Nearly everyone in the western world learns how to drive, usually before they are 18 years of age. However, learning how to safely drive is not nearly as simple as it was in our grandparent’s day. That is one reason why driving schools are becoming so popular among both new and experienced drivers.

Driving Schools and Road Safety

One of the biggest reasons for the growth of driving schools is the increasing emphasis on road safety. A top driving school not only teaches its students the basics of driving, but also inculcates good driving skills and proper road etiquette. In addition, the best driving schools can effectively train their students in how to handle unusual road conditions such as ice, heavy rain or hail. This drastically reduces the danger of avoidable accidents on the part of graduates from these schools.

Driving institutes and New Drivers

It is a sad fact that a very high percentage of serious accidents involve new drivers, especially young drivers. Many teen-aged drivers, even after obtaining their licenses, have not yet fully mastered the arts of defensive driving. For these new drivers, a top driving school goal is to train them in safe defensive driving techniques. By directly learning from driving instructors, both on the road and in the classroom, teen drivers can learn the driving skills that may help them avoid accidents once they begin driving independently.

Driving Schools as a Refresher Course

For older drivers, the best driving schools can provide an important refresher course in driving, or assist them in adapting to their changing skills. As the elderly often face different challenges than new drivers, having access to a driving school skilled in working with their particular needs can dramatically improve their driving, as well as assist them in retaining the independence a driver’s license represents

Insurance Benefits

Because driving institutes have such a good reputation for turning out skilled drivers, many insurance companies will reward their graduates with lower auto insurance premiums. For new drivers, and most especially younger drivers, this can amount to very large savings on their yearly insurance bill. This is especially true for families that have teenage children who are learning to drive, while remaining on their parent’s auto insurance policy.

Conclusion

The best driving schools offer students the ability to master safe driving techniques, lower their insurance premiums, and have the confidence that comes from truly mastering their driving skills. Those who have attended a top driving school are both safer and more considerate drivers. Quite simply, the best driving schools produce the best drivers.

Links

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Defensive_driving : Wikipedia gives a short synopsis of the benefits of defensive driving and the training courses available for it.

http://students.cis.uab.edu/tstray/finalproject.html : The arguments for driving schools for the elderly.

Teaching Individuals to Drive

Driving schools are designed to teach teenagers and adults alike how to drive. Young adults who have never learned how to drive a moderately sized vehicle can benefit from the instruction at driving schools. Likewise, adults who intend to become professional drivers, especially professional truck drivers, should research the best driving schools in order to find the top driving school in their area. A top driving school will not only provide intense, daily instruction on how to maneuver a vehicle in ordinary situations, but will also show students how to efficiently deal with other drivers, unforeseen driving circumstances, inclement weather conditions, and difficult road hazards.

Showing Students to Drive

The best driving schools will show students how to drive but will make the classroom instruction interesting, as well as educational. A top driving school should not only educate a student, but should help the student become more excited about driving a vehicle or truck. Some students, despite their desire to learn how to drive a car or truck, might be scared or overwhelmed at the prospect of driving a car in certain situations. For example, students who have only driven in the country might be nervous or overwhelmed at the idea of driving a vehicle in heavy city traffic, in getting on the highway, and even dealing with the road rage of other drivers.

Helping Students with Driving

The best driving schools should help a student face his or her fears in dealing with driving, but should also cover basic car care. While a student doesn’t necessarily need to know how to change the oil in a vehicle or even how to change a tire, all drivers should be able to deal with an unexpected emergency. For example, a driving school will talk to a student about preparing for a possible breakdown, such as preparing an emergency car kit, how to light a flare if necessary, and how to respond to a car accident.

Many Driving Schools – Few Real Options

Driving schools are located in many cities. Students can locate a good, dependable driving school by glancing through a phone book, reading online reviews, or even by asking fellow drivers. One particularly efficient way to find a good driving school, however, is for students to talk to their local Department of Motor Vehicles to find driving schools that meet the particular needs of a student. For example, a student who simply wants to get their driver’s license will not need to attend a professional truck driving school. Likewise, a driver who wants to become a professional trucker will not benefit from a young driver’s class.

