DRIVING TIP
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Black ice forms after a warm winter day and the temperature drops severely at night. Black ice can be found at the bottom of hills, low-lying areas, roads shaded from the sun, bridges, tunnels, and underpasses.
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160 Baseline Road E.
Unit E-1
Bowmanville, Ontario
L1C 1A2
(905) 697-1148
Fax (905) 697-1617
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Aren't All Driving Schools the Same?
Tips on Choosing a Driving School
by Annette Kukemueller
- "Hey! Wait a minute, aren't all driving schools the same?"
- "I just want to get a certificate to lower my son's insurance."
- "I want to learn how to pass that road test, so I am looking for the cheapest school!"
- "My daughter is a good driver, she just needs to brush up on parallel parking"
- "My Dad says that driving isn't that difficult, so just find the least expensive school."
These are some of the common statements that we in the profession of teaching driving constantly get bombarded with. The misconceptions of the general public need to be addressed, because the standards set out by the Ministry of Transportation is very minimal. The Ministry requires 25 hours in class and 10 hours in car.
Many driving schools just meet these requirements, and driving instructors will let a student drive around putting in the required time without any accountability. Most cheap driving school classrooms are over-crowded, just for the sake of the almighty dollar, undermining this profession and the importance of what's at stake. Its time the public understood that the lives of our sons and daughters have value especially when operating a motorized weapon, which is one of the most expensive things we own.
The consumer needs to understand that driving schools are exactly that, a learning facility, and not a service! There are no guarantees that every student will be successful on completion of the course. It takes some students longer than 10 hours of private in-car instruction to learn to drive with skill and knowledge. Today the parent/partner must play an active and willing role to practice lessons that have been taught in the school. Also the school should encourage and interact with parents/partners by holding programs and inviting them to attend information seminars explaining what is being taught and how they can participate. Therefore, many new drivers get shortchanged for the sake of a cheap certificate.
Its time to consider the consequences, when we choose a driving school for our loved one's, and not take the driving task so lightly, as it could be a matter of life or death.
These are some of the questions that a consumer should be asking a professional driving school:
- What exactly do you teach in the car?
- What does your program include in the classroom?
- How many students will be in this class?
- My son/daughter has problems studying, will there be individual help?
- What does your in-class tests require for a pass mark?
- Can my child change driving instructors if there is a problem?
- What rate of success does your school have when going for a road test?
- What advanced driving techniques does your school teach?
- Do you teach the new A.B.S. brake system?
- Do you invite parents into the classroom or in the car during lessons?
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