Advanced Driving Academy is a great program with structure. My daughter attended her segment 1…read moretraining with ADA while in high school at PCEP (Salem High School). The program's first and last day is held at their office with the remaining days being held at the high school. The class was right after school and saved us a trip to drop her off. Several of her drives were scheduled right after class making it really convenient only requiring us to pick her up at 6:30. The owner is a former police officer and the program feels like it. They are very professional and formal. The students are expected to follow rules from silencing their phones, paying attention, and attending every class & drive. The class is not structured as a fun time or catering to the students but to ensure the students learn how to drive, the responsibility and that driving has many rules that are there not only to be legal but for everyone's safety. Advanced Driving Academy has rules and expects the students and parents to follow but the rules are clearly stated and make sense. The staff is very friendly and available to help. Attendance is expected and missing a class has to be made up (state law of the number of hours and drives). Advanced Driving Academy is a great company and does a wonderful job training young adults to become responsible drivers.

Here's the deal with ADA. They are the best around if you want your child to learn how to drive…read moresafely and be a responsible driver. We have sent all four of our children through ADA and all are good drivers with an awareness of safety principles. They frequently point out tidbits of information about driving, traffic laws, or my own driving habits (OK, that's irritating, but they're not wrong) that they learned there. On day one of Segment 1, a parent must attend. The owner, a retired police officer and driving instructor of well over 20 years, is direct. Some may find his words unnerving. If so, mission accomplished! Keep in mind that driving is NOT a right; but a privilege afforded to you by the state. ADA is licensed and authorized to teach and they are regulated by the state. Some of his words are required, but some are meant to be sobering reminders that driving can be dangerous. If that offends the sensibilities of one or the other student or parent; perhaps you should go to a driving school where you can put on rose-colored glasses and hit the road with no concept of where your child needs to improve and be more safe. ADA will give statistics on accidents, dangerous intersections, distracted driving, and more which are presented in a way that one cannot misunderstand. For example,"The fastest way to see you child end up in a funeral home is letting them drive with a car full of friends." That may be crass and such directness may offend the occasional "snowflake," but we appreciated the directness and the factual basis of such comments. This factoid is fact-based and ADA can explain it from stats as well as professional law enforcement experiences of tragedies. We have always found the staff at ADA to be kind and patient. Our kids have always liked the experience but they are initially a little intimidated by the day 1 presentation. "GOOD!" They should be. In reading some negative reviews here, I would only say that parents often refuse to accept that their little angel really isn't a very good driver for whatever reason. Maybe the kid is just a bad driver Mom and Dad. Why do you blame the school? Please! My kids paid attention, followed directions, focused on being responsive to instructions, and they did well. Did they ace their road test? No. But they are good and responsible drivers and we credit much of that to ADA. Send your kids to ADA. You won't be disappointed (unless your skin is too thin for direct and clear facts).

While preparing for my son to be ready to drive, Everyone said go to Life Academy. Even on my…read morehometown Facebook it was Life Academy. So now that he goes I guess I'm really confused how there is 5 stars for this driving academy. 1st on parents night the fella ripped on the parents the whole time. Not knowing us he pretty much told the kids not to listen to us parents when it comes to driving because it's been so long since we've been in drivers Ed..: then he turns and tells the kids respect your parents driving as they are the ones that have kept you in one piece . One dad was turning red in the face . Then the guy mentioned how there are a bunch of cameras in the cars and kids bad attitudes won't be accepted and they will have video... ok what about your driving instructors bad attitudes? Lord! The instructor my son had the first 2 days was new, unprepared, confusing, late and boring. I did ask for a new teacher as the reviews reflected that this school was different than others and a little more fun...a new teacher was assigned....thank you. As for the driving teachers you have a couple dudes there that are complete old jerks and make the kids feel on egg shells. I reported Dennis as my son was like OMG that guys the biggest jerk. One driver teacher boasted about making good money and working OT doing this, but he was an ass and gave a kid a panic attack. I made sure my son didn't have either of these men again. Kids are nervous enough and these guys just yelled. Why do they do this for a living is it just about money? So before you threaten the kids about being good in the car look at these teachers and how they are. I'm still puzzled on how this is a top driving school. Oh well. He's not going back .

My goat Toman (or Tuman, I can't really spell his name) was super chill and an easy instructor to…read moredrive with. He was super patient and helped me keep track of and fix my issues.

My son took his road test this past Saturday. He was anxious but excited. He tested with Kris. Kris…read morewas patient and encouraging but firm while giving instruction. I brought my youngest son here because my oldest son did his road test here years ago with Lou. Both were great experiences and I would recommend Capitol Area to others.

I don't know how this place has good reviews. All the teachers were jerks . My son had one that…read morecould barely walk and was a mean old man. Thank god this is over!! I don't get how you can be mean to nervous kids .

This place is fraud. They took our money, then told us they don't have the proper equipment to…read moreevaluate. My wife went in for a driving evaluation for her disability license. According to the instructor, she passed the clinical exam with ease, but they refused to continue with her exam after learning the controls in her van were different than the ones in their vehicle. This should have been the first question asked when she called to schedule the appointment. The instructor does not have the common sense or experience to make proper decisions and this facility is not at all equipped to train or evaluate anyone with a disability. they should disclose their lack of knowledge, ability and reasoning BEFORE taking anyones money.

Great experience for both my daughter with a disability and her triplet sister and brother…read more Wonderful training, confident behind the wheel and I am not afraid. Mr Madonna as an instructor is outstanding- he ensures these kids get it!!! So pleased with our experience.

The instructor explicitly informed me to speed up to X during the test. Following the law, I…read moreaccelerated to the speed appropriate for the high way. The instructor then proceeded--despite the instruction to accelerate--to tell me to slow down. The instructor herself is very misleading, and not in the moment. She was emotionally devoid to a point of social sequestration. Furthermore, she also was quite irresponsible. She doesn't care about the wellbeing of her customers, and even went on to disrespect both me and my mother by managing problems with her other customers during our paid time. Where more irresponsibility took manifestation on her behalf was when she was very obscure about where to meet. When asking questions--because inevitably every customer would have to--she would indirectly refuse to answer. Ultimately, the customer is left in a state of obscurity just as the instructor.

This school is really nice and ran pretty well, I had a really good experience with my instructor…read moreMax, he made learning and driving really easy as my whole class had passed the test. Driving on the roads after he taught me was very smooth and easy for me and he even made it fun dropping my nerves, would 100% recommend every one too go here.

My son had a driving test. the examiner cancelled twice. I asked that a manager call me, and have…read moreyet to receive a call that was 6 weeks ago. This is such a lack of customer service-but not surprised the way that customer service has gone down the drain in some many areas. I see Maggie Y. review that her daughters test was rescheduled 4 times. This is bad business, especially when you are asking for someone to call you and they never do.

Very bad Drivers ed school hard t communicate with and they keep delying stuff do not rec excellant…read moredriver school is way better would recommend!

Excellent instructor and easy online format. Works well to not have to drive kid to classes and kid…read morelikes the virtual aspect as well.