by Lisa M. Chmiola
Staff Writer
It's Friday evening, and you're curled up on the sofa with some popcorn, a loved one and a video - a take-home defensive driving video.
U.S. Interactive's USA Driver Safety Course, available for rental at Blockbuster Video and Randall's stores throughout the Houston area, provides a more convenient alternative to classroom defensive driving instruction.
"There had to be another way to take courses, such as defensive driving, other than sitting in a class for eight hours," said U.S. Interactive President Scott Owens.
A 1988 University of Houston graduate, Owens said he came up with the idea for the videos after taking several defensive driving courses. "I had gotten numerous tickets when I was in college. I took defensive driving three times in one year, even though it was illegal," he said.
After calling contacts in the industry, Owens said he presented the idea to the Texas Education Agency in November 1990. "They really liked the idea - they liked the entire concept."
Once driving schools heard about Owens' plans, he said several tried to form an association to prevent the videos from receiving state approval. Approved in November 1993, the videos were finally introduced to the Houston market in January 1994.
The videos consist of six one-hour segments that cover all the information necessary for completion of a defensive driving course, he said. "It's primarily driving safety information. We had to make it go along with the rules and regulations of the state.
"It covers everything you would go through in a defensive driving school, except for boredom," Owens said.
The video rental kit comes with a computer terminal, keyboard and three tapes, he said. Once the user is ready to begin, he or she must log into a network that tracks progress by giving quizzes at the end of each hour and a final exam upon completion of the videos.
"(The questions) are used to validate whether or not the user was paying attention," Owens said. Several entertainment aspects are included to catch the viewer's attention, such as music from ZZ Top and appearances by Jerry Seinfeld and Dick Butkus.
Although viewing the videos may seem easy, Owens said there are 42 validation mechanisms built into the program to prevent users from cheating.
"If they try to complete the course in anything less than six hours ... and tried to turn it in ... they'd have to start the tape over. If they try to cheat it, we can't give them the (completion) certificate," he said.
Although users may view the videos at any time and at their own pace, the convenience will cost them $39.99 for the three days of rental, Owens said.
Sears Authorized Driving School charges $25 for its defensive driving course, said Sandra Henderson, vice president in charge of defensive driving instructors.
She added that students in Sears' courses said they like being able to interact with other students and instructors during the course. "When you have the experiences of other people to talk to and listen to, that helps with (improving) driving," she said.
Another possible disadvantage to using the videos is forgetting to watch the whole series or waiting too long to rent the kit, said Larry Monks, administrator of Monks Brothers Defensive Driving. "Most people procrastinate taking defensive driving anyway," he said.
Despite any disadvantages, rentals of the kits at the Randall's Flagship store at Westheimer and Shepherd are steady, according to certified trainer Jennifer Tagliabue.
"We have 19 (kits) - it's really popular," she said, adding that the store has at least 35 rentals a week.
In addition, Owens said studies conducted after students viewed the videos showed a 87 percent reduction in tickets received and a 64 percent decrease in automobile accidents.
"It's self-paced, easy, convenient and, at the same time, effective," he said.