BDE Course Lesson Plan

Our MTO-approved Beginner Driver Education (BDE) course includes a structured combination of online modules and in-car training. This lesson plan outlines exactly what new drivers in Ottawa will learn — from defensive driving habits to real-world road test prep. Once you're ready, you can register online and begin your certification.

Online Lessons

These online modules cover the rules of the road, defensive driving fundamentals, and risk awareness — giving you the theory you’ll apply during your in-car sessions.

0. Introduction

  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms and Conditions
  • General Information

1. rules of the road

  • Traffic laws
  • traffic control devices
  • Quiz 1

2. The Vehicle and it's Components

  • The vehicle and it's components
  • planning out your trip
  • Quiz 2

3. Vehicle Handling

  • Safe vehicle control
  • collisions and their causes
  • Quiz 3

4. Driver Behaviour

  • Adjusting Driving Behaviour for Different Driving Conditions
  • Managing Emotions for Driving
  • Positive Driving Attitudes and Behaviour
  • Effective Decision Making
  • Quiz 4

5. Awareness and Responsibility

  • Responding to Emergency Situations
  • Promoting Safe Driving and Developing Good Habits
  • Environmentally Conscious and Efficient Driving
  • Adapting to New Driving Skills Over Time
  • Quiz 5

6. Sharing the Road

  • Effective Communication with Other Road Users
  • Quiz 6

7. Impaired Driving

  • Impaired Driving
  • Distracted Driving
  • Impaired Driving Consequences
  • Managing Attention
  • Quiz 7

8. Perception and Risk Management

  • Developing Observation Skills
  • Accurate Perception of Personal Limits, Abilities and Risk Tolerance
  • Accurate Risk-Perception
  • Recognition and Avoidance of Collision Situations
  • Common Collision Situations
  • Potential Hazards while Driving and Effective Responses
  • Quiz 8

In-Car Lessons (10 Hours)

These structured in-car sessions are designed to cover all core skills required for safe driving and road test readiness — including parking, lane changes, intersections, freeway driving, and a full mock test.

1. Vehicle Setup & Basic Control

  • Circle check
  • Demonstrating blind spots & control devices
  • Seat, mirrors, steering wheel adjustment
  • Smooth hand and foot control
  • Starting, stopping, and basic braking

2. Steering, Turns & Lane Control

  • Hand-over-hand and push-pull steering
  • Right turns
  • Left turns
  • Lane positioning and lane discipline
  • Mirror usage during turns

3. Observation & Scanning Techniques

  • Mirror checks every 5–8 seconds
  • M.E.L.T. (Looking ahead 12–15 seconds)
  • Scan L-C-R at intersections
  • Blind spot checks
  • Hazard recognition

4. Speed Control & Space Management

  • Stopping time and position
  • Safe following distance
  • Going with the flow of traffic
  • Space cushion management
  • Speed control for road conditions

5. Intersections & Right of Way

  • Controlled intersections
  • Uncontrolled intersections
  • Right-of-way rules
  • Pedestrian awareness
  • Three-point turns, two-point turns, U-turns

6. Parking Skills

  • Parallel parking
  • Parking on a hill
  • Front-in and reverse parking
  • Mirror use while parking
  • Parking safety and accuracy

7. Lane Changes & City Driving

  • Lane changes (mirror, signal, blind spot)
  • Downtown traffic driving
  • Avoiding rear-end crashes
  • Traffic control awareness
  • Speed and space judgment

8. Traffic Lights & Complex Scenarios

  • Right turns at traffic lights
  • Left turns at traffic lights
  • Timing and gap judgment
  • Railway crossings
  • Decision making under pressure

9. Freeway & Advanced Driving

  • Freeway entrance and ramp speed
  • Merging and lane changes on freeway
  • Maintaining space cushion at high speeds
  • Highway or gravel shoulder recovery
  • Night driving techniques

10. Mock Test & Test Readiness

  • Golden Key mock road test
  • Full evaluation using test criteria
  • Error correction and feedback
  • Confidence and test strategy
  • Final readiness assessment

Ready to start? Register for the BDE course.