A Careful Turn Driving School

Your daughter has the study guide (it was given to her twice) and a test date. In fact, she has had 3 test dates and hasn't came to any of them due to her needing to work or not having a ride. Yes, I have background noise on while in the car, it's on volume 5. Occasionally, I may turn it up for a second to hear something that was said on a commercial but it never interferes with teaching or the student. If it is too much of a distraction for students, I will turn it off completely. Both of your students drove well so it wasn't a problem. Class was paid for on September 15th. It's been 9 days, not over 2 weeks.
***Just a follow up, student was supposed to come in again and did not show up again*** 10/17/2021

Good afternoon Josi,

Thank you for sharing your concerns. I understand how upsetting and scary this incident must have been, and I’d like the opportunity to clarify what occurred.

After speaking with our instructor about this morning’s session, I want to provide some context. Yes, the right blinker was on, and our student driver was instructed to turn right. Unfortunately, the student accelerated quickly without making the turn. This created a split-second decision for our instructor, who determined that continuing straight was the safest option under the circumstances. Forcing the turn by slamming on the brakes or jerking the wheel to the right could have created an even more dangerous situation, particularly with a car behind them and our vehicle already past the point of safely turning onto the correct side of the road.

I’d like to ask you to consider this scenario: What would you have done if this was your own child in the driver’s seat and you were in the passenger seat giving them instructions? Sometimes, no matter how clearly we instruct, new drivers panic or make mistakes. It’s a frustrating and scary moment, but it happens because they’re still learning. Would you have been able to prevent the mistake in that instant, or would you, too, have prioritized avoiding a more dangerous outcome?

While our instructors are highly trained and work hard to guide students, we cannot control every move they make. Mistakes are a part of the learning process, and it can be disheartening when these moments lead to assumptions that our instructors are not doing their jobs. In fact, our instructor was doing exactly what they are trained to do: staying calm, providing clear guidance, and making a quick decision to ensure the safest outcome possible for everyone involved. We do not want any of our student's mistakes be deadly or harmful towards other drivers or the ones in our own cars.

After the incident, the instructor discussed what had happened with the student and asked why they didn’t turn as instructed. This reflection is a crucial part of our teaching process. It helps students understand the importance of following directions and gives them a chance to think about how they can make safer choices in the future.

As an experienced driver myself, I’ve encountered situations where someone in a right-turn-only lane went straight instead. In those moments, it’s my responsibility to slow down and allow them to merge safely, not to speed up and make it harder for them.

It’s incredibly frustrating when feedback like this is posted publicly without first reaching out to us directly. A quick phone call or email could have allowed us to address your concerns, explain the situation, and work toward a resolution.

We genuinely value safety and the trust of our community, and situations like this are disheartening for everyone. While I can’t change what happened, I hope this provides some insight into the complexities of teaching new drivers and reassures you that safety remains our top priority.

Always buckle up,
Amy Herriman