How To Set Up A Malaysian Driving Institute
Why is this so?
Permit me to explain. The driving school or institutes business today is in fact a controlled business. It is under the purview of the Transport Ministry.
To set up a driving school or institute, one has first of all secure a permit or license to operate it. This is known as S.M.1 in the driving industry circles.
Why does the driving school industry need to be controlled?
Why, you may ask, can’t it be a free enterprise. Like opening up a restaurant or a sundry shop for that matter?
Well, the authorities have their reasons. The public seems have a poor image about driving schools or institutes. They might not accord it high regards. You might not be aware, but driving institutes are regarded as being run by less educated strata of the society.
In the early days, on the 1950s and 60s, a driving instructor’s job was a part time job and a profession not many people will prefer electing to do. Except and unless you yourself are involved in this industry itself, that is, if you happen to be a driving instructor, do not expect that your son or daughter will ever land up in the same profession as you.
Amongst the thousands of jobs in the market, which sane father or parent would ever dream of encouraging his son to become a driving instructor?
The profession itself may command a pay or salary rather lucrative, compared to other profession around, but believe me, it is not an easy job to hold if you should ask me. I should know because I have been involved in this industry for nearly forty years.
Until today, no insurance company is willing to yet insure me for the dangerous profession I am doing. In fact, a driving instructor is likened to that of an air line pilot. Insurance for driving instructors are available, but at extremely high premiums. Very few instructors are able to afford paying for it.
Today’s article was in fact intended to discuss the procedures and the requirements needed to set up a driving institute.
Amongst the many things a business man or entrepreneur, who wishes to set up this industry should bear in mind are:
1) Have enough experience of some 15 – 20 years ideally.
Like any other businesses, one should have enough experience in the field itself. Therefore, the more experience you possess in the field, the better it is for you overall.
2) Ideally you have a driving school permit currently.
Why should this be so?
Because to ask for a new permit to be granted to you these days is rather difficult. To expect a new permit to be issued to you these days may be likened to the moon turning blue or in Bahasa Malaysia they say “mengharapkan bulan menjadi biru”.
Unless you have the correct cables, forget about trying to secure a driving institute permit at all. But having a driving school permit, you could then ask for it to be converted into a driving institute instead.
In this manner, your chances of approval to set up an institutes would be better and also faster.
3) Should possess some 30 – 40 business associates in the driving school industry.
Any person intending to set up a driving institutes should possess a minimum of 30 – 40 driving school instructors who possess the certificate to teach or Sijil S.M.2.
It should be borne in mind, the Transport Authorities will issue the total number of vehicles based upon the number of instructors you have in your institute. Therefore, the higher the total of instructors you have in your institute, the larger the number of vehicles you will be eventually given by the authorities.
4) Having a capital of some RM1 million would be ideal.
Having some RM 1 million in your hand will be a fairly good amount of money you could work with. To build the infrastructure, you will need a lot of money. Among some of the infrastructure which are required are:
i) Lecture rooms
ii) Office
iii) Toilet facilities
iv) Canteen
v) Prayer rooms
vi) Store rooms
vii) Testers’ hut
viii) Building slopes and parking lots
ix) Signage
5) Purchasal of vehicles such as motorcycles, tractors, lorries, cars and other vehicles.
Purchase of the above can cost quite a lot of money. A lorry, even a 2nd hand one may cost anything between RM80,000 to RM100,000. Motorcycles can cost a lot of money too. Not to mention other requirements.
6) Availability of land to build the institute.
One should remember land remains an important item. Those wishing to open up an institute should realize no institute is allowed to be built very near another institute.
Preferably, an institute should ideally be set up in areas which have a fairly large population. Do not forget, it is a service oriented business.
Talking about the question of land needed to set up an institute, how big should it be?
The authorities suggest anything from 6 acres to 8 acres would be just perfect. Unless you would like to set up a mega size institute measuring 20 acres or more.
Confucius said, “the journey to a thousand miles begins with the first step”. So, if it is the intention of anyone to start a driving school institute in Malaysia, hunt around for a fairly big piece of land first.
Look around and ask brokers and friends. Be interested in options. Advertisements in newspapers can sometimes assist you to scout for a suitable piece of land.
