Course Description

Refresh and refine your operational driving skills in the Police Driving Refresher course, expertly designed by the Missouri Safety Center to elevate the safety and proficiency of law enforcement officers. Through an engaging blend of updated classroom instruction and practical range exercises, participants gain critical insights into the core causes of police vehicle collisions, encompassing psychological, emotional, and physiological factors, and reinforcing proactive risk mitigation techniques. This essential course will enable officers to review and strengthen defensive driving strategies, master space and time management, deepen understanding of vehicle dynamics, and hone advanced control skills. By improving officers’ ability to safely navigate emergency and pursuit situations, this refresher directly contributes to reduced incidents and enhanced safety for both officers and the public they serve.

Course Objectives and Outcomes

Understanding Crash Dynamics & Risk Factors

Investigate the statistics surrounding law enforcement vehicle crashes and explore the multifaceted causes of these incidents. Officers will deepen their understanding of the elements that compromise driving safety by thoroughly examining psychological influences such as attitudes and emotions, alongside critical physiological factors including fatigue, stress, and vision limitations. Equipping you with essential knowledge, this focused study empowers proactive management of personal and environmental risk factors to minimize the likelihood of collisions.

Mastering Defensive Driving & Space Management

Learn and implement the core principles of defensive driving and effective space management to significantly enhance situational awareness and collision avoidance. Through the application of proven techniques, officers will refine their ability to anticipate hazards on the road, make sound and timely driving decisions, and maintain crucial space cushions in diverse and dynamic driving environments. This proactive and adaptable approach to driving directly translates to safer and more controlled responses in both routine patrol and emergency operational contexts.

Excelling in Emergency Response Driving

Develop specialized driving skills essential for safe and effective emergency response scenarios. Officers will focus intently on the unique demands of emergency driving, with particular emphasis on recognizing and interpreting visual and physical cues critical for maintaining vehicle control under pressure. Participants will master advanced braking and steering techniques to facilitate rapid and safe responses, learning to effectively mitigate risks associated with high-stress situations and improving their capacity to navigate high-pressure emergency scenarios with greater confidence and competence.

Navigating Pursuit Driving & Legal Liabilities

Understand the complex legal and procedural landscape surrounding police pursuits and learn to mitigate associated liabilities effectively. This course carefully examines relevant state statutes, departmental policies, and key legal precedents to clarify the specific responsibilities and potential liabilities officers face during pursuit driving situations. Participants will rigorously analyze critical factors that influence pursuit decisions, establish appropriate communication protocols, and define clear termination procedures, thereby promoting legally sound and ethically responsible pursuit driving practices.

Optimizing Safety Devices & Restraint Systems

Reinforce the critical importance of safety devices and proper restraint systems in minimizing injury during all vehicle operations. To underscore their life-saving role, the course provides a thorough review of best practices for the consistent and correct utilization of lap and shoulder belts, clarifies the fundamental function and benefits of airbags, and strongly emphasizes the significance of consistently maintaining a correct driving position to maximize the protective effectiveness of all safety equipment. A robust understanding of these vital systems and proactive safety practices is unequivocally crucial to maximizing officer safety and minimizing the potential for injuries in the unfortunate event of a collision.

Other Information

This course is approved by Missouri P.O.S.T. and provides the following Continuing Education Hours: total of 8 hours.

• Technical Studies: 4 hours
• Skill Development: 4 hours

Officers should have taken a Basic Driving Course in the past 3 years. This course has a registration fee of $175.00 per seat. This is not a high-speed EVOC course.