The instructor
Learning to drive with someone who is on your side
David Abreu founded Alect Driving School and is the instructor you will be learning with. He is a certified driving instructor who teaches in both manual and automatic cars, and he has spent many years helping people across Sydney's Inner West go from nervous beginners to safe, confident drivers.
If you read what his students say, the same words keep coming up: calm, patient, friendly, and useful feedback. That is not an accident. David's view is that nobody learns well when they are stressed, so lessons are built to keep you comfortable while you steadily pick up the skills that matter.
Alect is a small, local business rather than a big franchise. When you call, you talk to David. When you book, David is the one who confirms your time. And when you turn up to your lesson, it is David and the same car each time, so nothing is unfamiliar when it counts.
How David teaches
A simple approach that works
Every learner starts somewhere different, so every lesson starts with a quick chat about where you are up to and what you want to get out of the hour. From there, lessons follow a few simple principles:
- Start in quiet streets and build up to busier roads only when you are ready
- Clear explanations before you try something, not just corrections after
- Practical feedback at the end of each lesson: what went well and what to work on
- Practice on the roads you will actually drive, including your test area
- No shouting, no rushing and no embarrassment, whatever your starting point
- Manual or automatic, with honest advice on which suits you
Who David works with
First-timers, test candidates and returning drivers
Brand new learners get the basics explained properly: adjusting the car, moving off and stopping, steering, observation and gear changes, all before any real traffic.
Learners preparing for the driving test get focused practice on the things examiners look for, plus the option of using the school car on test day through the Driving Test Preparation & Car Hire package.
Nervous drivers are always welcome. Lessons go at your pace, and it is fine to spend as long as you need on the fundamentals.
Experienced drivers who are new to Australian roads, returning after a long break, or simply want to sharpen up get a refresher that respects what they already know.
The cars
Two school cars, manual and automatic
Manual: Toyota Yaris
A small, easy-to-place hatchback that is forgiving for learners getting the hang of clutch control.
Automatic school car
Lets you focus on road craft, observation and positioning without gear changes.