NOTE: Drivers who have been licensed
in another U.S. state do NOT have to take this course.
Drivers who have been licensed in another country might
have to complete the course, depending on the licensing
standards of the country in which they were licensed.
If you are not sure whether you need to take this course,
please contact your local Florida driver license office.
What Does the START
Course Teach?
The START course teaches participants about the dangers
of driving after drinking or taking drugs and the harmful
effects these substances can have on the human body
and mind. The course also explains several Florida traffic
laws (especially those pertaining to the use of alcohol
or drugs while driving) and explores traffic safety
concepts through the use of DTA's IPDE strategy for
effective and risk-free driving.
DTA's START course is the only Florida drug and alcohol
course that teaches students how to control their emotions
and attitudes through the understanding of the concept
of Attitude States. Using Dr. Eric Berne's groundbreaking
theory of Transactional Analysis (TA), the START course
teaches students that each of us has three Attitude States
-- Parent, Adult, and Child -- that constantly influence
our behavior. Learning how to identify these Attitude
States is the key to controlling them, which can be critical
during potentially hazardous activities such as driving
a motor vehicle. Students learn that remaining in the
Adult Attitude State is the best way to minimize their
risk of a crash and to prepare for driving emergencies.
