was a special education teacher needed. I wrote a book regarding extreme abnormal behavior and how to deal with people who have it (www.barnsandnoble/dealingwiththedemonic/jodacollins.com). I have taught more than 400 students with ADD or ADhD and hundreds more with various kinds of mental, emotional and physical handicaps. I teach driver's training for Vocational Rehabilitation students in two counties. Her son was 19-years old and has the most severe case of ADHD I have ever seen. I related most of his very dangerous driving, including driving head-on towards other vehicles, driving over a tree limb in the road rather than safely around it and not seeing stop signs, etc, as caused by ADHD; inability to focus or concentrate. I allowed his mother to ride during the lesson. She took offense because I am educated about ADHD and accused me of saying that I know more about ADHD than all doctors, which I absolutely never said. I did say, "I have probably studied more about ADD and ADHD and had more one-to-one experience with ADD and ADHD sufferers than most doctors," which is probably true. New revelations from the medical profession that are now arriving (2018) in medical literature, I have known for 30-years. Just a fact! Her son posted his dislike that I was able to identify his severe ADHD that he tried to hide. Both the driver and the mother took offense in a highly childish manner. I knew this immediately but finished the lesson anyway and added 15 free minutes in an attempt to try to satisfy them. Unable to do so, even with my best and extra effort, unsolicited, I returned 100% of her payment to her including a significant travel fee and toll bridge charges to another city. No "thank you" followed from either of them. All I got for the 1.5 hours of unpaid training and unpaid door-to-door service was a bad attitude for 1.5 of training, a slammed car door by the young driver at the end of training, and two negative reviews.
One negative report came from a teenager that seemed to me to be on drugs when we first met. She was argumentative and irrational from the start. I let her know she needed to calm down and quit verbally attacking me or I would not serve her nor allow her to be behind-the-wheel of my car. She ignored my request and continued in her out of control behavior, so as politely as I could, I excused myself. That leaves seven negative reviews out of more than 4,000 people I have done business with in 16-years. That is a negative rate of one negative review out of every 570 people I have served directly as drivers or as paying clients (parents and/or spouses).
Part of my contractual agreement with everyone I serve is they promise to give me an opportunity to make them happy by telling me their concern BEFORE criticizing me on social media. None of those who wrote negatively about me on social media honored their word to do so. That makes their character, judgment and honesty suspect, not mine.
By any business or personal standard one negative person out of every 570 served is a highly respectable record. Also, some people only feel good about themselves when they slander, liable, ridicule and complain about others. We all know such people. In addition to that, 4 to 6% of Americans, by the standards of the American Psychological Association, qualify as mentally unbalanced (narcissists, psychopaths, sociopaths and/or Oppositional Defiant Disorder). Four percent of the 4,000 I have served is 160. By that standard I am significantly successful at working, even, with mentally unbalanced people.
I am a Christian man, served as a caring and gracious pastor for more than 20-years, and am an affiliate with the BBB with an A+ BBB rating for my business.
I only ask for payment for the first lesson to start with. If you, the Client (financially responsible person) are not the Student-driver, you ride during the first training lesson and find me repulsive or my teaching unacceptable, stop the lesson before the half-way mark and ask for your money back and you will get it back within 24-hours, excluding any door-to-door fees. EXCEPTIONS: No refund if training is State or Court mandated, is paid for by any agency, or you (the Client/financially responsible person) are not the Student-driver and declined my invitation for you to ride for the first lesson; thus have no first-hand knowledge of my teaching skill) or the Student-driver is enrolled in the Pass the State Driving Exam Only Course since I can often teach a new driver to pass the State driving exam in only one lesson. This offer if for lesson one only.
Two final thoughts. Most of my students are teenagers. Some come to me with a chip on their shoulder and mad at me, their parents and the world because their parents are making them take driver's training. I am not always successful at helping young (immature) people overcome their bad, condescending attitude. Those that do not overcome their bad attitude rejoice to slam me on social media as fast as they can and with excessive venom because they are convinced they are great drivers when they are not, have nothing else to learn from anyone including me, resent being told they drive in any manner short of perfection, and because I do not allow them to drive dangerously without correction.
Second, many of my drivers are deemed dangerous by the State of Florida and required to take four-hours of driver's training in order to keep or regain their driver license. Many of them come to me with a boiling hate for the State and me. They start the training hate-filled and end it the same way. Like the young immature, these older people have never matured, and after four-hours of giving me a hard time, they love to go on social media and rant.
When you read such rants of those who criticize me, thank you for giving me any benefit of the doubt, and please consider the source might be poisoned. I am easy to get along with as long as the student-driver is not determined to try kill me on the open road by ignoring my instructions for safer driving or treat me with obvious disrespect. I am not a spittoon. Thank you for reading this.
From Gulf Breeze (near the toll bridge)
Take the toll bridge towards Interstate 10. Take Interstate 10 East. Take the first exit (#26). Turn left at the stop sign. It is the first building on your right.
From Navarre and Gulf Breeze (near Hwy 87)
Take Hwy 87 North. Take I-10 East. Take Exit 26. Bear right at first intersection. Go under 1-10. It is the first building on your right.
JODA COLLINS DRIVINGACADEMY LLC
Better Business Bureau Accredited. A+ Rating
55595CALL TODAY
Email: JodaCollins@aol.com
Behind-the-Wheel and Internet Training
1. A lesson can begin and end any place you desire in the State of Florida.
2. For no pick-up fee lessons start/end at 3804 Garcon Point, Milton. This is near Exit 26 at Interstate 10, Milton. Specific directions to the start location for the first lesson will be provided to you or you can find it using www.mapquest.com and the address 3804 Garcon Point Road, Milton 32583. Also, see immediately below.
26. I signed but did not read the Working Agreement. Now that there is a problem because I did not read the Working Agreement, can I be held accountable for what I think the Working Agreement should have stated rather than what it actually stated?
I have never had a strained working relationship with a driver, spouse or parent or agency representative who read the Working Agreement and began business with me committed to honoring their word.
27. I MISREAD THE WORKING AGREEMENT AND NOW I HAVE A PROBLEM. WHAT SHOULD I DO?
Talk with me (Joda Collins) and let's solve the problem.
28. WHERE ARE THE DRIVER LICENSES OFFICES?
Goto: http://www.flhsmv.gov/offices/escambia.html
and/or
http://www.flhsmv.gov/offices/santarosa.html
For directions and/or address in Escambia County call 472-0031. For Santa Rosa County call 983-1800.
