In-Car Guides

There are three levels to the Driving MIND In-Car Guides. the Bronze Level, Silver Level, and the Gold Level. The Bronze Level is where teens are able to learn, practice, and master habits of the Zone Control Strategies and earn the Co-Driver Diploma from NIDB College. Then, they are eligible to enter the Silver Level of training where behind-the-wheel training begins in a parking lot. After completion of the Silver Level teens earn the privilege to enter the Gold Level performance behind-the-wheel on the road. The teens' Zone Control habits are evaluated and coached for success by an NIDB College Certified Driver Wellness Coach.

Teens learn a few Zone Control Strategies and Principles from activities at NIDB College then they use the In-Car Guides App to practice performing the strategies while being a pedestrian, passenger, or co-driver. This is a new scientific method of training that reverses the way teens are currently trained. Currently, teens get licensed and then are required to drive around town for 4 to 6 months with the supervision of a parent or mentor to receive Graduated Driver Licensing (GDL) practice. The downside of the GDL practice is there are no standards to judge correct or incorrect performance.

Teens using the In-Car Guides have a clearly defined set of standards and are able to perform activities at their own pace and gain experiences to earn the Zone Control Co-Driver Diploma, which is a certification that the teen has learned hundreds of successful strategies using the Principles of Zone Control. Mentors can set this as a goal for teens to achieve before beginning to learn how to drive.

The In-Car Guides App provides mentors with guidance on how to help trainee become safe pedestrians, bicyclists, and passengers –– 60 percent of teens killed in car crashes are passengers. This training provides teens with strategies to deal with drivers who are putting them at risk.

The In-Car Guides App holds teens accountable for achieving Zone Control habits. The teen is required to give themselves a rating of 4 to 1 to indicate how spontaneous their performance of any one of the strategies takes place. A rating of 4 indicates they can perform the action without thinking by habit. A mentor or a Driver Wellness Coach is able to see on their App the extent of the teen's practice to determine how extensive and effective the practice sessions are. Then, teens are evaluated to demonstrate their level of performance.