Additional Resources

How to Pick a Driving School For Your Teen:

http://www.shopautoweek.com/articles/2011/07/how-to-pick-a-driving-school-for-your-teen.html

How to Pick a Driving School:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Driver%27s_education

How to Choose the Right Driving School:

http://voices.yahoo.com/how-choose-right-driving-school-51925.html?cat=7

Driving for Beginners

One of the most exciting events in everyone’s life is the day they get their driving permit; however, this can be one of the most fearful days for parents. All parents believe that their child is responsible and will follow the rules of the road, but parents also realize that it takes time to learn any new skill. Many parents allow their child to drive around town with them during the year that they have their permit; however, most parents forget that they need to ease their child into the skills of driving. Most parents would be better off sending their child to a driving school because the child will learn how to drive in a much safer environment. If parents do decide to send their child to a driving school, there are several key factors the parents need to consider about the driving school.

The Best Driving Schools

When looking for driving schools, parents will want to look for several things. One thing they will want to look at is the qualifications of the staff. Many driving schools hire former law enforcement officers who know the laws of the road, and these people have to go through rigorous driving instruction. If these people can handle a car going well over the 100 miles per hour mark, it will be easy for them to teach a young adult how to drive at reasonable speeds. Another thing to look at is the driving school’s facility. A good driving school should have a track that is only accessible by the staff and students. The track should feature everything that people might experience on the road, but the track will not have more experienced drivers around who might frighten new drivers. Some things that a track should have are stop lights and signs, railroad tracks, corners and different turn angles. the best driving schools will also work to ensure that students are not falling behind in the curriculum.

The Decision

Eventually, the parents are going to have to make a decision about which school to send their child to. While all parents would like to send their child to a top driving school, they may find that the price is simply too high. The good news is that parents do not have to send their child to the top driving school in the world to receive proper instruction.

When parents send their child to one of the best driving schools that are also affordable, they will find that their child will master the techniques of driving. The nice part about driving schools is the fact that the parents will only have to ride along with their child once they know that the child has the proper skills and confidence to drive with others on the road. Parents will also find that the top driving school will consider each student’s skill as an individual, so they will ensure that struggling students receive more instruction.

Resources

http://www.drivinglinks.com/

http://www.wisegeek.com/how-do-i-choose-the-best-driving-instructor-course.htm

Companies With The Best Reputation

You have many choices when it comes to a driver’s education school. The best driving schools where you live will likely be somewhat more expensive than discount driving schools and other gimmicky institutions which offer no real value for your money. You can find the best driving schools in your area by reading customer feedback and real testimonials on review sites dedicated to helping you find your top driving school. Word-of-mouth has a powerful way of helping people weed out the driving schools that are inferior, letting you or your child spend their resources in a more profitable way, helping them achieve their goal of mastering the fundamentals of driving and getting their license. One of the best ways to do that is to avoid businesses that have a bad rating with the Better Business Bureau, checking the company out in person before committing to sign up for their course, and by using good judgment about determining which course is suitable for you.

The Value Of Experience

The local Yellow Pages will have a listing of all the driving schools in your area, along with any relevant contact information. If they have a web site, you should visit and see what people are saying, how much they charge, and how long they’ve been in business. Typically, the more experienced companies will give you a better experience than the ones which are just getting started, simply because the instructors that have experience will be better prepared to give you a quality learning experience than someone with little to no experience. However much you value the capabilities of your instructor, that’s the amount you will be most willing to pay. There will be much debate on driver’s education forums and review sites as to what is the top driving school in your area, but the best driving schools will have the highest numbers of positive reviews which can offer insight into the quality of the product.

Dedicated Review Sites

There are sites on the web which are dedicated to specifically helping you find the top driving school in your area, and these can be helpful in your search insofar as they provide useful, factual information. Some of these sites, however, may be a promotion for whatever company is operating the site, which could betray a bias toward the company, with slanted reviews. However, the vast majority of these review sites can be genuinely helpful, as long as you take the information with a grain of salt. The more information you arm yourself with at the beginning, the better off you will be in making your decision.

