Driver’s Education Information

The classroom sessions are held in Popplewell Hall Room 205 on the MWSU campus.

**Students attend classes Monday through Friday for all program sessions.

There will be a total of five classroom days. This will provide 25 hours of classroom instructions on an array of topics related to safe and legal driving such as traffic laws, use of a driving simulator, impaired driving, seatbelt use, defensive driving, etc.

Throughout the week, our Driver’s Education students have the opportunity to learn from a variety of guest speakers and safety partners who bring real-world experience and powerful lessons about safe driving.

You will hear from Missouri State Highway Patrol, Missouri Think First, Tolly and Assoc (American Family Insurance), Missouri Department of Transportation, MU Healthcare, and the Northwest Coalition for Highway Safety. Please be advised that some speakers may present content that is mildly graphic in nature. We must consider traffic and driving safety in the context of traffic collisions and their associated legal and injury-related consequences.

In addition to the classroom portion, there are a total of 18 hours students spend in the driver’s education vehicles. There will be 6 hours of behind-the-wheel instruction and 12 hours of observation time. The observation time consists of students riding in the backseat and being observant to instruction and driving being performed by the student behind the wheel.

  1. Students CAN NOT drive during their scheduled classroom time; therefore, it will show as unavailable to book on the calendar.

  2. Students are to select 6 driving sessions, no more no less. If you do not sign up for at least 6 sessions, you will not receive your driver’s ed completion as you will not have completed the required driving/observation time needed.

  3. Driving starts on June 6th at 9am and runs through June 26th with no driving on June 14th and June 19th (Father’s Day and Juneteenth) so it is important that we have complete and updated schedules for our driving instructors as to who will be in their car on specific dates/times.

  4. If you need to make a change (either to change a session, cancel a session, etc.) you will need to call Kerri Krumme at 816-233-3330 ext 304 or kerri@stjoesafetycouncil.org. Also, do not ask the driving instructors in the cars to help you manage your driving schedule. They will not have the answer for you, Kerri will.

The driving sessions will start and end on the MWSU campus. Parents will drop their student off and pick them up three hours later in Lot C, in front of Fulkerson Center. If the students will be driving for less than 3-hour increments the instructors will notify the parents before they leave.

Driving sessions will be formatted in 3-hour increments:

9am-Noon

Noon-3pm

3pm -6pm

6pm-9pm

There will be three students in each session along with the instructor.  One hour will be spent driving in various training situations, the remaining two hours are in the observation role.  Students are allowed to have their cellphones with them; however, their use is strongly discouraged during observation times.  NO cellphone use will be allowed while driving.  The instructor will have access to a second brake which has been installed in the front passenger side floorboard.  There will be 100% seatbelt usage while driving and safety will be at the forefront of every driving session. The vehicles are fully insured, and we will drive various routes in and around St. Joseph. 

Once again for 2026, Reed Chevrolet has graciously provided two vehicles for the students to drive during the duration of the course.  Also, the student will have the opportunity to practice obtaining fuel while we are out driving in the community. 

If students want to bring a lunch or snack (or funds to purchase a snack during a brief fuel stop) this is fine.  Also, if at any time a student needs to make a restroom break during the 3-hour driving session, they simply need to notify the instructor and we will accommodate them at the nearest convenience store or other appropriate location.

What to bring:

Permit - If you have not uploaded a copy of your permit you will need to provide it on the first day of class. You will also need ensure your student brings their Missouri Driving Permit for every driving session.

Food & Drinks - We will take short breaks to allow for restroom use, light snacks, drinks, etc.  If you student wishes to bring a drink into the classroom, this is permissible if it does not become distracting. 

If you need to change this, please call me at (816) 233-3330, or email me at kerri@stjoesafetycouncil.org to ensure your student attends on the correct dates/times.