About 93% Consider Instructor Quality and Service "Important" When Choosing a Driving School; "Clear and Polite Explanations" Rank First Among Desired Qualities

■ Survey on Experiences and Impressions of Driving School Instructors

How do you recall your days attending a driving school?

From the day you nervously gripped the steering wheel for the first time, to days of frustration when you couldn't improve as expected, and finally, the moment you successfully obtained your license. The time spent at a driving school is a special experience where you first seriously engage with driving.

Isn't the presence of the instructor sitting next to you, providing guidance, a significant factor in the quality of that experience?

Therefore, in collaboration with Shin Tokyo Driving School Co., Ltd., we conducted a survey targeting 500 men and women nationwide who responded in a preliminary survey that they "have experience obtaining a driver's license through driving school" regarding "experiences and impressions of driving school instructors."

*When quoting the content of this press release, please take the following actions:

- State that the source is "a survey conducted by NEXER Inc. and Shin Tokyo Driving School Co., Ltd."

- Include a link to Shin Tokyo Driving School Co., Ltd. (https://www.shintokyods.com/)

Survey Overview: "Survey on Experiences and Impressions Regarding Driving School Instructors"

Survey Method: Internet-based questionnaire

Survey Period: May 11, 2026 - May 18, 2026

Target Respondents: Men and women nationwide who responded in a preliminary survey that they "have experience obtaining a driver's license through driving school."

Valid Responses: 500 samples

Questions:

Question 1: During your time at the driving school, what did you find "enjoyable" or "good"?

Question 2: During your time at the driving school, what did you find "difficult" or "anxiety-inducing"?

Question 3: Overall, how satisfied are you with the teaching methods and service of the instructors at the driving school you attended?

Question 4: Please explain the reason for your answer.

Question 5: How important do you think the quality and service of instructors are when choosing a driving school?

Question 6: What do you expect from driving school instructors? (Multiple selections allowed)

Question 7: Please specify what you expect from driving school instructors.

*Percentages are rounded to the second decimal place, so the total may not be 100%.

■ What did you find "enjoyable" or "good" during your time at driving school?

First, we asked about what participants found "enjoyable" or "good" during their time at the driving school.

What participants found "enjoyable" or "good" during their time at the driving school:

- The instructor was extremely kind. (20s, Male)

- I was able to actually drive a car. Parallel parking was the most fun. (20s, Female)

- Since it was a training camp, I made friends around my age. I felt a sense of accomplishment as I gradually became able to drive. (30s, Female)

- The instructor was kind and funny, and even paid attention to me when we met in the facility outside of lessons. (30s, Female)

- I gradually improved my driving skills and felt my own growth. (30s, Male)

- I learned about the structure, mechanisms, and principles of cars. (30s, Male)

Many responses indicated enjoyment and a sense of accomplishment from gradually improving driving skills. Even if initially anxious, being able to parallel park or realizing personal growth seemed to lead to positive feelings during the training period.

Additionally, meeting peers during a training camp and interactions with instructors were mentioned as good memories. This suggests that the driving school experience is not just about acquiring driving skills but also becomes a more memorable time through human connections and the instructors' personalities.

■ What did you find "difficult" or "anxiety-inducing" during your time at driving school?

Next, we asked about what participants found "difficult" or "anxiety-inducing" during their time at the driving school.

What participants found "difficult" or "anxiety-inducing" during their time at the driving school:

- It was difficult to pass the uphill start on the AT test. (20s, Female)

- It was hard to book driving lessons. (20s, Female)

- I was nervous during the tests. I'm the type who performs poorly under pressure, so it was tough. (30s, Female)

- One of the instructors had a stern appearance and was intimidating, but he was actually very nice, so I worried for nothing. (30s, Female)

- I couldn't grasp the car's width or sense of speed. (30s, Male)

- Receiving emotional criticism from the instructor during practical training was stressful. (40s, Male)

Anxieties related to driving skills and concerns about the driving school environment and interactions with instructors were observed.

Some found difficulty in actual driving, such as uphill starts, judging the car's width, and speed control, while others cited nervousness during tests as a difficult experience.

Furthermore, there were comments expressing anxiety and stress due to the difficulty of booking lessons and the instructors' demeanor or communication style.

Anxieties experienced at driving schools are not limited to driving skills.

Ease of access, compatibility with instructors, and an atmosphere where one can ask questions without hesitation also significantly contribute to satisfaction during the training period.

■ 70.2% Satisfied with Instructor's Teaching Methods and Service

Next, we asked about the overall satisfaction with the teaching methods and service of the instructors at the driving school attended.

The results showed that 18.8% were "very satisfied" and 51.4% were "somewhat satisfied," totaling 70.2% who responded "satisfied." On the other hand, 19.2% were "somewhat dissatisfied" and 10.6% were "very dissatisfied," totaling 29.8% who responded "dissatisfied."

We asked for the reasons behind each response and present some of them below.

Respondents who answered "Satisfied":

- They taught me kindly and step-by-step. (20s, Male)

- The instruction was strict but appropriate. (20s, Male)

- They were kind and supportive of each individual. (30s, Female)

- They provided very detailed and thorough instruction. (30s, Male)

Respondents who answered "Dissatisfied":

- The instructor was overbearing, and although the instruction was adequate, their attitude felt unprofessional. (20s, Male)

- Instructors varied, some strict, some kind, and their teaching methods differed, which was confusing. (30s, Female)

- The instructor had strong body odor. Their teaching method was poor. (30s, Female)

- While I understand getting emotional, I wish they had explained how to operate the vehicle for each case more carefully. (40s, Male)

From those who answered "satisfied," many comments mentioned being "kind," "polite," and "friendly." It seems that not only technical instruction but also personalized attention contributed to satisfaction.

Conversely, those who answered "dissatisfied" cited overbearing attitudes, inconsistency in teaching methods, and emotional criticism. This suggests that not just the content of the lessons but also how it's conveyed and the atmosphere that allows for comfortable learning significantly influence impressions of instructors.

■ 92.6% Consider Instructor Quality and Service "Important" When Choosing a Driving School

Next, we asked about the importance of instructor quality and service when choosing a driving school.