American Defensive Driving School

Negative experience: They never showed up to pick up my son on his first day.

Fantastic experience: I had stopped in on two other driving schools before choosing ADDS. One felt like a wrong fit, mostly due to availability and the other (also in Evanston) had a front desk person who was condescending and gave what I knew was incorrect information. As an elderly woman, new to Illinois and not having driven for over a year, this challenge was almost overwhelming. From the minute I entered the office of ADDS, I felt comfortable. First contact was the very busy Kemyta, who was juggling phone, paperwork, walk-ins and still smiling. When she was free, she asked me a few questions, then showed me how to maneuver their website, which had practice tests and much other information. There was also a voice behind a partition - an instructor giving a lesson to a group of high school students. Kemyta and I discussed my tailored requirements including pickup and dropoff as well as instruction for written test, driving test and all the crazy paperwork associated with an out of state elderly person licensing situation. Kemyta assured me that the owner, Doug Whitmore, a retired state policeman, would lead me through the process. When I met Doug, I asked him to be very straightforward with criticisms because I wanted to get this right. In turn, he gave encouragement, precise feedback, directions and kindly- phrased criticisms. After each session, I received a detailed summary from Doug’s wife Andrea, while Doug was off giving CDL lessons for truck drivers. Text messages and emails were answered in reasonable time. This group had so many dimensions but operates very compatibly. I was apprehensive about taking the test and asked if I should have one more lesson, but Doug said he thought I could pass and gave specific issues on which to focus. He easily could have had another payment from me, but he took the high road (no pun intended). I passed all the testing and got a license. Yay! This company is like family. They care about your success, know what they are doing, kind, moral and truly a pleasure to work with.

Negative experience: Bad and rude employees

Fantastic experience: My kids both went through the program. They were well-prepared for the driving exam and six years later they still talk about stories Doug shared to help them understand the importance of driving cautiously. They also haven’t had any accidents in six years (as far as I know) except some minor scrapes parking in the first few months of having a license.

Fantastic experience: I am living testimony to see that I came to American driving school has a grown adulthood woman ,so scare and afraid to drive, didn’t know much about driving and I was recommended by a good friend of dougie I thank God for him and he work with me endlessly patient and at times it was a rough journey but he stood by me has Big brother never give up on me, dougie you are great man of patient understanding well, must say got my license for very first attempt and I highly recommend this driving school to any one, this place American defensive driving school, just check it out on website and give them call. Tracey thanks to you who brought me on day of my exam and encourage me when I thought I couldn’t made, dougie thanks to again.