30. FREE TRAINING (PARKING AND THREE POINT TURN)
We do not charge for parking and/or three-point turn training, in whole or in part, if the following conditions are met:
1. Driver has memorized the steps for parking and three point turn, in whole or in part, well enough to quote them without hesitation or assistance and upon request before training for parking and three point turn during paid sessions. This means driver does not have memorize all the steps at one time. Memorize as much or as little as you want and we can practice what you have memorizes free of charge to you anytime you want. It only takes about 45 seconds to to a complete three point turn after steps are memorized and it only takes about two minutes to enter and exit a parking space in accord with State law once the steps are memorized. So, all I do is a two or three minutes to any existing lesson at no charge any time a driver wants to practice what he or she has memorized of the steps for parking and/or three point turn.
2. Before memorizing the steps for parking and three point turn, read carefully www.jodacollins.com, Agreement page, section one, colored print.
3. Driver must have at least 90 General Safety Points before practicing parking and/or three point turn if using the Joda Collins Driving Acdy vehicle for parking and three point turn training.
39. FREE TRAINING FROM WORKBOOK.
I make this FREE learning available for several reasons
1. I prefer not to take money from Clients telling them what is in the workbook when the driver can learn the content of the workbook for free. That is just my nature. It seems dishonest and disingenuous to me. I have been told by other driving school owners that I am a fool to give away that information because it is giving away most of my profit.
One driving school owner told me that he wants his training vehicle stationary 50% of the time while explaining things to drivers because it decreases his chances of a crash by 50% and increases his profit 50% because drivers have to take twice the lessons. That is all true. However, I cannot do that in good conscience without giving the driver the opportunity to learn for FREE on his or her own time all that is possible to learn by reading and spend 100% of his or her training time learning only that which can be learned by being the vehicle and/or driving.
2. Once in a while, I get a driver that really wants to learn but does not have the money or access to a person with the money to pay for driver's training. If that person will seriously devote himself or herself to the study of the workbook, it is very possible that he or she can reach his or her driving goals with only a 20% financial investment. My conscience will not allow me to turn away from such a person just because he or she is financially lacking. If I turn such people away, sooner or later one or more of them will get in a car crash and seriously injure or kill him or herself and/or others. I do not want that on my conscience.
a. To date I have had 31 such clients and offered every one of them this opportunity. None have accepted the offer, although all were willing to take driver's training if I gave them 80% off and did all the work to tell them, during driver's training, that is, what is in the workbook. The fact that 100% rejected my offer is beside the point because my conscience is clear; I made the offer. Neither am I willing to work for 20%.
Only about one in 25 drivers opt to learn anything from the workbook and only about one in 20 clients encourage the student to learn anything from the workbook. Therefore, offer the workbook cost me very little in possible profit. The overwhelming majority of drivers and clients decided they would prefer for me to charge them by the minute to tell them during driver's training what is in the workbook than read it on their own time for free. That is fine with me. The reality is I probably would not be able to make a living with my driver's training school if I only collect 50% to 60% of the income I now collect. Most of us could not do well on 50% of our current income! I did my part in offering FREE learning. I cannot make a person learn for FREE.
Some people have some good reasons for not reading the workbook. Some are really busy with other duties and/or projects in life. They find it easier and better to extend drivers training by 40% to 50% than find the time in their busy life to read or do any more. Some are poor readers and cannot read. Some do not read English and have no one to help them with the reading information.
Others have bad reasons for not reading the book. They are spending someone else's money for driver's training and do not care what it costs, some doubt my claim that most of what is needed to become a skilled safe-defensive driver can be learned from reading, some are just lazy. I do my part in offering FREE learning. I cannot make a person learn for FREE.
Regarding the follow:
1. Driver's attitude.
2. Rules of the road.
3. Twelve General Safety Skills and 23 Defensive Driving Techniques as facts
4. The logic that under gird the 12 General Safety Skills and the 23 Defensive Driving Techniques.
1. Driver's attitude.
It is easy to teach safe-defensive driving to a driver that respects the teacher, is willing to give a good effort to follow the instructions of the teacher and is interested and motivated to learn. It is impossible or nearly impossible to teach anyone anything if the student does not respect the teacher, is not willing to give a good effort to follow instructions and is not interested or motivated to learn.
Many people, younger and older, enter into driver's training with a bad attitude towards being taught, a negative attitude towards authorities, and/or a disrespectful attitude towards me - a person they have never even met before. I can identify that spirit of hate, negativity, rebellion and disrespect in about one second and before the person even says a word. I can ignore and tolerate such people until I put my life in their hands when I am in the car as their passenger.
Before I can teach that person, that person has to change their attitude. The way I try to get them to change their attitude is I let them know that I am aware of their hateful, negative, rebellious towards authority and disrespect towards me. I do that by not allowing them to treat me or speak to me in a hateful, negative, rebellions and/or disrespectful manner without confronting them about doing so. I am not a spittoon. I refuse to be one for anyone. About two in ten will change their attitude enough that he or she can learn something. About one in ten will change his or her attitude enough that he or she can learn a lot. About eight out of ten get mad, stay mad, take one lesson and never come back. I am happy about the first possibility, very happy when the second possibility occurs, and have come to accept the third possibility; there is nothing I can do for a person who is heart and soul devoted to being a nasty person. We all make our own choices in life.
In the beginning of my book I deal with people who have a bad attitude. The person with a bad attitude is allowed to read how I dealt with people before him or her who approached me with the same bad attitudes they have. However, the reader get this training in a low non-confrontive way. I am confronting them only in print and not confronting them in person if they enter my training with the same bad attitude. About 50% of those with a bad attitude, that are confronted indirectly like this (by reading) change their attitude immediately and enter or continue training with me and do with a pretty good to an excellent attitude. Students with a good attitude towards being taught always progress faster in training (getting more success for their time and financial investment) and, therefore, at less expense (fewer lessons needed to reach their learning goals or capacity).
Regarding:
2. Rules of the road.
3. Twelve General Safety Skills and 23 Defensive Driving Techniques as facts.
4. The logic that undergird the 12 General Safety Skills and the 23 Defensive Driving Techniques.
All of the above (2, 3 and 4) are just facts. Any fact can be learned, understood and/or memorized from the printed page. See also:
https://ppsimmons.blogspot.com/2019/09/most-people-prior-to-age-25-lack-good.html .
42. I DO NOT INITIATE TELEPHONE CALLS TO SCHEDULE TRAINING BECAUSE:
A. If the client is out we end up playing phone tag and just adds one more thing to do to our already long list of to dos.
B. It does not give the client sufficient time to check his or her calendar to be sure there are no other commitments to work around, thus a very high percent of lessons we schedule via our phone contact are (were) missed and/or rescheduled.
C. If we have to initiate the call to schedule, we usually have to initiate a request for the driver to keep his appointment. Uninterested people will not contact us, and that is their choice.
D. Clients often want to schedule tentatively for a few hours or days while they check with someone else or about some other possible calendar conflict. That just puts a lot of extra admin work on our plate and expense out of our pocket for which there is no remuneration.
