I had a great experience with my first two driving instructors—they were patient, professional, and really helped build my confidence. Unfortunately, my third lesson was a completely different experie... Read More
I had a great experience with my first two driving instructors—they were patient, professional, and really helped build my confidence. Unfortunately, my third lesson was a completely different experience.
While the instructor (whose name was listed on the paperwork) did help me push past my fear of speed and encouraged me to go through an intersection for the first time, his overall approach was discouraging and unprofessional. I had clearly communicated multiple times that I hadn’t driven in over nine months due to my pregnancy, and that this was my first time back behind the wheel. Understandably, I was a bit rusty, but that’s exactly why I signed up for driving lessons—to learn and improve.
Instead of providing constructive feedback, the instructor repeatedly said things like “You’re going to kill someone”—not once, but multiple times, and in front of the front desk staff and the owner. That kind of language is not only inappropriate, it’s deeply unhelpful and demoralizing, especially for someone trying to rebuild confidence.
There are much better ways to coach and guide learners, especially when they’ve already expressed nervousness or a long break from driving. I understand instructors need to ensure safety, but there’s a line between being honest and being unnecessarily harsh. If your job stresses you out that much, perhaps Mcdonalds sounds like a less risky position buddy. Read Less