It’s almost three decades since the Dia Auto driving school opened its doors to the citizens of Constanta who want to obtain their driver’s license, regardless of category. It can be said that it has passed the test of time and not only that! The Dia Auto School has been an unwavering witness to the changes that society and … road traffic has undergone (!), to the numerous legislative changes imposed over the years regarding obtaining the right to drive vehicles, it has faced economic crises and, most recently, a pandemic that left its mark on everyone. However, it could and still can be described by professionalism, commitment and performance!
“You have to be understanding, patient and even forget quickly!”, confesses Niculae Dicu, director of Dia Auto, regarding the secret of the driving school’s longevity. In addition to these, the essential “ingredients” are the quality services that learners find at Dia Auto, investments in equipment and dedicated instructors. “We are the only driving school in Constanța that has a driving range, where students can go together with the instructors to practice all types of parking. We have highly rated, experienced driving instructors who know their trade. Unfortunately, the Covid pandemic did not avoid us and in its context five driving instructors perished. We offer quality services, we are interested in those who will go out on the streets being well prepared and acquiring the necessary notions”, added Niculae Dicu. The law teacher can also be described as an asset of this driving school. For 27 years, Cristian Doru Zaharia has been welcoming future drivers from Dia Auto to the legislation courses and “doesn’t give up until they learn; he has talent, he knows how to explain the meaning of each one, he cares about having the helpful materials, and the students remember both him, but also how simple he makes everything seem”, the representative of the driving school also showed.
The results are adequate. In a market “flooded” by schools offering driving courses, many of which could be described as apartment firms, Dia Auto has a pass rate of over 60%. Which says a lot, today, when, we have to admit, young people no longer have the patience to deepen the notions.
“The focus is on prioritization when examining. The route could be diversified”
Regarding the difficulty of the examinations for obtaining the driver’s license, the representative of Dia Auto emphasized that this is not to be feared, as some learners might think. Even Niculae Dicu showed that in the past the examinations were much more drastic.
“In the past, testing was done at the range, at night, etc. The range testing was very good, it should not have been removed. But when MPs do something and ask us too? They should go to driving schools, not us, where they want, and ask for relevant opinions before making changes. They kept changing the rules for the past decades and it didn’t bode well! How is it, for example, requiring instructors to cover 300 kilometers in 30 hours with a trainee. At what speed should he drive, 1 kilometer, 10 kilometers per hour? In category C it is even less, 250 kilometers in 40 hours.
As for the practical test of the license exam, the route should be diversified. At present, the Tâbăcărie lake is bypassed. Leave from the gas station parking lot next to the Exhibition Pavilion, on Mamaia boulevard to Delfinariu, turn left on Soveja street to City, where you turn right on Lăpușneanu boulevard and back to the Pavilion. There is an emphasis on giving priority, there are two traffic lights, four roundabouts and a few pedestrian crossings. You should also go to the County Hospital, maybe even on Primaverii Street, near the Capitol, for example, different intersections in the city, which could raise difficulties. In the same way, there are ramped streets, for example, where the students should be taken, such as near the Cazino cliff”, opined the director of the driving school.
Driving license can be the “ticket” to a better salary
Another finding – of a sad nature, we could remark! – is the decline of civil society’s interest in seeing the driver’s license as an asset for personal and professional development. “We are bombarded from all sides of the news with young terrorists getting behind the wheel even though they don’t have a driving licence. Not a day goes by that the Police do not spot at least one, especially in the countryside. But do you realize how many go undetected? I am a public danger! The mayors, the local policemen should get more involved, do prevention, send them to get their driving licenses.
At one point, around 2012, there was a program run by the Constanța County Council through which thousands of young people were educated for free in order to obtain their driver’s license. It is not our place to comment on how the program was carried out, which was subsequently detected from a criminal point of view. But the idea was a very good one, through such projects, chances are offered for professional development, for obtaining perhaps better-paid jobs and even for the development of communities.
Likewise, company owners no longer offer employees the facility of obtaining a driver’s license, as was done in the past. It was a way of building employee loyalty and improving the professional relationship, but we find that it is no longer practiced”, said Niculae Dicu.
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Constanța residents who want to obtain their driving license have the opportunity to learn with some of the best driving instructors in Constanța county, regardless of the category concerned. Those interested can contact, for details and registration, phone numbers 0241/615.862 or 0722.892.603.
