Is driving school worth it? It is as if it’s a driving school in Brooklyn, NY. And we’re not just saying this because we love Brooklyn—which we do, of course. So what are the benefits of driving school in Brooklyn NY.
We’re saying it for a couple of other reasons too. First, if it comes down to whether or not to attend driving school at all, there are some pretty compelling reasons to do so.
Second, learning to drive in a place like New York City will give you driving skills you might not get anywhere else–at least in the United States.
So keep reading as we tell you more about driving school in Brooklyn, NY.
The Benefits of Driving School
Whatever your age or amount of prior driving instruction, if you’re not yet a licensed driver, there probably are some specific reasons why. One of these could be that your parents weren’t the best or most patient teachers.
Another could be that time passed and you had other things to do besides learning to drive. New York City does have excellent public transit, after all.
Whatever the reasons for not attending driving school in the past, the time has come. Let us tell you why you should attend driving school.
The Instructors Are Professionally Certified
A driving school instructor must meet certain criteria and go through a rigorous series of tests administered by the state where the driving school is located. This validates their own driving skills as well as their ability to teach others.
Most Driving Instructors Are Very Patient and Professional
Driving instructors have to be very patient and professional or they won’t last long in this job.
The Instructors Probably Don’t Know You Personally
Except in rare instances, driving instructors are not your friends or family. This allows them to hold you to high standards and be brutally honest about what you need to learn.
The Instructors Have Their Own Brake
Yes, indeed, they have their own brake. Who would get into a car with a student driver without one?
The School Cars Are Insured Especially for Student Drivers
Did you know that insurance is one of the top five expenses of any driving school? And that 98% of U.S. states require it? This shouldn’t be surprising, given the fact that the cars’ drivers are still learning to drive.
And the passenger-side brake doesn’t always help.
One driving school insurance expert recommends a policy with $1,000,000 at least for liability. Even more is better.
For instance, what if a driving student hits a family, injuring everyone? And the breadwinner, seated in the passenger seat, is hurt the most? They will need replacement income, among other things.
The insurance expert also recommends an umbrella policy. A general liability insurance plan protects the school from not only car accidents, but also property damage, product liability, and any adverse actions by employees.
We’ll bet your parents or spouse are relieved you’re not learning to drive with their car (at least not in the early stages) and under their insurance! Plus your having attended driving school might actually decrease their insurance rates.
The 5-Hour Pre-Licensing Course
While New York’s licensing requirements are said to be lenient compared to those in other states, there are still some stringent requirements.
One big requirement is that “once you have a learner permit, you must have supervised driving practice and you must take a pre-licensing course or a driver education course before you take your road test.”
The pre-licensing course is often combined with formal driver education training to provide the most thorough preparation for licensing.
The 5-Hour Pre-Licensing Course…Online?
This has less to do with New York City specifically than it does with all of New York State. Due to the COVID-19 protocols, the DMV New York decided to roll out a pilot program for offering the pre-licensing course online.
Most New York driving schools, including Pierre Paul Driving School, have been offering the 5 hour class online.
Most of our students report that the online pre-licensing course is valuable and informative.
We believe this is just more reason to attend driving school!
Attending Driving School in Brooklyn, NY
If you want to learn to drive in Brooklyn, NY, you’ll find it’s entirely possible to attend a driving school there. We know there are some excellent ones!
So, how do you go about selecting the right one?
Driving School Selection Criteria
Consider the following before selecting which driving school you want to attend:
Value: Keep in mind how much it must cost to operate a driving school (cars and car repairs, insurance, personnel, etc.). Go with good value, knowing that if a school seems unusually cheap, there’s probably a reason for that.
How well the classes fit your schedule: There should be enough schools and class meeting times for at least one to accommodate your schedule.
Reputation: Ask friends, family, and neighbors to recommend schools they’ve used. Also, read online reviews.
Equipment: Stop by and check out the condition of the cars and any driving simulators. Safety should be a concern.
Extra options or accommodations: What if you or your child needs extra time or attention with, say, parallel parking or passing on a highway? Can the school offer this?
Insurance and Plating: Ask about the school’s insurance coverage and whether or not their cars carry official “student driver” license plates. Other signage is helpful as well.
If you can manage it, stop by a few of your top picks just to look around and meet the staff. There’s nothing like an in-person impression!
Driving in New York City—Too Hard?
Believe it or not, some informal polls show other cities outranking New York as the worst in the U.S. for driving. What could these be? Well, Chicago has appeared, also Boston and Washington… And let’s not forget the “city” of New Jersey.
The point here is that learning to drive in any challenging (read “big, congested”) city can prepare you for driving pretty much anywhere. The opposite is not true–which might be why so many Upstate New Yorkers hate driving in NYC.
Honk, Honk! You Passed!
Imagine a future you, driving around the city and feeling pleased about your choice of a driving school in Brooklyn, NY. If you liked the school you chose, be sure to let other people know about it.
As we’ve mentioned a few times, it takes a lot to run a successful driving school. So the more business that comes their way, the better—and the longer they’ll be able to help future driving students.
Continue to exercise your good driving skills, and keep reading our blog for tips and refreshers. Things are sure to change when it comes to laws, car models, and many other driving-related things.
We intend to stay on top of all of them—for both our graduates and current students!