The Role of Driver Training

Contrary to the familiar claim that driving is mostly "common sense," new drivers need to be taught to avoid doing certain things either intuitively, or in conformity with what others do � things which can slow or even harm their progress. For example, beginners focus downward on the pavement excessively, trying to steer the car � which not only is less effective than they believe, but which makes it impossible to see the full traffic picture. This is where professional expertise makes the difference, ensuring that the best techniques will be practised. There is no substitute for the personal one-on-one training provided by an experienced instructor.

But consider whether a driving school actually "teaches someone to drive." The fact is, regardless of the amount of instruction � from a single hour to a full course � the student is taking a driver improvement program, in which no one learns nothing and no one learns everything. It is not realistic for any training program to imply that its students will learn all they need to know, especially in a few short months. The learning process really continues over a much longer period. In the time after the person is licensed and is driving alone, the driving environment seems in so many ways to be different from "what the book says." This is where the lasting benefit of professional lessons pays off, because the new driver remembers longer what should be done � and why.

But then... this raises the question as to why new drivers don't always choose to use the skills they were taught.

Currently, driving schools have an expanded role compared to twenty years ago. These days it is felt by many safety agencies � ICBC included � that driving instruction should go beyond the traditional driver training and include driver education, stressing the need for the new driver to have a good attitude � to want to drive safely and responsibly. It remains to be seen if attitude can be molded and shaped by driver education with any lasting effect, because the influence of the daily driving environment is enormous. Research indicates that some form of incentive � a "carrot" � may be necessary to achieve the desired improvement in attitude, and studies in this area are ongoing. The role of training in improving driving skills, however, is strong and clear.