43. WHY DO I NOT ALLOW MY VEHICLE STEERING WHEEL TO BE TURNED WHILE MY VEHICLE IS STATIONARY?
It is too expensive. When I first bought my car I had to have the front end aligned every two to three months and I was only getting about 24,000 miles from my 40,000 mile tires. A vehicle should only require a front end alignment every four or five years, not every two months. Between taking my car in for a front end alignment every two months, paying almost twice as much for tires and the half day of work I lost while my car was in the shop for front end alignments, it was costing me about $3,500 per year extra. After several front end alignments in the first year I owed the car, the vehicle mechanic asked me if I was "doing a lot of steering with the vehicle stationary?" I responded, "Yes, several times per day almost every day when I am teaching the three-point turn." He said, "Be sure the vehicle is move no less than one half mile per hour before you turn the steering wheel, and that will end your need for a front end alignment every couple of months and will allow you to get 40,000 miles life from your tires not 24,000 miles." I did. He was right.
Therefore, when I teach the three-point turn using my vehicle I require all steering be accomplished while the vehicle is moving at least as fast as a busy ant walks. If you want to or need to learn the three-point turn in a vehicle where you can steer with the vehicle stationary, I am happy to teach the three-point turn in your vehicle. The only difference is in my car the step is "when safe go and turn" while the procedure in your car is "turn and go when safe."
Normally, unless otherwise informed by you, without solicitation for your response, I will assume you want to use my vehicle for the three-point turn training. If you want to use your insured vehicle for three-point turn training, be bold about telling me so.
44. WHY AREN'T ALL OF MY RECOMMENDATIONS ON SOCIAL MEDIA GLOWINGLY POSITIVE?
A. The following people are not highly motivated to speak well of me no matter what:
(1). Teenagers who are mad at their parents because their parents are forcing them to take driver's training.
(2). Teenagers who are still in that teenage rebellious stage of life where they think they know it all and that no one can teach them anything.
(3). Drivers that are mandated by the State to take driver's training because they are crash prone drivers who will lose their license if they do not take four-hours of driver's training often enter training angry at the State and see me as some kind of enemy.
(4). Drivers who get mad at me because I expose their bad driving habits, (5). Drivers who get mad at me because I will not allow them to drive my vehicle in a dangerous manner and put my life at risk just to make them happy. (6). Drivers who cannot accept the fact they are dangerous drivers. (7). Drivers who cannot or will not accept constructive criticism.
"(If you) correct conceited people; they will hate you for it. But if you correct the wise, they will respect you." Proverbs 9:8. Good News Translation.
B. It is hard to get people to make positive comments about me on social media because many parents do not want to admit they opted not to train their own child or they feel it is no one else's business. Many drivers who are mandated by the State to take driver's training as a condition of keeping their license do not want to admit on social media they are deemed by the State to be crash prone drivers. Such drivers are less likely to use social media to compliment me. In addition, giving a positive report about me takes time and many people are not willing to donate that time.
Part of my Contract with all drivers is they promise, in writing, to speak to me if I do anything that they dislike. Not one person who has slammed me on social media has afforded me that opportunity. That fact speaks to their poor character, not mine. In addition, many of those who slam me on social media, are making a double or triple complaint against me using different email addresses and/or names.
All I can say is that I do my best and have served more than 2,200 drivers and more than 3,800 parents and/or spouses. Out of those 6,000 or so people, a couple of dozen people do not like me. That is not a bad percentage, considering all of the factors noted above. Also, I am a member of the Better Business Bureau with an A+ rating. That should tell you something about me, and something about those that complain about me.
Statistically, four percent of the world population are mentally-unbalanced (sociopath, psychopaths and/or narcissists) and live to hurt, attack and destroy others. Four percent of 6,000 is 240 people which is far, far more than the few who attack me on social media.
45. WHY STOPPING TRAINING WITH ME BEFORE A DRIVER REACHES 90-GENERAL SAFETY POINTS IS A BAD IDEA.
This is an email I wrote to a parent.
-----Original Message-----
From: Staff Member Jackie, Carmela or John @ <jodacollins@aol.com>
To: Email address removed.
Sent: Fri, Mar 18, 2022 9:44 pm
Subject: Student #2,039
DRIVING SESSION REPORT LESSON FIVE OF FIVE LESSONS.
Driver did well today. Resolved standard right and left turns; able to stay in her lane throughout. Able to turn round in cul de sac in one turn; no reverse or U turn required there. Stopping behind stop sign rather than with stop sign behind. Next driving and/or legal skills to teach.
1. A full stop a stop-signs even if no vehicle or pedestrian is coming
. 2. See right of way order at stop signs before stopping at stop signs.
3. No delay of normal flow of traffic at stop signs.
4. Learn when a double stop is mandatory at stop signs.
5 The ability to judge the speed of oncoming traffic.
6. Proper, legal and timely left turns in traffic.
7. Merging.
8. Proper speed when approaching red lights (too fast and braking too late).
9. No tailgating.
10. Replacing tunnel vision with scanning, starting with seeing traffic signs, traffic lights and pavement markings.
11. Allowing wheel to slide through hands to complete standard right and left turns.
12. Backing.
13. Looking and thinking far enough ahead to be reasonably safe at 25mph in 35mph zones.
These are not all of the skills driver needs but these are the next set of skills to work on. The longer it takes to learn these skills the longer the training will take in total as driver is solidifying bad driving habits along the way. For example, if working on skills 1, 8, and 11 only, then skills 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 9, 10, 12 and 13 are all being done poorly and with each skill being done poorly over and over, that skill becomes more and more a habit; habits are hard to break and take long time to overcome.
Learning proper skills is a battle against time. When a person has 90 General Safety Points, driver has won the battle against time. Before 90 points, every lesson where a driver has not learned anything significant increases the total time it will take driver to become a safe driver.
At 90 points I am no longer required to use the brake or take over steering to avoid crashing in order to keep driver challenged at her maximum learning speed level. It is possible to lower the learning speed (challenge level) so no braking no steering intervention is needed to avoid crashing but lowering the challenge level and leaning speed increases the total number of hours needed to become a safe driver because of the additional miles and hours a driver has to be allowed to drive with many bad driving habits (everything cannot be done at once) becoming more set.
Driver is, in my estimation, four to six more 75-minute lessons from 90 General Safety Points.
REGRESSION
When a driver is able to do diving skills while thinking about them (not habits yet), regression is normal when not constantly reminded to do them. The list of what the driver can do when often reminded is long but will deteriorate if not constantly reminded to do they until said skills becomes habit.
RECOMMENDATION
The minimum skill level I recommend a driver be at before being released from my training is 90 General Safety Points for all the reasons I noted above and more.
DRIVER IS REASONABLY SAFE driving in memorized speed zones of 35mph at speeds not to exceed 25mph. when driving in memorized driving areas and when faced with no emergencies or semi-emergencies.
