Comments on: Make some vroom for me in the driver's seat.

Question: Make some vroom for me in the driver's seat.

catburger — Mon, 25 Jun 2007 14:18:22 -0800

If you've taken a defensive driving course, did you think it was worth it? And.. Any driving school recommendations in the Toronto area?

By: docgonzo

docgonzo — Mon, 25 Jun 2007 15:07:32 -0800

Every time I get behind the wheel I'm thankful for the cash my parents paid for my Young Drivers of Canada course. I don't know how much it cost but it was worth every penny. I cannot recommend it highly enough -- the coursework was good, appropriate and the in-car instruction inculcated a range of good-driving habits that persist to this day (15 years later.) I feel safe and confident when I drive.

I passed the test on my first go and have never been in an accident or been ticketed.

(Do NOT go for one of those cheapo knockoff places that are everywhere in TO. Go for YDoC -- you'll pay for it quickly through savings on insurance.)

By: catburger

catburger — Mon, 25 Jun 2007 15:42:31 -0800

Thanks docgonzo - I am looking into YDoC as an option. I have to remark that it's quite pricey! It's CAD$1000+ for a course there versus ~$300 for other schools I've been looking at.

You've advised against the private driving schools. Would you, or anyone else here, be able to elaborate on why not? I ask because everyone I know personally from Toronto has gone the private route.

By: tommasz

tommasz — Mon, 25 Jun 2007 18:09:29 -0800

My (US) experience was that I learned a lot about the rules that don't seem to be covered in the basic licensing tests and materials plus plenty of tips for avoiding situations that lead to accidents.

But at the same time, most people haven't taken the course and don't care so much about the rules to begin with. I've found myself much better able to recognize wrong behaviors in other drivers. This seemed like a dubious benefit until my children became old enough to learn to drive. Now I can give them much more information than just the basic skills. There are so many bad examples available every day :)

Most US insurance companies offer a discount for taking a certified course, so even if it's initially expensive, the savings over your lifetime more than make up for it.

By: kuhsay

kuhsay — Mon, 25 Jun 2007 19:43:03 -0800

This isn't in the Toronto Area but I had to go to one once and it was well worth it. The guy was a retired navy seal, so he led an interesting life. One time he was pulled over by a cop (he was on a one-way street and made a left-hand turn onto another one-way street after stopping at the red-light.) He told the cop he knew why he was pulled over, but what he did was legal. The cop went back to his car but not to write a ticket. After about 15 minutes of locating the law he came back and apologized.

He also made me never want to speed in residential neighborhoods... one time he was going down a hill in a residential neighborhood and "covered the brake" (not stepping on it, just hovering over it). He saw a glimpse of something and a few seconds later a kid ran out into the street. He slammed on his breaks and stopped short of running him over. He made the point that if you had hit the kid, a court may find you not guilty but do you really want to live with yourself?

Anyways, the guy's name was Sandy Shaw in Amherst, NH. It was $30 or something if you have AAA.

By: glip

glip — Mon, 25 Jun 2007 19:49:03 -0800

I took YDoC, in Kitchener. It was worth it, but it wasn't nearly as expensive when I did it, only around 400$ IIRC. Research some of the other schools, they are all supposed to count the same for insurance discounts, or so I heard.

By: Phire

Phire — Mon, 25 Jun 2007 20:00:53 -0800

Hmm, my best friend paid about 800 for YDoC, though he's failed his G2 twice now. >< that might be temperament... i went to of those knockoffs docgonzo mentions, for 400. the defensive driving theory lessons were absolutely useless, though i don't necessarily fault the school for that. i don't really agree with the idea of learning a skill through theory - the in-cars gave me a much better idea of what i'm supposed to be looking out for. br>
So I guess my advice is ... well, lots of road practice with someone certified who knows what he's doing, and you'll be fine.

By: olya

olya — Mon, 25 Jun 2007 21:23:46 -0800

kinda on topic: i'm going for my G test (that's an ontario test) in august. any advice? (it is in morningstar testing center in case anyone is interested)

By: thebrokenmuse

thebrokenmuse — Tue, 26 Jun 2007 01:49:17 -0800

I didn't learn anything from the defensive driving class, but it did lower my insurance considerably. For that reason alone I consider it worth it.

By: canine epigram

canine epigram — Tue, 26 Jun 2007 06:23:24 -0800

anybody know of any in the Boston area (Cambridge, Somerville etcetera) ?

By: lowlife

lowlife — Tue, 26 Jun 2007 07:05:01 -0800

I took the YD course in Hamilton, it's much cheaper there than in Toronto as well (I paid for a slightly upgraded package including use of the instructor's car during the G2, was about $700). I also did the in-class course in Toronto a year earlier - we moved, and I procrastinated.

I had a great rapport with my in-car instructor, and I think that helped a lot; even though I had almost no prior experience driving, we chatted and drove around (duh) during most of the classes (once he was confident I wasn't an idiot behind the wheel).

I passed the G2 easily; when I'm up for the G I may give them a call again and book a couple of hours with my instructor just for the confidence boost.

By: lowlife

lowlife — Tue, 26 Jun 2007 07:07:10 -0800

Oh, in regards to the other private schools - YD does a lot of internal propaganda about how they're the best etc etc, and their prices are 'social proof' of that (the whole "you get what you pay for" thing).

Then again, the "Canada's Worst Driver" show was produced with YD, and they are the go-to group for media commentary on safe driving when Fat Cam of the OPP isn't available.

By: catburger

catburger — Thu, 28 Jun 2007 10:01:31 -0800

Thank you everyone.

By: twistofrhyme

twistofrhyme — Thu, 28 Jun 2007 16:07:46 -0800

if you already kind of know how to drive, young drivers of canada is a great way to learn to drive safer.

if you don't even know which pedal to push, DO NOT try to learn it from a YDofC instructor- the in-car lessons are very structured and they will make you a neurotic mess. you need to learn how hard to press the accelerator and how fast to turn the wheel, to make the car do what you want it to do-- not get nagged about hand position and groundviewing parked cars.

i had only driven a car once around a parking lot when i had my first YDofC lessons, and it sucked. it was stress-inducing to have to learn how to parallel park when i didn't even know how to reverse, etc. i mean, obviously the instructor slowed down his speed of teaching, but there's a lesson plan to follow and you get marked on each lesson, and they're expensive. so you want to maximize that time and be accustomed to controlling the car before they start being really specific with your technique, you dig? you can't learn specifics tuil you master basics, and YDofC's big boon is that they're awesome with specifics.

take a cheap round of lessons with one of the local schools- here is a list of ministry-approved schools by city, (my friend went to New Drivers on College and said it was pretty good, about $25/lesson), then do YDofC to learn the special add-on skills that will make you a really safe driver. and i'd say that part really is worth it-- they are VERY good with teaching collision-avoidance, and the in-class DVDs are helpful.

By: gursky

gursky — Sun, 01 Jul 2007 11:06:03 -0800

i didn't go with YD because of the cost, so i can't recommend them. i can tell you, though, not to go with "Ultimate Drivers" in Mississauga (close to Hwy.10/Dundas) because they are crap. it's actually one guy answering the phones and "teaching" the in-class sessions, and three or four terrible driving instructors.

i'm fortunate my dad taught me how to drive properly, safely, etc.

please, please don't trust "ultimate drivers" just because they're a little less expensive.