Driving schools speeding to keep up with demand

High speed competition

"The driving school competition is serious," said He Ren, office manager of Haidian Driving School, the first driving school in Beijing set up in 1985.

"Before 2002, there were about two or three hundred driving schools in Beijing, and the figures have fallen to about 100, which makes the competition more serious," said He.

Xu, at Beijing Oriental Fashion Automobile Driving School, agreed.

"Driving schools don't have a high level entry requirement and they only need some space, experienced drivers, and some training cars. But the market is huge with big profits, and different schools are adopting ways to beat the competition," said Xu.

Xu added that the industry still has flaws such as teachers who are easily bribed (often with cigarettes), insufficient training hours, teachers with phony credentials and poor teaching methods.

"The industry urgently needs standards to regulate it," said Xu.

However, for the learners, location and price are key factors, besides service.

"The driving schools are the same, no matter big or small. One with a higher price is not likely to have better service, and the price is my first choice," said Zuo Maohong, a student at a small driving school.

She paid about 2,500 yuan ($366) to learn to drive in September and makes a four hour round trip once a week for classes.

"I just hope the days pass quickly. No matter how far my driving school is, it's only a place to learn to drive," sad Zuo.