The danger and draw back about driving in memorized areas are the driver soon learns not to attempt to scan the driving environment and not to look or think far ahead as none of these skills are needed to drive safely in memorized areas. Then when driver succeeds in driving in memorized areas he or she is placed in non-memorized areas and the habits of tunnel vision, short-seeing, and short-thinking are greatly solidified bad driving habits and take a long, long time to break. It is better to put driver in non-memorized driving environments now but doing so requires a severe increase in the probably of needed to wisely use a second brake and take abruptly take over steering to avoid crashing. Driving in memorized areas is safer now and more dangerous later -- a trade off that too often ends with a driver who, for a lifetime, is limited to safe driving only in memorized areas.
48. ESTIMATE OF FUTURE PROGRESS Within 24-hours of the first lesson, I (Joda Collins) will provide, via email, an Estimate of future Progress (how many more lessons I think it will require for the student-driver to reach the specified driving goal or goals). That estimate is not a promise or prophesy because there are too many variables out of my control. It is, however, an educated guess and I am seldom off by much. This free service is provided when the Client (financially responsible person) rides for the first driving session because almost 100% of the time when the Client rides and experiences the quality and value of the training, the Client believes my estimate is reasonable. However, when the Client does not or cannot ride for the first lesson, almost 100% of the time the Client disagrees with my estimate believing it is too many lessons. For Clients that do not or cannot ride the first lesson, I do not allow riders after lesson one for many reasons I will cheerfully share upon request. Clients that do not ride for the first lesson are asked to evaluate the progress of the student-driver and, obviously, continue training as long as progress meets the cost compared to benefit expectations. After each lesson, within 24-hours, I will send an email that details the progress of the student-driver and, often, what we will be working on for the next lesson.
49. IS GRADUATION GUARANTEED IN THE SUGGESTED TIME FRAME FOR EACH SPECIFIC COURSE?
No, because graduation is based on driving skill not time behind the wheel. For example, a four-year college degree is not guaranteed in four-years from the date the student takes his or her first class.
Most students graduate the course with an A, B, C or D grade in the designated time frame of the course. However, some fail.
The reason some fail is that they do not get sufficient mastery of the course material to "pass" the course. However, the course time is sufficient for the average student with average devotion to task to pass.
Most pass in the time frame designated in the course they qualify for. Course time estimates are based on the prerequisite courses. For example, a four-year college degree (Bachelor's Degree) takes 16-years of training (K through 16) not four years.
50. WHY DON'T I (JODA COLLINS) ANSWER THE PHONE OR RETURN PHONE CALLS?
A. More than 50% of Americans age 16 and above cannot read a standard business contract nor understand the concepts found therein even when said concepts are well clarified verbally. More that 50% of Americans age 16 and older read and listen at a 2nd grade to 3rd grade education level (age 7 or 8). Trying to clarify a business contract with 50% of Americans is fruitless and only leads to multiplied confusion. I answer all contract questions via email, one concept at a time. I try to keep it as simple as possible; one, two and three syllable words, no compound scentences, no more than eight words per sentence.
B. About 25% of Americans age 16 and older read at a third to ninth grade level, but most are too lazy too busy to read contracts and prefer businesses to tell them what the Contract states, thus often attempting to hold the business responsible for what they thought the business owner said or should have said or what the hearer though was said. According to my attorney who claims to have researched this, about 7% of Americans age 16 and older call businesses to engage in a verbal conversation for the specific purpose of mishearing on purpose and then try to hold the business owner responsible for anything the caller says that follows, "But you said....!" This is just a con that is avoided if I do not answer the phone nor return phone calls. Those of low character become angry when they are not given the chance to try to pull this con.
C. Contracts are written for a purpose. If a prospect believes he or she is not required to read or honor a written contract, then it is better if I do not do business with them. This does not mean the prospect or Client cannot ask any question or questions he or she wants after carefully reading the Contract. I welcome thoughtful questions. Contracts are legal documents and those who are asked to sign them deserve a full and clear explanation of any contract content. Just ask. The most time I have spent, to date, clarifying a contract to a prospect is 7.5 hours. That person decided not to do business with me and that was her right. I did not charge the prospect a penny for the 7.5 hours of my time answering her questions about the Contract and I treated her with the utmost patience and respect throughout the process. I will be equally as patient and kind with everyone who gives a good effort to read the Contract before asking lot of questions about what it states.. Questions? Just ask via email or voice mail.
D. America is a post-civil society. The more businesses engage in contractual matters on a verbal basis, the less civil many Americans become. I save myself the aggravation. I don't do it. I offer to deal with anything and everything via email in as much detail as the inquirer wants and spend as much time as the inquirer asks to do this. In a long run, everything is better if I communicate contractual details by email as that gives me time to think and respond the best I can and the protection of a written record of what I stated. E. I am, mostly, a one-man operation. I do 90% of the administrative work and 100% of the training. When I am in the office, I do not have time to answer the phone and spend hours per day telling callers who refuse to read the Contract, what the Contract states. "Time is money." Ben Franklin. I do not think it is far to raise my prices on everyone to cover the expense of telling people what the Contract states, thus financially punishing those with the good manners to read it. F. I used to spend a lot of time telling callers the many and minute details of what the Contract states until I realized that almost zero percent of those that rejected my invitation to read the Contract first and demanded or simi-demanded that I tell them the many details of what the Contract states, took any training. Rude, lazy, uncooperative people are, mostly, just as waste of time and energy. Been there too many times. I opt out!
To contact me --
call 850 981-3355 or email JodaCollins@aol.com .
The web site below this paragraph brings together relevant information on a variety of topical subjects including tips on teenage driving and refresher courses for the mature driver.
http://www.trafficschools123.com
Charges
I do five things that help a student progress up to twice as fast (thus at half the expense) through training compared to other driving schools.
1. Memorize, "Ahead, Behind, Mirror, Shoulder, Signal, Ahead Behind, Mirror, Shoulder, Move," before the first lesson if you want to avoid paying by the minute to memorize this procedure during training. If the three-point turn is part of your training goal, you can memorize, "Slow, right, look, signal, stop. Turn, look, coast, stop, drive. Turn, look, coast, stop, reverse. Turn, look, coast, accelerate," on your own time for free, rather than during paid driving time.
2. An email between each (almost all) lessons that helps a driver understand the progress of previous lesson and prepare for the next lesson. There is a minimal charge of $5 for each report that does not come close to covering part of the expense of providing this benefit.
3. I do not take time out of the driver's behind-the-wheel time to talk with interested parties. I will take my time to have a brief conversation about each lessons progress if requested and the individual approaches my vehicle at the end of the training as a sign he or she wants information; however, I do most of that information sharing via email. I try to arrive back on time, exactly. I leave quickly if I do not see an approaching person. I am not being rude. I am just using my time wisely. If you want a brief summary, tell me in advance and I will make a note to delay my departure for about 30 seconds while waiting for you. However, I do not exit my vehicle and knock on any doors in order to deliver a verbal report.