Additional Resources:

www.aboutdrivingschools.com/topschools
www.topdriver.com

Driver’s Education

Safe in the knowledge that their child is with their driving instructor, parents can wave kids off on their first driving lesson with a huge sigh of relief, right?

Searching for Driving Schools

How many parents actually check the credentials of private instructors or those working for driving schools?

The answer is that quite often they do not. After obtaining a learner’s permit for their child, most parents ring around a few of the best driving schools, and compare prices. Often, people neglect to enquire about how qualified or experienced instructors may be. Moreover, walking into the reception area of many driving schools, there is no clear display of the credentials that their driving instructors must possess in order to work for them.

What should parents look for?

It is vital that instructors are fully checked out before a parent hands their child over to them to head off on the open road. When making initial enquiries, be sure to ask about the credentials of instructors. A top driving school makes a point of only accepting instructors with the best professional qualifications, so a top driving school will not mind your questions in the slightest. They will fully understand your anxiety and be proud to reassure you.

Qualifying as a Driving Instructor

Although the criteria may vary from state to state, there are some typical requirements for obtaining a driving instructors license:

• The candidate must be a minimum of 21 years old.

• A driver’s license in the state where the potential driving instructor is going to practice.

• A clean driving record, showing that their license has not been suspended or revoked in the last 2 years, in any state.

• A license for the class of vehicle which they wish to specialize in e.g. motorcycle, bus, heavy goods vehicles, and 2-3 years proven experience driving this type of vehicle.

• Proficiency in English, as English language skills are often tested to ensure that potential instructors can read road signs adequately.

After fulfilling these requirements, the potential instructor may take a test to qualify for the instructor’s license. This will consist of a practical and written assessment. This examination is not easy; currently the pass rate is only 28%. If the candidate is successful they will also be required to pass a thorough background check. After being awarded with their instructor’s license, instructors can go on to undertake the process for a number of professional certifications, such as the CVTA’s Master Instructor credential.

Special Certification

A top driving school will also provide instructors, who are qualified in defensive driving techniques, city driving and freeway driving. The best driving schools are interested in raising the standard of driver education, and will therefore insist that their instructors have a Diploma in Driving Instruction (DipDl). Parents can also check The Driver’s Association website to see if their driving instructor is registered.

Extra Resources

http://www.nytimes.com/2010/08/08/nyregion/08critic.html?ref=driverseducation

This is a link to an article about finding the best driving schools in New York.

http://www.wbay.com/story/15474129/2011/09/15/driving-school-abruptly-closes

This links to another article on the dangers of not using a reputable driving school.

How To Find The Best Driving Schools

Many people find that without knowing how to drive they cannot enjoy the type of life they want to live. In order to get a good job, visit shops and attractions, and socialize with friends, most people need to learn to drive. Although some new drivers find that the learning process is somewhat stressful, attending a top driving school can make the learning process much easier. Although there are many driving schools in business, not every school will give students the high-quality instruction they need. Here are some tips to help individuals find the best driving schools.

Reading Reviews Online

One way to find the best driving schools is to read reviews online. Other individuals who have taken driving classes at a driving school will often write reviews of their experience, so that other potential students can learn about the program and decide whether or not it is right for them. Sometimes driving schools cater to young teens, and older adults can feel out of place at certain programs. Every student should be able to feel comfortable when learning to drive, so potential students should look for reviews written by students in the same age group and see if they had a positive experience with a program or not. If a program has lots of positive reviews, a potential student can feel confident that it is one of their top driving school options. Taking classes at a driving school can be expensive, so students should make sure that they get the most out of their investment by reading reviews of driving schools before they decide on a program.

Attending Top Quality Driving Schools

Another way for a student to make sure they only attend one of the top driving school programs in their area is to visit the facility in person. Potential students can see what resources are available at the driving school facility, and witness how current students interact with their instructors. Visiting a driving school in person also gives a potential student a chance to talk with the faculty. The best driving schools have caring, knowledgeable, and patient staff members. If the faculty members at certain driving schools do not have time to answer a potential student’s questions, they will probably not have time to give them personalized attention once they enroll.

