Dear Editor:
Please don't honk at student drivers.
The first thing student drivers do when they get honked at, is completely lose any concentration they had about the driving task and look in their mirrors, trying to figure out who is honking.
Learners can not improve their driving by thinking about driving; they must practise it, and if they're going to learn anything they must practise it in traffic, not at 7 a.m. on Sunday when there are no cars anywhere.
Learners in marked driving school cars are accompanied by trained instructors, who are doing their best to minimize disruptions to people who are trying to go about their day. They are well aware of any extra time going by and are encouraging the student to act accordingly.
However, due to a variety of reasons - one of which is the fact that if someone has never done something before, they aren't going to be a pro at it - things don't always turn out as proficiently as we would like. Honking at student drivers will only add to the time it takes them to get around the corner or out of your way, so please use some patience.
Carmen Cohoe North Shore Driving School