4. I teach parking and three-point turn at no charge if driver is enrolled in a Course and memorizes the steps for parking and three-point turn well enough to quote them in whole or in part, on request and without hesitation on his or her own time for free rather than consume driving time to memorize the steps. Interested? Just ask for details.
5. I offer a rebate of up to 6.89% of all fees (except door-to-door service fees).
Applying these benefits, my prices are competitive with or much less than any other reputable driving school in the US.
Door-to-Door Service
I usually arrive within one-minute of your scheduled time, rather than the 45-minute window offered by most taxi services. The charge is $2.25 to $2.42 per round trip mile from very near Exit 26 at Interstate 10, Milton, 32583. I charge about 95% of what it actually costs me to provide the service. I am a small business. I have only one car. One-hundred percent of my overhead has to be gleaned by the per mile and/or per minute use of my one car.
My Specialty and Business Structure
Driving directions to the start location for lesson two and following and Disclaimer
3. THE FINANCIAL CHARGE
Each lesson is 75-minutes unless otherwise agree-on. Charges vary depending on several detail. Contact me. I will ask several questions and then give you a to the penny price quote.
Drivers who avail themselves to all of the financial benefits we offer can save up to 60% on driver's training expense. Do the self-study, turn in the written work as asked, read and contemplate on the Progress Reports you will get, memorize the things we give you to memorize, ask questions via email between lessons, and reduce your training expense up to 60%. This is not the same thing as paying 60% less per lesson.
CHECKS: On prior written approval we accept permanent checks drawn on a local (Santa Rosa or Escambia County, Florida) financial institution. We do not accept checks drawn on out of State or out of County financial institutions because our bank puts a 10 to 14 day hold on most out of area checks as it often takes 10 to 14 days or an out of area check to clear the banking system. By that time, an unscrupulous client can have his or her training completed and leave us with worthless paper as payment for our services. You are probably an honest person, but we do not know that for sure because we do not know you well. No offense is intended. This is just good business and this policy is recommended to us by our bank and our attorney. We define a check drawn on an Escambia, Okaloosa or Santa Rosa County bank as a check with the printed address of the bank being in Santa Rosa, Okaloosa or Escambia County even if the bank is nationally-known. For example, a Bank of America check with an address of Ohio noted on the check is not, in our policy, a local check. We do not debate this with clients.
We do not use PayPal. PayPal is just another third party to pay and just increases my expense and your charge. All expenses are passed on to clients.
When using Visa or MasterCard we ask for it via email or more than one email, and/or voice mail and or US Postal Service or a combination of two or there of these methods if you are suspect of placing all said info in an email.
Everybody wins.
I do not negotiate my charges. Everyone pays the same rate for the same service. That way, I can honestly and with integrity say that I am not charging one person more than another person. Please do not try to dicker with me for a lower price. I am not selling used cars. I am not selling anything. I provide a valuable life-saving service. If you do not feel my services are worth the charge, then do not do business with me. Pretty simple. Please do not expect me to compromise my business integrity by asking for more discounts, rebates or more free services than I offer to everyone else. Please do not ask me to give to you as a courtesy what others have the courtesy not ask for. I give a way a lot. I give away enough. I cannot give away more and stay in business. Thank you for your consideration.
4. HOW LONG DOES THE TRAINING TAKE?
Completion is based on the number of hours behind-the-wheel if your goal is a specific number of training hours or the ability to perform the driving skills you stated at the start of your training that you desired to accomplish. A combination of commonly desired driving skills has been combined to form standard "Courses" which you can view on our Course page.
Each driver is unique. After the first driving lesson, I will be able to provide a non-binding estimate (educated guess) of how many more lessons, if any, I think will be needed to reach your expressed driving goals. I am pretty good at this, but there are a lot of variables I have over which I have no control.
5. CO-TEACHING
A. Co-teachers often teach poor driving skills,
B. Often focus on the wrong skills to teach at that time since all things cannot be taught at the same time, there is a hierarchy of skills taught first that is influenced by the driver's personality and learning style.
C. Often miss correcting drivers basic errors.
D. Undo much of my teaching between lessons.
E. Train the driver to learn using methods I do not use, thus confusing the driver, largely nullifying my safer driving instructing skills and putting the student-driver and me in a unnecessarily more dangerous situation during his or her training with me. Teaching is a method and driver has to adjust to two methods while under the stress of driving. Not good.
F. Bottom line is that having a co-teacher between lessons almost always extends the number of lessons I need to help driver reach his or her driving goals, causes unnecessary frustration to the student driver, it takes a long time to undue the damage most co-teachers create, therefore the extremely slow progress of the driver gives the false impression that both the Student-driver an me, as the Instructor, are incompetent.
6. LIMITED CONDITIONAL GUARANTEE OF PROGRESS
Drivers who do all of the following usually complete their training in half the time that drivers who do none of the following require:
A. By the start of lesson one memorize the following five words in consecutive order, "ahead, behind, mirror, shoulder, signal."
B. At the start of lesson one, turn in the written work for no less than 10-pages of reading or four hours of devoted reading (whichever is less) in the Workbook
C. At the start of every lesson beginning with lesson two, turn in the written work for 30-pages of reading or four hours of devoted reading (whichever is less) in the Workbook.
D. Memorizes the steps for parking and three-point turn on your own time rather than use behind-the-wheel time for memory work. One student memorized the steps for parking and three-point turn in 30-minutes. One student said it took him nine hours. A few told me it was impossible for them to memorize yet each had memorized their name, addresses, telephone number and a host of other things such as locker combination, operating procedures for computers and cell phone, driving routes to and from school and more. It is human nature to say "I can't" instead of "I don't want to." Most students tell me it takes about 2.5 hours to memorize the steps for parking and three-point turn. It takes most students two lessons 75-minute lessons to memorize the steps for parking and three-point turn during paid training.
E. Be able to do hand-over-hand steering by the end of lesson two if taking three or more lessons.
F. On the first lesson, if you ask me to, I will show you parking and three-point turn and quote the steps as I show you parking and three-point turn. That visual will help you memorize the steps.
Drivers who cannot memorize, think they cannot memorize or opt not to memorize the steps for parking and three-point turn on their own time for FREE are invited to memorize the steps during paid driving time. If a person knows their name, address, telephone number and how to use a cell phone, that person has already proven he or she can memorize. Such people who say they cannot memorize, just do not want to take the effort to do so.
The fastest I have ever had a student memorize the steps for parking and three-point turn during paid driving time was 20-minutes. The longest was five 75-minute driving sessions. On average it takes about two 75-minute driving sessions (2.5 hours) for a driver to memorize the steps for parking and three-point turn during paid driving time.
