(Please note, this review refers to road test experiences via Safeway Driving LLC occurring at site 740 St Mary St. )
Honestly, the place itself doesn't seem as bad as my review will make it sound but honestly I've come out of it feeling worthless so many times now, I figured this review doesn't really matter all that much in the grand scheme of things.
I don't have a car, I can't practice driving without one, and that's nobody's problem but my own but my experiences with all three instructors are all different:
Autumn: honestly she's just doing her job, I failed that test fair and square. She was encouraging and seemed genuine. Honestly no complaints.
Nick/Chris(can't really remember his name): there has never been a time in my life where I wanted to punch someone in the face and break their stupid aviator glasses. Now mind you Chris/Nick isn't a bad instructor but being in a car with him makes a five car pile up seem like a vacation. He's your classic know it all whose idea of motivation is just being a dick. I actually terminated my test myself because he honestly made me feel I was a fucking idiot. His response at me explaining that people like me who can't always afford to get all the practice necessary (because we don't have a fucking vehicle) was "you failed yourself, try harder next time". Look, if you've read this far somehow, know that I don't particularly like this guy but if you like him as an instructor, good for you. I hope you pass, even if it's just so this guy can have some joy in his clearly miserable, pathetic life.
The white white haired woman: honestly, this lady just seemed like she was rushing the test to get it over with, no lie, I think she jumped in the front seat before I fully parallel parked. I don't really have too much to say, she was a good balance of Autumn with some slight Nick/Chris tendencies. But in fairness, she's the instructor I finally passed the basic skills test with so I'm a bit biased towards her. I didn't even care about what she criticized me for, I finally got past the frigging parallel parking portion so I was on cloud nine. I did make an illegal left turn so I can't even be mad, I scared her and myself half to death behind the wheel so I have nothing bad to say about her as a person or instructor.
Overall if you take your road test at 740 St Mary Street, you've got capable enough people examining you. You may want to shoot them in the head for getting snooty with you but hell $90 for a road test and vehicle rental is a decent price. If I ever pass my road test, I'll guilt myself into taking this review down but until then. Happy driving. read more