What Does the PIRP Course Teach?

The PIRP course teaches participants to use DTA's IPDE (Identify, Predict, Decide, Execute) strategy to anticipate traffic hazards and deal with them in ways that minimize risk for the driver. Simulated traffic crash scenarios are used to demonstrate how the IPDE strategy should be used in situations such as a rear-end collision, a side-impact collision, and a passing maneuver collision. Other course topics include an overview of the highway transportation system, the dangers of driving after drinking alcohol, and how to respond properly in emergency driving situations.

DTA's PIRP course is the only New York traffic school 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 PIRP 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 by remaining in the Adult Attitude State, they can reduce their chances of being involved in a crash or of committing a traffic violation that could result in a citation.