Instructor Development Program
PROGRAM OVERVIEW
The Instructor Development Program consists of five days of intensive training. The first day is dedicated to classroom theory sessions designed to indoctrinate the instructor candidate into Crossroads Training Academy’s unique methodologies for training protection and pursuit drivers. During the second day, participants will practice designing seven basic driving exercises and determining a vehicle’s deceleration and lateral acceleration capabilities. During the remaining three days of training participants will practice conducting a basic protection driver program from both the perspectives of trainer and trainee.
CLASSROOM SUBJECTS
Crossroads Training Academy Training Methodology
Participants will understand Crossroads Training Academy’s training methodology with an emphasis on objective scoring systems based on scientifically designed driving exercises.
Introduction to Vehicle Dynamics
Participants will learn about the “Driver’s Triangle” and how it applies to what goes right and what goes wrong every time a driver is put into a potential vehicle emergency. Participants will also learn about the human body’s physiological reaction to emergencies and how the flight-or-flight response applies to driving emergencies. Participants will understand the feet-per-second concept and why it is a more useful unit of measure for drive-time emergencies than miles-per-hour. Participants will turn driving into math and understand the physical forces that act upon vehicles in motion. In particular, participants will understand the friction that is created between the tire contact patches and the road surface and the effect of lateral acceleration on the contact patches’ ability to control the vehicle.
SUV Performance and Anti-Rollover Driving
Though SUV’s are prone to untripped rollovers, a few simple driver inputs can allow anyone to drive an SUV in a performance manner during an emergency situation. Participants will learn why SUV’s tend to experience untripped rollovers and how to avoid them.
Formulas
Participants will understand and practice using the mathematical equations and formulas that are at the heart of any effective driving programs
Understanding Training Vehicles
Participants will learn how to choose proper training vehicles. Also, participants will review common problems with vehicles used in emergency vehicle operations courses.
Introduction to Basic Vehicle Maintenance
Participants will receive an in-depth look at tires – the most important components of a motor vehicle – as well as a quick, ten-minute checklist used to make sure that every major vehicle system is prepared to be safely used during training
Vehicle Norming
Participants will learn how to properly ascertain a vehicle’s performance capabilities to be able to design objective grading systems.
Lesson Plan and Training Aid Development
Participants will learn how to design effective and relevant lesson plans and training aids.
Student Testing and Evaluation
Participants will learn how to properly test and evaluate a student’s performance both in the classroom and on the track.
Required Training Equipment
Participants will review the needed materials to create, conduct, and evaluate a Crossroads Training Academy driving program.
Law, Liability, and Use of Force for EVO Instructors
Participants will learn how to effectively incorporate legal and liability concepts and departmental policies regarding use of force into their classroom presentations and practical exercises.
Course Rules (Instructor/Student)
Participants will review course safety rules for both the instructor and the student.
Seating and Hand Position
Participants will lean the best seating and hand positions to use the greatest amount of vehicle capability possible.
Exercise Design
Participants will learn how to create seven driving exercises:
- Slalom Exercise
- Brake and Turn Exercise
- Lane Change Exercise
- Reverse Slalom Exercise
- Straight-Line Backing Exercise
- K-Turn Exercise
- PIT Maneuver (optional)
- Counter-Ambush/Pursuit Exercise
PRACTICAL EXERCISES
Participants will practice as both instructors and students in each exercise. Each day, after the end of training, participants will practice objectively evaluating student performance.
Slalom Exercise
Participants will drive through a four-cone slalom to master the fundamentals of seating and hand position; aggressive and smooth steering; performance driving vision; and the control of lateral acceleration.
Brake and Turn Exercise
Participants will learn how to use maximal braking while retaining directional vehicle control.
Lane Change Exercise
Participants will learn how to quickly react to a vehicle emergency in which they must make split-second decisions while maintaining vehicular control.
Basic Cornering Exercise
Participants will learn racecar driving techniques for high-speed vehicle handling including lines and apexes driving and performance braking.
Reverse Slalom Exercise
Participants will learn how to precisely control a vehicle while rapidly backing up.
Straight-Line Backing Exercise
Participants will learn how to quickly and safely back away from a frontal vehicle ambush.
K-Turn Exercise
Participants will learn how to perform a rapid reverse-of-direction.
Precision Immobilization Maneuver (PIT)
Participants will learn how to teach the PIT maneuver safely, effectively, and cost-efficiently.
Obstacle Course
Participants will drive through an obstacle course in which they will put to use all of the skills they will have learned and practiced.
Note: These exercises can all be modified to be used with SUV’s and SUV performance/emergency handling techniques.