Caution in choosing driving training courses at discounted prices

Transport Department urges the learner drivers to pay attention to the content and price of the driving courses and ask for opinions from the experienced before making a choice.

There have been public enquiries received by Transport Department on whether driver training courses provided at discounted prices by certain private driver training centres could provide sufficient driver training to learner drivers.

Concerning the enquiries, a Transport Department spokesman said: "Private driving instructors, private driving schools and Government designated driving schools offer different kinds of driver training courses in the market. Learner drivers should be careful in making the choice."

The Department reminds learner drivers to consider the followings before they decide to join any course:

* contents of the training courses;

* restrictions on the training courses with special offers;

* prices of the courses and their total training hours;

* reputation of the driving instructors or the driving schools;

* advice and recommendations from friends and other driving licence holders.

"No matter which alternative you choose, learner drivers should make sure they receive sufficient training and possess basic driving skills and enough on-road experience before taking driving tests. For learner drivers without any driving experience, we recommend at least 30 hours of driver training before taking the test.

Learner drivers can visit the Driving Test Appointment Offices of the Department or browse the Department's website http://www.info.gov.hk/td for more information on driver training.

End/Thursday, March 28, 2002