But besides land, which is obviously very important to set up a driving institutes these days, you first step towards the aim of setting up a driving institute anywhere is to get the necessary application forms.
And where do you secure the above forms?
The J.P.J. offices cannot supply you these forms. You have to head to the Headquarters of the Transport Authorities at Putrajaya itself to get the forms your require
Well, that’s where my good buddy Mr Chin of Sekolah Memandu Sentosa and I were headed to recently. And where do you think our next new institute would be set up eventually? In Taman Sentosa, Klang itself.
Malaysian Driving Institutes Test Without Poles
Institutes That Do Not Use Poles Or Tiangs In Their Slope, Side Parking & 3 Point Turn Maneuvers
A few articles have already been written on the above subject before. But it should be reiterated that in all of those articles, they have been written with reference to using poles only.
In case you are unaware, students who aspire to secure their Class D (cars) license have to perform the slope test, side parking and the 3 point turn maneuvers. The problem with this subject is that while some institutes use poles, others do not.
As a result, students who appear for their practical test at institutes that do not mark their side parking lots and 3 point turn areas with poles will obviously face problems or difficulties.
It should be reminded that not all students are the same. Better students may be able to cope with the problem of performing their slope test, side parking and 3 point turn aspect of their tests without the poles or sticks.
However, students who are weaker in the abilities will face some problems. The above has led to some readers of this blog writing in seeking my assistance.
For your information, the institutes at which I am attached to still use the old, traditional methods of poles and sticks to mark its slope, side parking lots and 3 point turns areas.
As such, while having refreshment with one of my experienced driving instructor friend, Mr. Chin of Sentosa Driving School, one of Klang town’s elite and well known driving institutions, made it a point to pose this problem to him to seek his advice.
You see, Mr. Chin’s institute to which he is currently attached to uses the new concept of not using poles in their practical tests.
First of all, I asked Mr. Chin regarding the slope test. In this aspect, 2 sticks are placed as usual on the yellow line measuring 20 – 24 inches on top of the slope. Students have to stop successfully on this line should they wish to pass their practical exam.
To assist you pass this slope test, I would like to advice you to see to it that your car right side mirror is in line with the 2nd pole placed on the right hand side of the slope.
Coming down the slope, a candidate will then move into the side parking lots with no poles to mark it. To some, this might pose some problems.
Mr. Chin advises to follow the arrow painted on the ground as a source of guide. Reverse your car slowly, looking to your left side to see the front edge of the side parking lot.
When you observe the back of your car (the booth) in line with the front lines of the parking lot, stop. Turn left completely and jam your steering.
Next, put your head out of the window, reverse your car slowly until your car is at a 45 degree angle with the parking lot.
At 45 degree angle, stop. Then straighten your front tyres. Looking at your rear tyres, reverse slowly until your rear tyres touches the while line of the parking lot.
To go into the side parking lot, turn your steering complete to the right. Reverse your car approximately 80% into the parking lot. Next, turn your steering all to your left. Move the car forward until your vehicle is in line with the parking slot.
Then, put your right hand up to indicate to the tester you have completed your parking maneuvers. Your own driving instructor, I presume would have taught you how to come out from the parking lot. Follow his steps and I’m sure you will have no problem coming out from the side parking lot.
Make certain, as you come out from the parking lot, that you observe the front marking lines. Do not go beyond these lines as this might cause you to fail.
Finally, we move on next to the final aspect of your practical test, which is the 3 point turn.
Even though there are no sticks for you to observe, you will still be able to see the side lines of the 3 point turn area.
Drive slowly, keeping roughly 2 feet from the side line. Approximately 2 feet into the area, turn your steering completely to the right, stop about a foot from the right hand side line of the area.
Stepping on the brakes, turn your steering all to your left. Reverse your car to the back and stop one foot from the line at the back. Step on your brakes and then turn your steering completely to the right.
Engage 1st gear and slowly move forward out of the 3 point turn area and I’m certain your would have succeeded in passing this aspect of your practical test.
A Tour Of The JPJ Practical Road Test
Highlighting An Imaginary Test Route Which Could Be Taken By An Institute
The Class D (cars) practical test by the J.P.J. involves Part III or Road Test. Today, this article will highlight an imaginary route taken by the J.P.J in its practical tests.
