My first lesson was great. Rick was my instructor, he was calm, patient, gave constructive and conducive criticism and made the learning experience phenomenal. I felt extremely comfortable during the practices. Rick reassured me that my driving skills were good, but needed practice, and my overall attention to the road was great.
The next three lessons was with the owner, Rich, and it couldn't have been more different my first road lesson with Rick. At first I thought it would be phenomenal and not so intense, I had already done over 10 lessons with a different driving school, and was comfortable on the road. However, when I was with Rich after he observed my driving skills that I learned he'd tell me that everything I learned was incorrect. But I was reluctant to continue with Rich with an open mind to a different way of driving.
Another thing I disliked, was the fact that my grip on the steering wheel was incorrect to him, Rich wanted me to have a narrower grip on the wheel where my hands would be closer together, and when steering my hands would practically be right on top of each other to avoid oversteering. Thing is, I am a tall skinny guy with long lanky arms, I cannot physically fucking grip the wheel with such a narrow grip
1- physically its uncomfortable for me
2- turning didnt feel natural nor right at all, but even if i tried to go back to how I learned from Tanner City, Rich would just continue to tell me that it was wrong.
Not only that, but everything I was doing despite having already been on the road, before was always wrong, despite other instructors telling me that I was doing well. Even when I would be doing a maneuver that was correct and that I learned from previous instructors, he'd yank the steering wheel in the middle of traffic and continue to just be condescending. That was the most anxiety inducing experience(s) I've had, not even the amount of fast oncoming traffic was anxiety inducing just the sheer uncalled intervention of grabbing the wheel was unneeded in the situation. Wouldn't even allow me to even go through with how I learned to parallel park. When it came to turns, I understand there's a sense of urgency, but Rich was impatient even when there wasn't any threats around us that needed defensive driving.
The importance of defensive driving is vital in teaching new drivers, but Rich was not the best confidence builder when being on the road, but eventually it came to me, overtime when working with Rich. I genuinely believe if I kept at least some of my old driving habits that I learned at the driving school I was at prior I wouldn't have been so nervous and uncomfortable during the exam. However I did I make mistakes on the road test that I take full accountability for.
Rick -thank you again for your advice and lessons during my first lesson, and making the experience great.
Rich - I appreciate your straight forwardness when driving, and the time you spent to help me drive better, especially when turning, but I really think you need to reevaluate your style of teaching because it is VERY ANXIETY INDUCING and it does not help people like myself pursuing the road test. Also I really wish you showed me the testing area sooner so I could have practiced on my own time there and was clearer about the right of ways at the intersection on market street. Other than that, everything else was good, I enjoyed the conversations we had.
In sum, NSDS isn't a bad driving school, in fact it was OK, while my experience was very unorthodox and this review may come off as the total contrary. I look at it as a learning experience for myself, while building confidence took a little longer when working with Rich, I don't regret doing lessons with Rich. I also see it as an opportunity for Rich to improve his style of teaching (that is if he sees this review). Other than, thank you Rich for the time you spent with me on the road. read more
