AAA South Jersey Driving School Celebrates 10 Years of Behind-the-Wheel Instruction
This July, AAA South Jersey’s Driving School celebrates its 10th anniversary. To celebrate, we asked AAA Driving School Senior Manager, John Stecklein, questions about the past decade and what he envisions for the school’s future.
Q: What is your role at AAA South Jersey and what’s been your involvement with the AAA Driving School Program?
A: I am Senior Manager, Branch Services and Driving School. I have been in a leadership role and a licensed driving instructor with the Driving School since its inception in 2014.
Q: What inspired the establishment of the Driving School Program at AAA South Jersey?
A: We are an advocate for the motoring public. The creation of our driving school afforded us the opportunity to improve our roadways through hands-on instruction. It is another way AAA South Jersey can make a positive difference and give back to the communities we serve.
Q: What do you see as the biggest accomplishments since the start of the Driving School in 2014?
A: Our biggest accomplishment is continuing to maintain a very safe driving and learning environment for our students. Our driving instructors do a fantastic job putting students at ease, encouraging them and building their confidence while also ensuring that both their students and the other drivers on the road are safe while conducting lessons on the roadways.
Q: What trend or new technology do you think has had the most impact on the Driving School Program in the last ten years?
A: There are so many changes that have taken place. In 2014, there were more sedans, back up cameras were not required by law and were not even allowed on NJ MVC’s road tests! Over the years car manufacturers have moved away from producing sedans and in some cases only offer SUVs.
We’ve adapted to these changes, first by acquiring vehicles with back-up cameras. We also have in car cameras that record both the interior and the roadway for an additional layer of safety. We also noticed that most families have SUVs, so we acquired SUVs for our students to learn so it would be an easier transition to their parents’ vehicles.
Q: What is the most memorable moment you’ve had while working with the Driving School?
A: It is hard to say exactly which is most memorable. Seeing a student progress from being timid and shy in a parking lot to navigating 295 by the end of the course is always rewarding. I’ve also enjoyed building relationships with the families and in some cases have taught all their children in the household. Knowing that both the parents and their children trusted me and invited me into that very important life stage was always memorable.
Q: What is your vision for the Driving School ten years from now?
A: We will continue to live up to the original inspiration for our school by providing quality driving instruction for our students and to develop them into safe drivers. We will continue to adapt to new laws, technologies, vehicle types, and the roadways themselves to ensure that we are providing the best possible experience for our students.