No institute’s test route will be chosen as I feel much hassle would be entailed in seeking permission to write upon the subject.
Suffice to say that most institutes located in the vicinity of your area will have similar characteristics which this article refers to learners or students. It is certain you would be able to identify what I am referring to ins this article.
The Part III road test or better known as Ujian Jalan Raya normally possesses 2 routes.
i) Route 1.
ii) Route 2.
Although 2 separate routes are normally available to the testers, Route 2 may seldom be taken. This route being the alternative route is normally taken at times when jams occur.
Driving instructors who sent their students for test at such institutes have to teach their students both of the routes referred. At least, the students should be taught prior to taking the test.
The 2 routes mentioned above may stretch from 2.5 km to 3 km in length. In normal circumstances, eliminating traffic jams happening, it would take approximately some 25 to 30 minutes for each candidate to complete the entire route.
As a driving instructor for many years, my opinion is that the routes must have been planned after much thought and consideration been put into it.
For those who are unaware, a test route that is chosen should go through the following obstacles:
1) Roundabouts.
2) Schools.
3) Clinics.
4) Shops and supermarkets.
5) Traffic lights.
6) Cross junctions and T junctions.
7) Pedestrian crossing areas with zebra crossings.
8) U-turns.
9) Stop look go.
10) Single and double line areas.
11) Bus stops.
12) Slope areas.
The obstacles will be many. A potential student undergoing a practical test, therefore should be tutored well by the driving instructor prior to undergoing the practical test.
Besides being able to handle the steering well, and manipulate the signals and indicators perfectly, a student ideally should be able to drive through the above mentioned areas.
Believe me, it is not an easy achievement. Barring today’s traffic condition, for an “L” driver to go through all these places, not forgetting the tension and pressure of driving with someone unknown or unfamiliar to you on test day is actually no mean task.
Furthermore, it should be kept in mind, students on test must be able to attain a minimum 16 marks upon 20 to pass the jalan raya test. Put yourself in a potential student’s shoes and you will surely know what I wish to convey.
This article will only concentrate on Route 1 of this imaginary institute’s test route.
What are the things that should be looked for?
Coming out from the institute’s gate, one would probably come to a 3 point junction. Make sure you know where to stop. Pull up the handbrake. Ensure both sides do not have vehicles approaching before coming out of the junction.
Approximately 500 yards of driving may bring you to yet another T junction and also a slope. This is actually to test of how competent you are in controlling the car and the slope.
Look right and left to see no cars are approaching before going out. Traveling a short distance, one may come across a school. You should go no faster than 30 km/h here. A traffic light may also be installed to test how well you deal with traffic lights.
Remember traveling along this portion of the road should be no more than 30 km/h.
Having crossed the school area, one may come to a round about. This could be a very difficult round about to negotiate. This may be an 8 pronged roundabout.
Assuming traffic approaches from 8 different directions, unless you can drive extremely well, you will certainly have lots of difficulties . Heavy traffic from trailers and all sort of other vehicles big and small, will provide you with much competition you are expected to undergo.
After passing this difficult roundabout, very probably a candidate will face a straight stretch of road with lots of cars on either side. This will test a student’s ability to control the steering well. Keep to the left lane ideally. Allow faster cars to overtake you.
The next step of the road test will probably entail you having to do a U turn.
How does one do a U turn?
One should change down to a lower gears before cornering. Some testers expect you to stop, others do not mind you giving way to traffic on the left and then proceeding. Which alternative you choose all depends on you. In the end, it is all up to you. The important thing is, you should drive safely.
As most institutes are located in kampung areas, the institute where you are taking your practical test might most probably be in such an area.
As such, kampung folks, children, bicycles and motorcycles will probably dot your way. This part of the test will be a good way of testing your ability to deal with such obstacles. You area advised not to travel anything more than 15 km/h.
When you finally enter your institute’s testing ground, there will be a special area where all the test cars end up in. Stop there, free your gear and pull up your handbrake. Say “thank you” to the tester. Ask the tester if he wishes to have the car engine switched off or otherwise. Follow his instructions.
Even though this article represents only an imaginary road route, what has been described herein may very well be a realistic test route one of the many test routes used by driving institutes in Malaysia today.