Most students who memorize the steps on their own time for free just need to go through the motions of parking and three- point turn only once or twice to become proficient at parking and the three-point turn.
G. Read each evaluation (sent via email) and return it via email with the word "Read" typed in the subject line or as the first word in the text. Do so not later than the start of the next lesson as evidence of reading it so I don't take the first five or 10 minutes of your driving time covering it
7. WHAT IS DEFENSIVE DRIVING?
Defensive driving is driving in a manner that keeps you from becoming involved in the crashes that crash-prone drivers create.
Defensive driving is gracefully preparing for and acting in advance to possible driving dangers using 23 specific driving techniques rather than frantically reacting at the last split second in an untrained and unsafe manner to fully developed dangers.
Defensive driving is the opposite of "aggressive driving." Aggressive drivers do not show consideration for others on the road, do not yield their rights or their time in order to avoid crashing or make allowances for the poor driving habits of others.
The difference between an accident and a crash is that a crash is avoidable. An accident is unavoidable. There are very few driving accidents. Almost all damage to property and life, and all loss of life on the roadways are easily avoidable if any one of the drivers is a defensive driver. In most cases, it takes two drivers who are untrained in defensive driving skills to have one crash.
It is wise to be that defensive driver, rather than hope that all other drivers on the road you share are skilled? (Few are!)
Defensive driving is the opposite of "automatic" driving. The automatic driver travels with his vehicle in "drive" but his mind in "neutral." A defensive driver drives with his/her mind operating to identify and respond to driving dangers BEFORE those dangers fully develop.
Defensive driving is the opposite of "tunnel vision driving" (looking only straight ahead). Defensive drivers know the conditions of their driving environment at all times and in every direction.
Like all learning, it is only after one acquires the skills that one can really appreciate those skills. The only individuals that feel acquiring defensive driving skills are unimportant are those that do not know defensive driving skills. Ignorance has a voice. It is always critical of and condescending towards knowledge.
I have never met an individual that has graduated a defensive driving course who states that learning defensive driving skills was a waste of time or money. Neither have you!!! Only those who are ignorant about defensive driving skills belittle or decry defensive driving education/training.
8. THE DEFINITION OF A BEHIND THE WHEEL LESSON.
All driving sessions are 75-minutes in length except for the first lesson which may last 90-minutes and, if so, there is no additional charge. Here is the process for training. I tell you what to do and give you a chance or two to do it. If you cannot do it, I do not continue to let you break the law and/or endanger our safety by letting you do it wrong over and over. I show you how to do it and give you another chance or two to do it. If you cannot do it, I show you again, and so on. It is dangerous, stupid and illegal to expect a driver to learn to do it correctly by doing it wrong time after time after time.
9. DO WE PROVIDE A VEHICLE FOR TAKING THE STATE EXAM?
No.
10. DO WE PROVIDE THE VEHICLE FOR TRAINING?
Yes, but at an additional fee for licensed drivers (or drivers taking training to get his or her license reinstated). However, you can use your vehicle if you sign a waiver and assume all financial responsibility/liability.
11. DO WE PROVIDE DOOR-TO- DOOR PICK-UP SERVICE?
Yes, we provide door-to-door pick-up for $2.25 to $2.42 per round trip mile from a location about 2/10th of one mile from the intersection of Interstate 10 at Exit 26 (Milton/Bagdad Exit) which is about 6.5 miles east of Pensacola. I make no profit on door-to-door pick-up service.
We do not provide transportation (taxi) service from your home/location to our location and back to your home as do many or most driving schools that train only on their private property. We do provide door-to-door pickup service that begins and ends the training at your specified location. The training takes place within 10-miles of that pick-up location. We do not title our door-to-door pick-up service as a "transportation service" in order to avoid confusion and because it is not customary to think of a driving school as "self-transporting" driving instructors.
SERVICE RADIUS
Within the State of Florida, I serve a one-hundred-mile radius from Pensacola as long as within the State of Florida.
12. DO WE SERVE ALABAMA?
We can pick you up and drive you across the Florida line, train you in Florida and drive you back to your home in Alabama.
13. WHAT I DO
Telling a driver the truth about his driving allows me to good word a driver who does well and opens the door for me to help a driver with driving needs. I cannot help a driver become a better driver if I do not identify driving flaws.
I teach everyone who is able to learn including those with handicaps of all and every kind.
I teach:
A. New drivers to pass their Florida State Licensing Test.
B. Twelve safe driving skills that keep the driver from causing crashes.
C. Twenty-three defensive driving techniques that help people drive crash-free even when driving among poor drivers and in bad weather.
D. How to drive citation-free for life.
E. Experienced and new drivers to be safer by teaching defensive driving skills.
F. People from other countries; those whose first language is not English.
G. Drivers with handicaps.
H. Those ordered by the Court system to satisfy court-ordered remedial behind-the-wheel driver’s training.
I. I provide validation of graduation for insurance companies that offer discounts for drivers that successfully complete a behind-the-wheel driving course/training.
J. I provide evaluations" to determine if a driver is "safe behind-the-wheel."
14. WHAT I DO NOT DO.
A It does you no favor if I lie to you about your driving needs and it robs you of the joy of recognizing your progress. Lying about your driving ability in order to keep from hurting your feelings can make a driver over-confident behind-the-wheel and cost that driver his or her life. I will not do it. If you cannot handle constructive criticism or appreciate wise advise, you are too immature to be entrusted with a vehicle that can cripple or kill in a split second of a wrong decision. Driving is not for children or childlike adults.
B. I do not refund money for lessons already taken or started. I quit doing that when I had a student-driver whose grandfather demanded a full refund of $630 because at the end of the training, he said she had not progress enough to satisfy him (even though her progress was well in line with the average progress of the average student and she was in all ways an average student). I refunded the money. When I told him I would refund this money, he broke out in laughter.
A few weeks later I got a call from a mother. Her last name was the same as the last name of grandfather and student driver that received a full refund. After three lessons, the mother asked if she could ride for one lesson. Foolishly, I allowed it. After that lesson the mother said she did not like me or my teaching style. I ended up refunding half of their money paid. I can't help but think I was set up for this by the sociopath grandfather. I will not refund any more money for lessons already taken. If you are unhappy for any reason, stop the training immediately and I will refund any unused part of that lesson on a per minute basis and any unused advanced payments. No more.
So, now I simply do not refund money for completed lessons any more than the gas station will refund your money for a consumed tank of gas. Evaluate the progress of the driver between each lesson and if unhappy, quit.
