The reasons for choosing a driving instructor are manifold. Whether you’re looking to abolish bad habits, reduce your auto insurance rates, or have a ticket dismissed in court, there are all kinds of reasons why you might seek out professional driving instruction. However, one thing that you must realize, is that not all driving instructors are created the same. In fact, some are much better than others, and the practical skills that you gain from driving instruction are only as good as the instructor themselves. For that reason, it pays to learn how to choose the instructor who is right for you.

Far and away, the most important qualification to seek out in a driving instructor when you’re undertaking driving lessons is communication. What is meant by this is that you need to find an instructor who communicates well with you, who matches up well with your unique personality, and who is fully committed to giving you the attention you need to excel as a driver.

When you’re choosing an instructor, ask to take a test drive with them. Any worth his or her salt will definitely allow this, and if they don’t, it’s a pretty good sign that you ought to be suspicious. On this test drive, there are a few things you ought to look out for.

For instance, an instructor ought to be able to keep up a dialogue with you that tells you what to do in order to drive safely and properly but without making you nervous. In other words, their instructions to you should be clear and precise, but they should have the feel of a conversation rather than a drill sergeant. If you aren’t comfortable, then you’re going to be too nervous to really process these instructions, and that can be quite dangerous.

Secondly, they should be able to precisely examine the mechanics of the vehicle that you’re operating. They should have good advice regarding things like how to shift gears, how to change lands, proper steering, and even the right way to use a pedal (in other words, there’s more to it than just stomping down as hard as you can!).

Lastly, of course, you should get the impression from your instructor that they’re putting your needs first. Part of this means that they should be in tune with you, and able to operate “on the same wavelength”. Just as you meet some people who you get along well with right off the bat and others who it’s a struggle to even comfortably be around, you want your instructor to be someone who relaxes you and meshes with your personality. They should be able to tell when you’re nervous of lacking confidence, and help bolster your courage without distracting you from the road itself. Moreover, they should be willing to listen to any questions you might ask, and have the ability to respond to them accurately and with sensitivity.

Ultimately, the technical expertise of a driving instructor is a very important consideration, but it must take a back seat to certain other matters such as their ability to effectively communicate with you. The reality is that learning to drive is a two way effort, not a one-sided lecture. Unless the communication is there, your lessons will just not be effective.

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A good number of people on the road will tell you that they’re basically masters of the craft when it comes to driving. No matter the skill they actually possess, or the level of attention they maintain, they’ll believe that they’re the standard by which all other drivers should be based on. While it may be true that they’re capable enough, dealing with everything on a daily basis while paying attention to all the basic rules of the road, it’s not a good mentality for being the best driver possible.

Driving is an art that is constantly evolving. Although most people cover the fundamentals, many of the nuisances of vehicle operations and engagement are lost on these individuals as they grow in age. Some learned how to drive outside of a driving school, and these individuals are at a loss when it comes to recognizing and handling the specifics of driving at their best potential.

Even if you already know how to drive a vehicle, learning to improve your driving skills is always a great idea. Driving safely is a way of ensuring that your life, the life of your passengers, and the life of other people on the road are being respected. Due to the tremendous responsibility that driving is, there is always something to learn when it comes to this skill.

You might question this idea. You may be thinking to yourself, “But I already know how to drive, and I do it everyday — safely!” This may be true, but there are always things that can be improved. Your knowledge of facts, for example. Did you know that the average stopping distance of a car with good brakes and a good driver going 64.37 km/h is around 39 metres (128 feet)? That might seem like a meaningless abstraction, since you’ve grasped your car intuitively, but it’s exactly the sort of crucial thing one should learn to truly master driving.

The thing about that sort of knowledge is that it comes with an understanding of how to apply it flexibly to any situation. Chances are that you haven’t really experienced the true braking power of your vehicle. If you use a measurement like that one and apply it to your own dynamics, you can arrive at conclusions that go beyond your personal experience. Also, if nothing else, it’ll make you more observant of the subtle but essential facts that make up daily driving.

One of the most convincing traits of going to a driving school after having learned how to drive already is the insurance benefits you may receive from it. A healthy number of people who return to obtain new driving lessons often see their premiums reduced as a result. It varies depending on your experience and your insurer, so talk with them first to find out how driving lessons can affect cost.

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A new photo gallery containing images of some of our members cars has been added today.  It can be accessed under the Resources menu.

If you would like to add your Corsa GSi images to the Photo Gallery, please send a PM to “Sam” on the forums or email at the usual address.

Driving is always something that requires caution. No matter who you are and what your skill level is, you have to pay close and careful attention to the road to ensure that you maintain the highest degree of safety possible that can be attributed to your performance.

Even with the best of efforts and the best driving lessons comes the chance of a mistake. It may not happen to you, but it can happen to the other drivers out there on the road and involve you. While you have certain options to pursue towards avoiding this sort of dreadful encounter, they’re often limited if a seriously flawed mistake is made. For example, if another driver runs a red light and slams into the side of a vehicle crossing during its green signal.

A situation like the aforementioned one is a worst-case scenario, but it’s always possible, if improbable. However, knowing how to deal with accidents is just as important as preventing them, so with that said we’re going to cover some basic concepts to keep in mind to do the best during the worst.

First of all, always be prepared. This means having more than the adaptable mentality (although that is crucial). You should at all times be carrying your automotive insurance information with you. Most people keep it in the glove compartment, which is an ideal spot. More than that, however, prepare yourself fully by keeping a form for quick write-ups to describe the situation of a wreck. Even more ideal is to have a disposable camera ready to take pictures once things unfold. This is crucial for liability and damage claims.

Of course, now that you have that out of the way, you should always make efforts to stop your vehicle and move it to a safe position, if at all possible. Getting out the way of further traffic only ensures that nothing worse becomes of the situation. If you can’t drive your vehicle, then call a tow truck company to get your vehicle moved — but be certain to get the name, number, and address of the company you’re using.

Of course, after you’ve made those efforts, if the situation looks devastating, then don’t hesitate to call for medical assistance. Everybody involved who can walk should move to a safe location, and those left behind need emergency service. More than determining liability, this is saving lives. In a best-case scenario, wrecks are hopefully just minor inconveniences, but when things turn south, time-critical decisions have to be made.

Finally, any driving school will tell you that you should also contact the police. This often happens on its own, but you should make the effort to pursue it immediately, so as to secure the situation for investigation and identification. As sad as it may seem, some people who are witnesses have a tendency to flee, not wanting involvement. Same with the occasional perpetrators of this sort of terrible driving mistake. They may not get much farther, but they can cause more damage which by all means should be minimized.

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