Driving course at Stanislaus sheriff's training center sharpens skills

By ROSALIO AHUMADA
rahumada@modbee.com

last updated: August 17, 2008 01:05:14 AM

Retired Manteca police Lt. Mike Cook helps new and veteran cops sharpen their driving skills and avoid crashes on the road.

Now, Cook and other instructors at the Stanislaus County Sheriff's Regional Training Center are providing the same instruction to people who drive for a living or simply want to be safer behind the wheel.

"We want them to understand how to handle their vehicles, so they can avoid putting themselves into problems," Cook said while instructing his second group of civilians. "Learning to trust your vehicle. Learning what it will do."

The training center offers the defensive driving course for anyone 18 years or older with a valid license. The hands-on, four-hour session is $135 per student and covers safe driving, accident avoidance, skid recovery and other skills.

The instructors teach for an hour in a classroom before the students get behind the wheel of a patrol car and drive through exercises at the Crows Landing Air Facility.

Cook said 36 drivers have participated in two sessions since the center started offering the course to civilians in late July. The center is signing up participants for another session in September.

He said each session is limited to 20 people to ensure the three instructors have plenty of interaction with students.

The course is the first time the training center has provided the public the type of instruction law enforcement officials receive.

"If anyone knows how to drive, it's these guys," student Ed McMickle said. "I think (the course) will make me a little more cautious of how I drive."

McMickle, 62, of Turlock was one of 11 security guards from Modesto's E.&J. Gallo Winery participating in the latest session Tuesday.

The course is the first in a series of workshops the sheriff's training center is offering to the public. Sheriff's officials want to expand the center's training services while improving public safety.

The training center soon will be offering workshops on self- defense for adults and children, protection from Internet predators, identity theft, physical fitness, public safety careers, life in a law enforcement academy and others.

The tuition for the workshops will be used to expand the center's training for the public and law enforcement. Tuition for the upcoming workshops has not been determined, but the center's director said they plan to keep costs low for the public.

The training center provides courses for police from agencies in the Central Valley and the Sierra foothills, along with an academy for recruits.

Cook is the coordinator of the emergency vehicle operations program and helps recruits and experienced officers learn how to avoid accidents during high-speed pursuits.

"Unless you get there, you're not going to help anyone," Cook said about police responding to emergencies.

In the defensive driving course, Cook and his fellow instructors do not teach the public how to chase bad guys at high speeds. This course is limited to slow-speed maneuvers.

The majority of traffic accidents occur at slow speeds, Cook said, because drivers forget or don't know their vehicles' capabilities.

Cook said slamming on your brakes won't be enough to stop you from hitting a package that fell from a delivery truck or a little girl who darts out on the road, even at speeds of 25 to 35 mph.

In this exercise, there are three lanes and each has a traffic light. As the driver gets within 88 feet of the lanes, the lights turn on and the driver must pick the lane with the green light and avoid the two that have red lights.

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