Preparing teachers for drivers’ ed in public schools

[Dolores]

Source: Educando Channel

In an effort to reduce the alarming rate of epidemic of road accidents in the Dominican Republic, the National Institute of Transit and Land Transportation (Intrant) and the Ministry of Education (Minerd) have embarked on a collaborative initiative to integrate road safety education into the national school curriculum.

The pilot program, which began during the past 2023-2024 academic year, targets 125 educational institutions and 7 regional districts, strategically selected based on their high incidence of road accidents. This strategic approach aims to measure the program’s impact and refine its implementation for broader adoption.

737 regional and district technicians and teachers received course material so they could serve as facilitators for the student workshops. The program’s curriculum encompasses a range of road safety topics, including:•...

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[CristoRey]

I took driver's education class in high school. It was helpful to those of us who paid attention and were interested in learning. Things move a little different down here so I don't expect to see them fix this problem anytime soon.

 

[Gadfly]

Finally

 

[NanSanPedro]

I took driver's education class in high school. It was helpful to those of us who paid attention and were interested in learning. Things move a little different down here so I don't expect to see them fix this problem anytime soon.

I was thinking about that this morning. Over 50 years ago for me, yet I still remember some of the do's and don'ts. I do understand your scepticism, however it has to start somewhere and sometime.

 

[Joseph NY2STI]

Teacher: Always use your turn signal.
Student: What's a turn signal?
Teacher: It's the thing sticking out of the steering where you hang a Dominican flag, rosary beads, and 4 cobi masks.

But seriously, must one pass a written test and a road test in D.R. to get a license, or does one simply fill out a form and pay a fee?

 

[Peterj]

Teacher: Always use your turn signal.
Student: What's a turn signal?
Teacher: It's the thing sticking out of the steering where you hang a Dominican flag, rosary beads, and 4 cobi masks.

But seriously, must one pass a written test and a road test in D.R. to get a license, or does one simply fill out a form and pay a fee?

I am under the impression, as I see the level of "driving", that you can buy a drivers license here in the colmado, ofcourse "fiao".....

 

[rogerjac]

My wife got her license, how I do not know.
In sosua she did the in class tests, did the in car lessons which I discovered were the same route every time. Drive from the office down to the road before the casino and go around the block a bunch of times, next week repeat. When the lessons were done off she went to PP and did her driving test and passed.
The next day she wanted to show me how she can drive. At the time I had a Tuscon, a smallish SUV. She kept driving close to the cars parked on the right hand side and I told her calmly that she had plenty of room on the left and that motos will be on the right side. Again she drives close to the cars on the right and I remind her to keep left. Next thing is she just touched our mirror to another cars mirror and I lost it. She hasn't driven since, but she proudly tells everyone she has a drivers license.
I asked the driving instructor why he docent vary his teaching route and he says he docent want to get his car wrecked.

 

[johne]

My wife got her license, how I do not know.
In sosua she did the in class tests, did the in car lessons which I discovered were the same route every time. Drive from the office down to the road before the casino and go around the block a bunch of times, next week repeat. When the lessons were done off she went to PP and did her driving test and passed.
The next day she wanted to show me how she can drive. At the time I had a Tuscon, a smallish SUV. She kept driving close to the cars parked on the right hand side and I told her calmly that she had plenty of room on the left and that motos will be on the right side. Again she drives close to the cars on the right and I remind her to keep left. Next thing is she just touched our mirror to another cars mirror and I lost it. She hasn't driven since, but she proudly tells everyone she has a drivers license.
I asked the driving instructor why he docent vary his teaching route and he says he docent want to get his car wrecked.

This suggests a few things: 1) God was your co-pilot. 2) You would not be a good driving instructor. 3) Let sleeping dogs lie and move on.

 

[josh2203]

I asked the driving instructor why he docent vary his teaching route and he says he docent want to get his car wrecked.