15. ARE CAREFUL DRIVERS SAFE?
No. Only safe drivers are safe. Being careful is not the same as being safe. You cannot avoid crashing by being careful. A sky diver who jumps out of a plane without a parachute will not land safely if he falls carefully to the ground. A drunk is not safe because he drives carefully. A child with a loaded pistol is not safe if he or she is careful. An unsafe driver is not safe because he or she is caring (careful) behind the wheel. Caring is not the same thing as well-trained or skilled. You can only avoid crashes by driving defensively. Driving defensively is a skill. Being careful is the result of driving under the influence of an emotion. "Caring," is an emotion, not a skill. Bad drivers cannot be careful enough or caring enough to drive skillfully. Skillful driving is the result of training not the result of caring more. The result of valid caring is proper training not feeling good about driving poorly because the driver is being careful while driving poorly.
Only perfect practice makes perfect. Drivers who have bad driving habits but are care-full (filled with the emotion of caring) when they drive poorly are not safe.
Carefulness is not driver's training, but a state of mind. Giving an untrained driver the keys the car and telling that driver to, "be careful," is no different than giving him an loaded gun with no more training than the admonition to, "Be careful." It is foolish and it is naive. It is deadly and expensive. One man told me that his son did not need driver's training because his son was a "careful driver." After two crashes and more than $1,500 in damages, he brought his son to me for driver's training. The son did, indeed, driver poorly with great care.
16. BRIEF BREAK
In some cases, there is a two or three minute break for each lesson about half way through where the driver is able to rest his or her mind. It is part of the driving safely. This is an important safety factor. If there is a break for safety, the driving time will not extended. If, however, there is a break for any other reason, the driving time will extended so the driver does not lose behind-the-wheel time. If we are going to be more than five minutes late, I will call.
17. CAN PARENTS (SPOUSES) RIDE DURING TRAINING?
If the training is in your car, then, of course you can ride in your car during training as you are assuming 100% of the liability when training in your car. I invite riders for the first lesson, only (in my vehicle). There are good reasons for this that I will share upon request.
If a rider is needed in my vehicle some specific reason, let me know the need and I will make a decision regarding someone in the back seat during training beyond lesson one.
The crash rate with a parent or spouse in the back seat is many times greater. Anyone can follow us to see the training from the outside of our vehicle. Upon request, I will provide any client (parent, spouse) a free 10-minute driving session with client behind-the-wheel to get an idea of my teaching ability.
18. HOURS OF OPERATION
The first lesson of the day can begin as early as 10am and the last driving session of the day can begin as late as 8:45pm, Tuesday through Saturday. If Monday is the only days you can train, I will try to make adjustments to meet your available time. Just ask.
19. INSURANCE DISCOUNTS
Some insurance providers give 5% to 15% discounts to drivers who driver's training. Some do not. Call your insurance provider to find out.
20. WHAT HAPPENS IF WE (YOU AND I) CANNOT GET ALONG?
So far, out of the total of about 4,000 people I have worked with in this business (student-drivers and clients), I have not gotten along with nine people.
A person has to work really hard at not getting along with me. Talk to me l like a human being and not a dog. Tell me what you want and if it is within my power and within any parameters of reason, I will do it. Tell me what you do not like about me and I won't do it again. Tell me what I can do to better please you and I will give it my best effort to do it. How much more could any person do? How much more could anyone expect from me?
If we cannot get along, we part company. However, I will not refund money paid for lessons already taken or already started.
I do not get along with narcissists, sociopaths or psychopaths because the only way to get along with them is to be their spittoon. I refuse. Life is too short to endure the ongoing discomfort of trying to work with people who are devoted to failure in that working relationship. If you have one of these fowl people in your life, go to http://www.lulu.com/shop/joda-collins/dealing-with-the-demonic/paperback/product-20198023.html
and get some help.
Eight of the nine people I could not get along with refused to read carefully the working agreement that they agreed to and then got upset with me because I did exactly what I said I would do in the working agreement or I expected them to do what the working agreement stated was their responsibility. One got upset because she could not understand the Contract nor understand my clarification of the Contract. If you refuse to read the Contact, please do not do business with me. If you struggle to read, I will read it to you. If you struggle to understand the words, I will donate as much time as you need for clarification. Just ask.
21. STATE EXAMINATION REQUIREMENTS TO SECURE A DRIVER'S LICENSE.
The requirements vary greatly depending on where you take your exam. Tell me where you are taking your exam and I will tell you the requirements.
22. THE FINANCIAL VALUE OF SELF-STUDY
Those who do the suggested self study progress about twice as fast through training compared to those who do none of the suggested self study.
Whether you do self-study or not makes no difference to me. However, why pay me money for necessary things you can learn on your own time for free!
I have invested about 1,400 hours in separating what can be learned about safe-defensive driving (and/or passing the State driving exam) from a book from what can only be learned about safe-defensive driving (and/or passing the State driving exam) behind-the-wheel.
I have a workbook that contains everything that can be learned about safe driving (and/or passing the State driving exam) from a book. Student-drivers that avail themselves to these printed resources spend, on average spend about half the time behind-the-wheel and learn the same driving skills as Student-drivers who do not read the printed material. I offer the reading material for free; however I do not beg a person to read it. Clients who would rather pay more to learn the reading material during paid driving time are welcome to do so without any objection from me.
23. DRIVING AT NIGHT
Some things about night time driving cannot be taught in the daylight. Everything about daylight driving can be taught after sundown. Drivers with a permit for more than 90-days can take lessons after sundown and will always be better prepared for all driving conditions than drivers that only train in the sunlight. I do not "promote" night driving beyond making this statement. If you desire a night driving session, let me know.
24. WHY IS THERE A CHARGE FOR DOOR-TO -DOOR SERVICE?
It costs money to drive my car and I get paid for my time. No driving school provides free door-to-door service. Either the expense for door-to-door service is added to the price of the driving lessons and spread across the expense to all clients or the clients that use door-to-door service are charged for that service. My policy is that I only charge those who use door-to-door service for the service.
Driving my car, paying myself a living wage and covering my business expenses are all accomplished by the per minute use of my time and the per mile charge for using my vehicle. I have no other source of income. If I invest my time in you and drive my car for you, I incur expenses. In most cases my door-to-door pick up charge is about 90% of what it costs me to provide it.
Schools that say they "do not charge" for door-to-door service are lying to you. They have increased charges to everyone to cover the expense of providing the door-to-door service. If I offered "free" door-to-door service, everyone would take advantage of that service. My standard 75-minute driving lesson would take, on average, twice as long. I would be spending 50% of my work time on the road for door-to-door service. My car would wear out, at least twice as fast, maintenance expense for the vehicle would double. I would have to increase my prices to cover the expense as no one in business works 50% of the time for free while doubling expenses.
My arrival time is within one minute of the promised time rather than the 45-minute window offered by most taxi services.
25. IS THERE A CONTRACT TO SIGN?
It is against the State law for driving schools to have any verbal agreements with drivers or clients. Most driving schools have very brief Contracts. They read, "X number of lessons. X number of dollars. No refunds" plus a statement to protect the company from lawsuits.