Deciding Where to Enroll

If an individual cannot visit any driving schools in person before they decide where to enroll, they can get a good sense of a school’s professionalism and the school staff’s helpfulness if they call the school and ask them a few questions. If a person calls and asks a question, and their question is not answered promptly, or the staff is rude and unhelpful, they might want to find another driving school to attend. By reading reviews and doing research, students will be able to find a program that will support them as they become safe and skilled drivers.

Links for Interested Readers

http://abclocal.go.com/kabc/story?section=news/car_tips&id=8274923

http://boston.bbb.org/article/bbb-advice-on-choosing-a-driving-school-thats-right-for-you-27064

Driving schools often compete for big contracts. Most people have no idea about this because they are not familiar with the industry–but driving schools consist of more than just individual students coming in. These schools often cater to large companies, public sector departments, etc. In this case, a contract was just awarded to a local driving school in which the Army would send students for driving instruction when needed.

A NORTH East driving school that provides training for the Army has landed a contract worth more than £2m, which it hopes will help to more than triple its turnover and create jobs.

This is an interesting look at the inner workings of the driving school industry and that is the only reason why I wanted to mention it here. Enjoy the article. The best driving schools, though, aren’t always the ones that win the big contracts. Rather, the top driving schools tend to be the flexible and innovative ones.

The 2008 Formula 1 World Champion racer, Lewis Hamilton, is a name that many in the automotive sports industry not only recognize, but revere. He is an absolutely precision driver, guiding his car along winding roads at extremely high speeds. Lewis Hamilton is set to visit the Mercedes-Benz Driving Academy at an exclusive event. He’ll address some budding young drivers and hopefully give them some useful tips!

To mark the second anniversary of the Mercedes-Benz Driving Academy, 2008 Formula 1 World Champion and Driving Academy ambassador, Lewis Hamilton, will be giving a team talk to learners this summer at an exclusive event on 4 July.

More driving schools should find ways to make their classes and schools more interesting. Not everyone can afford to bring in a Formula 1 Champion, but bringing in experts of any type who have a certain “wow factor” can serve to help students focus. A top driving school will find a way to make things interesting for their students.

RAC is a company with a colorful history. 1897 was the year of RAC’s creation by Frederick Richard Simms, an engineer who was interested in campaigning for rights of what he called the “private motorists”. The company helped motorists who are broken down, stranded, or otherwise in distress. The roadside assistance company introduced uniformed mobile patrols in the early 20th century, 1901. It was in 1907 that the company was awarded the Royal title it still holds.

Under Aviva’s ownership, the RAC broke away from some of its partner businesses, including the British School of Motoring (BSM) driving school which was sold to a German firm in 2009 and Lex Vehicle leasing which is now owned by Lloyds Banking Group.

RAC is the second largest roadside assistance firm in Britain, helping over 2.5million stranded motorists out of their bad situations. The company also employs over four-thousand staffers and can count over seven million plus members. The best driving lessons come from experienced professionals, and BSM is no exception. However, the best driving school is not BSM.

There are many reasons why young individuals should attend driving schools. The foremost amongst these reasons is that students need instruction in driving. It is that simple, really. At least one time in their lives, individuals need formal driving instruction. Not just from their parents or siblings, but from the best driving instructor they can find. Someone who is experienced and highly educated on the particulars of driving correctly.

Driving instruction is not as straightforward as many people wish it was. Students are often young and do not understand the magnitude of the responsibility they are being entrusted with. Getting a decent education in anything is important, but particularly when you are guiding a half ton vehicle down a narrow lane at 115 kilometers per hour.

The best driving school will find a way to make driving students interested in what they are being taught. This is much easier than it sounds, of course, but it is nevertheless something that can be accomplished. One just has to find the right mixture of innovation and traditional education.

Driving school is pretty much the only chance we get to educate people about how to drive safely and effectively. Let’s make the best of it.