In POP, all the driving schools do is go from one end of Malecon to another end and that multiple times... When asked why, the reply was that they are not allowed elsewhere. Back then the teacher had the audacity to ask my wife to ask me if they could practice in the city center with our car, as that way they would be allowed elsewhere. My wife was just as baffled of this request as I was and we declined. I have said it multiple times, my wife got the license to have the plastic, but even she admits that it has been me who actually taught her to drive. Starting years before she even went to the school. She's an excellent driver, can drive a large SUV like nothing... NOT thanks to the driver's school.

 

[josh2203]

I took driver's education class in high school. It was helpful to those of us who paid attention and were interested in learning. Things move a little different down here so I don't expect to see them fix this problem anytime soon.

Same here. Anything that promotes appropriate behavior on the road, whether on foot, two wheels or four or more wheels, it cannot hurt.

 

[bob saunders]

A Defensive Driving course should be mandatory, and all the teachers should have driver's licenses and had the course before being able to teach it. I know most teachers in the DR don't have drivers' licenses.

 

[Sloan]

Drivers education is useless. What needs to be taught is how to control your vehicle. Traffic laws can be learned. The ability to control a vehicle at speed can only be learned by the seat of your pants a test track. You have to be engaged and learn to use all your senses.

 

[JD Jones]

One of my neighbors has a driving school. He has a large fleet of Corollas and drives one home daily.

Some of them have some very interesting bumps and scratches.

As far as the school is concerned, anything that helps to improving driving habits here is a Godsend.

 

[JD Jones]

Drivers education is useless. What needs to be taught is how to control your vehicle. Traffic laws can be learned. The ability to control a vehicle at speed can only be learned by the seat of your pants a test track. You have to be engaged and learn to use all your senses.

Did you take Drivers Ed in high school?

 

[lifeisgreat]

A Defensive Driving course should be mandatory, and all the teachers should have driver's licenses and had the course before being able to teach it. I know most teachers in the DR don't have drivers' licenses.

I was thinking Mortal Combat course!!

 

[Sloan]

I took drivers education in High School.

It did not teach me a thing about how to control a vehicle at speed. I learned that from my Father and Grandfather. During countless hours on low traffic roads, country roads and open highway. I received professional drivers training at the highest level available as part of my professional development. Driving is still one of my favorite activities in the world; Just not in the Dominican Republic.

Ever done 142 MPH as the sun is just coming up and your vehicle is dropped down an inch because of the wind effects?

 

[bob saunders]

I took drivers education in High School.

It did not teach me a thing about how to control a vehicle at speed. I learned that from my Father and Grandfather. During countless hours on low traffic roads, country roads and open highway. I received professional drivers training at the highest level available as part of my professional development. Driving is still one of my favorite activities in the world; Just not in the Dominican Republic.

Ever done 142 MPH as the sun is just coming up and your vehicle is dropped down an inch because of the wind effects?

nope, but I learned to drive a duce and half at bumper to bumper at night with no lights.

 

[rogerjac]

No driver school for me. I learned to drive from the backseat of a 1964 mercedes diesel with a 4 speed manual on the column. Once I got to the front seat it was easy.

 

[AlterEgo]

I’m assuming that the driver’s ed in DR will be only classroom based. No actual simulators or real cars? (My high school had cars). In my opinion, whatever they learn is better than what most new Dominican drivers know. I learned a lot back then, but I learned more driving with my parents. (Another experience that many Dominican kids don’t have).

 

[Lucifer]

nope, but I learned to drive a duce and half at bumper to bumper at night with no lights.

...barefoot, uphill... both ways, too?

JK, sir. But haven't heard 'deuce and a half' in a very long time.

It's been said that men shouldn't give driving instructions to their better halves. So, my beautiful lady will learn from one of those Driver's Ed. schools in PC-Bávaro area soon.

Welcome back, Saunders. I thought you were AWOL... like Windyguy.