Students at Madison are always eager to get their driving license. Passing driving school is typically the last step in the process of learning how to drive and many students in the area use the same instructors. What makes a popular driving school? Does it all just rely on the instructor you choose? Depending on which one is chosen. Some driving instructors have a reputation for being more stern than others, making the learning experience effective, but stressful. Other instructors tend to be more easy going, making the Behind the Wheel experience almost effortless.
The Aloha Driving Academy is very popular in our area and especially with Madison students. The instructor most Madison students are assigned goes by the name Aloha Dave. Dave is notorious in Vienna for being the instructor who lots of high schoolers use for their Behind the Wheel instruction. Dave tells funny stories, is very relaxed about 16-year-olds driving his car and honestly isn’t the hardest to pass. A majority of Madison students that were surveyed used Aloha driving with many using Dave. There are mixed reviews on whether the instruction is useful, but if you’re looking for an easy going and fast behind the wheel experience, Aloha driving is probably for you.
IDriveSmart is another popular driving school in Northern Virginia. They take a different approach to hiring instructors as they use former or active police officers. This is a big safety net for many parents because law enforcement officers telling their kids what is and isn’t allowed is important for driver development. By designing their education program to meet the state standard, they ensure not just a one off passing grade, but a lifetime of safe driving. For parents wanting their child to have a good driving education and be safer on the road, IDriveSmart could be the way to go.
Some other driving schools, like Advantage Driving School, are used by Madison students as well.
“Overall I thought it was a good experience being able to drive with someone who teaches you to have better driving mechanics,” Mason Burger (‘25) said.
He credits his instructor Majid with correcting his mistakes and mentions that he “became a much better driver from the experience I gained driving with Majid and he made my time driving much more enjoyable than I think many other behind the wheel instructors would.”
The FCPS driving school is another that is used by students. It is very practical for students because the instructor picks you up at school and drops you off at school too. The instructors are said to be “Insightful” and help teach the rules of the road.
Driving schools are crucial to the development of a needed life skill and choosing the right one is important too. For overall development and learning of the rules of the road, IDriveSmart is constructive and effective because of its instructors being former or active Law enforcement. However, if looking for a learning experience that does a good job alleviating stress associated with driving as a novice, while still receiving important tips and tricks, Aloha could be for you.