With driving comes great responsibility. As active participants on the road, drivers are obliged to keep everyone safe- from people in their cars to other people around them. This means that the formation of driving skills in new drivers is a serious task that deserves our full attention. However, there are problems in the educational process of driving schools, globally.
The truth is, most drivers who are fresh out of driving school still don’t have the essential driving skills fully formed. They struggle with speed assessment, lack of confidence, poor judgment, and many other problems. Most of these problems come from the 4 global problems of forming driving skills in the educational process of driving schools.
Let’s see what those problems are and how they might be solved.
- Lack of Time
Most new drivers, especially young people, can’t wait to get their hands on that driver’s license. Most of them don’t stop to think about the extensiveness of the courses they’re taking and whether that’s enough to help them form the right skills.
In fact, most driving courses last too short, and speed through the theory and practice of driving, instead of taking it slowly.
This is due to numerous reasons:
- financial aspect— driving school tutors want to earn as much as possible quickly
- student patience— students have limited time to devote to courses
- high conversion—as many people as possible
So, the hasty nature of the driving courses leaves knowledge and skills gaps in many students and sends them on the road without them being fully ready.
- Focus on Theory
The theoretical part of the driving course is immensely important. Students have to learn the rules of traffic, traffic signs, emergency procedures, and everything that comes as a part of the course.
They should read more literature and essays on driving, and gather as much theoretical knowledge as possible. They can even pay for essays on driving if they can’t find enough resources to learn from. But, the practical part of the course needs more attention and focus, as well.
Why?
Because it’s one thing to read about the rules of a roundabout and a whole other thing to actually be in a situation to apply those rules. Unfortunately, the main focus is still placed on theory instead of practice, which results in novice drivers lacking basic experience.
This causes problems such as:
- insecure road behavior
- poor judgment calls
- fear of driving
- road accidents
Experience is still the best teacher. That’s why driving students need more focus on actual driving than on theory. They can always learn the rules by heart and be the best student in the classroom. But, no one can help them once they’re behind the wheel.
- Motivation
New drivers and drivers-to-be have the motivation to attend driving school courses. But, most of them have the wrong type of motivation.
The number one reason why they’re attending classes is to get their driver’s license. They see the course as just another thing between them and driving. Once they remove that last obstacle, they’ll be free to start driving.
But, this is wrong. The main motivation should be:
- learning how to drive
- becoming a good driver
- soaking in the knowledge
- forming the right skills
By focusing on learning, not getting the certificate, students would benefit more from their driving lessons. They would be more involved and active which would result in higher driving skills.
So, the mindset of the students is another thing that needs some work and change.
- Unawareness of the Risks
As we’ve already mentioned, being a driver comes with enormous responsibility. Statistics show that approximately 1.35 million people die in road crashes each year. This number is terrible and says a lot about the danger of driving unprepared.
But, if new drivers and driving school students are unaware of the risks, they won’t bother walking the extra mile to form better driving skills. Instead, they’ll get out on the road thinking they’ve got it when they really don’t.
This is why driving schools should put more emphasis on:
- responsible driver behavior
- consequences of poor driving skills
- car crash causes and how to prevent them
- risks of poor driving skills on the road
Driving schools need to emphasize potential risks more and prompt new drivers to study and practice harder.
Final Thoughts
Driving schools across the globe face the same 4 key problems of formatting driving skills in their students. The good thing is that these problems can be solved, we just need a change of perspective and proper adjustments in the curriculum.
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