However, since I have a liberal refund policy, give discounts when certain conditions are met, provide written estimates and more, my Contract (Working Agreement) is long. Thank you for reading it carefully. You can find it on the AGREEMENT page of my web site (www.JodaCollins.com).
Upon request, I am happy to provide a simplified Working Agreement to anyone who asks that just states, "X number of lesson for $X dollars. No refunds. Plus, a few statements that protect us." All I do is remove client and driver benefits from the Working Agreement.
I must have your approval of the service Contact before I contact service. You can fax it to 850 981-3355, mail it, email your approval of telephone 850 981-3355 and voice your approval.
I will not schedule a first driving session unless I have a signed Contract or the signed paperwork (as clarified in Contract Six, Section 1B) for very good reasons. Those reasons are best clarified in emails I have received.
"Mr. Collins. I know I promised to sign the Contract and send the $30 fee with it but I have an emergency and cannot come up with the $30 at this time. Please cancel my driving appointment.'
"Hi. After reading the Contract, I have decided I do not want to do business with you. Cancel my appointment."
"Good Evening, I was not able to mail the $30 and signed Contract as I said I would because I misplaced your return stamped envelope and I do not have a stamp. I will bring the whole amount with me at the start of my lesson if I am able to keep the appointment."
"Ms. Jackie, Scheduling: We need to cancel my training because my parents are sharing the cost of my lessons and my mother thought I said you provided free door-to-door service to Fort Walton Beach. She will not drive me to Milton."
"Mr. Collins, I do not have the time or interest to read your long and cumbersome Contract. Cancel my appointment."
"Ms. Jackie, I have some concerns about the Contact for my 17 year old daughter. I read I am not allowed to ride along for more than the first lesson. That is unacceptable. Please delete my driving lesson from your training schedule. I know this is only a few minutes notice, but I have not paid you anything yet."
"To the Driving School. Our appointment for my son is tomorrow. However, I am confused about some of the demands of your Contract. Can we meet an hour or so early to go over my concerns?"
From Pensacola
Take I-10 East over the Escambia Bay Bridge. Take your second exit (#26). Turn left at first stop sign. The Shell Station is immediately on your right.
From Pace
Take Highway 90 towards Milton.Turn right on Avalon Blvd (at the PJC entrance). Take Interstate 10 East, take first exit (#26). Turn left at the first stop sign. The gas station is the first building on your right.
From Milton (near I-10)
The gas station is on the North Side of I-10 at Exit 26.
Lesson Start Locations
My Specialty is Defensive Driving.
I have driven almost 1.2 million miles (including 18-wheeler, bob-tail truck, six-by 15-passenger military transport vehicle, motor homes with trailers, UPS Package delivery truck, as a chauffeur and a driving Instructor) and developed safe-defensive driving skills at the highest level. As a driving Instructor for almost 2,300 students (about 9,500 lessons, 11,000 training hours and 245,000 training miles), I have gained the ability to work with every kind of student at every level of driving skill. However, I do not serve narcissists, psychopaths, sociopaths, the super immature, and those with a psychological mindset of entitlement (everyone owes them everything). Life is too short and I have too much life-experience to spend time with, energy on and place trust in psychological predators and the super immature that demand their excessive childishness be honored and tolerated. Been there. Done that. No thank you! I reserve the right to refuse service to anyone. So far, out of more than 2,200 student applications, I have only refused service to eleven. I should have refused service to twelve; LOL. (You know who you are!)
My Business Structure
I have very small business. I (Joda Collins) do almost all of the admin work and all of the training. If I am out of the office, I try very hard to answer every voice mail and email within two-hours. I seldom answer the phone because doing so eats up my very limited free time talking to people who have a ton of questions that are answered in the Contact. I do respond to voice mails and emails.
My Business Goal
I have only one goal. That goal is to be the best defensive driving school in the world. What does it take to be the best driving school in the world?
1. An experienced, dedicated instructor (me) that will train you and yours with the mind-set that the driver's
life depends on the quality of service he/she receives, and a devotion to invest in each student as if the student was his own child, sibling or parent.
2. A commitment to do everything, exceptionally, well. I am not perfect, but I seldom make the same mistake twice.
3. A Client-centered and Driver-centered business that makes the needs and desires of every Client and every
Driver the priority, second only to safety and, at least, a moderate degree of reasonableness expected from others.
Without reservation of thought, I tell you that because of my driving and training experience and expertise, love of what I do, commitment to your safety, and willingness to work hard to help you, I offer you the "best" defensive driver's training that you can find anywhere in the world. That is a bold statement; however, I believe it to be an accurate statement. Some driving school has to be the best. This is it! In reality, since few business have highly-experienced staff who are dedicated, first and foremost, to your success and to pleasing you as a priority, the field of top-quality businesses, in any business, is not large. When the person giving you most of the service is the business owner, that is a positive with regards to receiving the best service.
1. Very few driving instructors have the vast experience behind-the-wheel that I have. And, driving instructors come and go often. Very few have trained 2,300 drivers!
2. Full revelation of details. I am a man of many words because it takes a lot of words to reveal all information. I would rather lose your business than have your business and you be confused about what you are paying for or what to expect. I do not like confrontation. I will do my best to explain to you exactly what to expect. I do not bait and switch, misrepresent, lie, conceal or withhold information. I have no small print where information is hidden that is designed to hurt you or take advantage of you. I will answer any question you have as honestly and as fully as I can. I will put anything I say in print and sign it. I have never failed to keep my word and no one has ever accused me of failing to honor my word.
12. I (Joda Collins) do all of the training. I drove bob-tail truck for 10-years, package delivery truck for UPS, 18-wheeler, 27-foot motor home with vehicle in tow, 15-passenger military transport vehicle (in the US Air Force), and as a chauffeur. I have provided more than 10,000 hours of driver training instruction to more than 3,000 student-drivers covering more than 245,000 crash-free student-driver miles in my training vehicle except for one super light bump in the rear from a driver who tapped us when we were stopped at a traffic light while she (the other driver) was texting; no damage and not a mark on my car. 13. I will not teach a student that is committed to not following my directions if they do not like them or disagree with me. I will not put my life, the life of my driver or the lives of others around us at unnecessary and excessive risk just because a driver is convinced, he or she is the final authority behind-the-wheel with me in the passenger's side. 14. I will not serve people that will not honor their contractual commitment to me.
Welcome
HOW TO SECURE ADDITIONAL INFORMATION Tell me what your needs and goals are and I will direct you to the specific part of my web site that gives you 100% of the info you need.
To check for available start times, read the left column.
Email your request to JodaCollins@aol.com or call 850 981-3355.
Welcome to
JODA COLLINS
DRIVING ACADEMY LLC
Behind-the-Wheel Training
Serving Escambia, Santa Rosa and Okaloosa Counties since 2008!
850 981-3355
850 981-3355
Copyright © 2016. Joda Collins. All rights reserved.