The Editor,
Re: “Girl learning to drive smashes car into gym,” the Now, March 31.
Our four boys, after turning 16, were all sent to driving school, where professional driving school instructors, with cars equipped with two steering wheels – one for the instructor – made it less likely that any of our four boys would drive into a gym, or any other stationary, or moving object.
These students are taught driving techniques in a classroom long before they are allowed to get behind the wheel. Yes, it does cost a bit more for a parent not to do the teaching – but saves a lot of stress on the nerves of the do-it-yourself parent. It could also be a life-saving decision for both child and parent.
Parents are emotionally involved with their children, while a professional driving instructor is trained to handle this job in a dispassionate manner. A professional driving instructor can teach a whole lot more than a parent, including defensive driving techniques, and accident avoidance maneuvers, that most parents never heard of, or were never taught.
There is an additional benefit, in that you are unlikely to pass on any unknown-to-you bad driving habits onto your children. There are many good and competent driving schools out there, including Young Drivers of Canada, which I highly recommend. It is a win-win decision for both parents, and their young drivers, to use a professional driving school.
Fred Perry, Surrey
