That stretch may be fit for high speeds in terms of road condition, but keeping in mind that there are others on the road, who might not always act in a predictable manner, I would never risk it, in particular with kids...
- Thread starter Dolores
- Start date
Preparing teachers for drivers’ ed in public schools
This driver learned to drive through a driver's education program in the Boston area. The taking and finishing a formal driving program was through a private school. It was finalized with state driving test, written and road. School education completed with a license allowed the driver an auto insurance discount. The best education was seat of the pants driving in the traffic madness around Boston. Dominicans remark how well this poster adjusted to the Dominican driving environment. The response is and was... Boston was the driver's education teacher. Dominican teachers should learn the trade in Boston, lol.
Regards,
PJT
Regards,
PJT
I hear ya amigo! I understand your need for speed. Years ago, clocking off 135MPH or more on my BMW1300KGT on a long stretch of lonely highway was the best non drug induced high I could get. I also enjoyed blowing the doors off muscle cars on my motorcycles. Some drivers don’t understand the simple physics of weight versus horsepower. A lot of winters driving in the DR and advancing age has taught me that death is just a heartbeat away and I‘ve tempered my driving accordingly.
Your correct. There are benefits to learning how to control vehicles on skid pads, rough roads, and mountainous terrain, something not normally taught in drivers ed. I’ve done it but basics need to be taught in the DR first. Currently, Darwin’s survival of the fittest ultimately decides who the best drivers are in the DR. You’re new to DR1. You should know that during Xmas and Easter we have a thread where we guesstimate the number of highway fatalities for those periods.
Hopefully the new Drivers Ed program will change that over the next one or two generations. It’s not going to happen overnight. Now, if they can take the same approach to prevent the locals from throwing their waste hell west and crooked, the DR might take on a whole new complexion. Mind you, there are those of us that like the freedom and wild west culture of the DR.
We are of the same mind hermano.
Yes, I understand. The basics must be taught first. But even the basics need emphasis on car control. In my opinion, driving in the Dominican Culture will continued to be ruled by both the law of physics and who is willing to risk more. I am new to DR1. Not to the Dominican Republic. My driving experience shows that the basic rule is if I can get my mass into the space I want before you can I win.
If a carro publico will not yield and you have a nice car, you better back off and let them have the space. Large SUV especially dark colors, yield and let them have the space. Expect the unexpected. Expect motos to pass you on both sides and coming at you head on. I never said Drivers Training was useless. I have always proffered the idea that car control is THE most important part of said training.
Of all the thiings I do in the Dominican Republic driving is the most stressful.
I was requested to take the course Educación Vial last year in order to renew my driver licence that was expired for 15 years, I paid the fees but when I entered the classroom I was the only one and the instructor saw my US Commercial Driver licence with enforcement and he validated... Still had to pass hearing and vision test
JJ
JJ
I didn't take long to adjust either, but the surroundings where I learned to drive did not exactly prepare me for driving in the DR... Almost no traffic, perfect streets, everyone following the laws to the point etc... Add to that that I had never driven car with automatic transmission before... So it was a very strange feeling that the car started rolling just by easing the brake... I was taught how to use the brake pedal as little as possible, now with automatic, had to do the contrary as engine braking is not an option unless you can switch to 1, 2 or 3 and it works... I did have my "crash course" when started driving there... Terrified at first, each drive was like a sports performance but I got the hang of it...
I have experience driving all over the Dominican Republic. My Domincan friends say I have been to more parts of this country than they have. Is anyone interested in a complete list? You know, like the request someone made for me to divulge where/how I received firearms training?