MARCH 2026
Welcome to our website.
Progressive Driving School is honored to commemorate its 40th anniversary of service and dedication to promoting safe driving practices in Thunder Bay and the surrounding region.
Throughout these four decades, we have successfully trained over 20,000 clients ranging in age from 16 to 99.
As the longest continuously operating driving school in Thunder Bay since 1986, we wish to announce that we will no longer offer the Ministry of Transportation (MTO) Beginner Driver Education (B.D.E.) courses. Effective June 2024, we discontinued all MTO-approved Beginner Driving Courses.
The MTO had recommended a transition to online courses; however, we have opted to decline this proposal due to concerns that the proposed digital curriculum does not align with our educational values and the high standards we believe should be upheld in driver training.
Consequently, our focus will shift exclusively to corporate training programs.
In pursuit of elevating driving standards within our community, we will direct our expertise towards commercial and corporate training, as well as private individuals who are committed to enhancing their driving skills and mastering safe driving habits.
Our aim is to foster advanced driving competencies, increase awareness of contemporary driving practices and regulations, and reinforce existing safe driving behaviors.
Driving is an essential life skill that necessitates a sustained commitment from both the instructor and the learner.
The primary focus must be on driver development, enabling clients to contextualize their learning experiences.
While obtaining a driver’s license holds significant importance for various reasons, effective practice remains paramount.
We have elevated our training programs to ensure that our students exceed the minimum requirements established by the Ministry for both G2 and G licenses.
However, we assert that without increased accountability from the MTO and the Minister charged with enhancing drivers' skills through mandatory re-testing every five to six years, the overall proficiency of drivers will not improve.
Experience and maturity alone do not guarantee safety on the road.
Thus, it is critical that we prioritize quality over quantity, as driving is a serious public health concern that impacts not only the driver but also others who share the roadway.
Recent legislative changes in Ontario (Bill 60, effective late 2025) have altered the licensing process for new Canadians, eliminating the "Direct G" option.
This change requires individuals to follow the standard progression from a G1 to a G2, followed by a 12-month waiting period to obtain a G license.
Additionally, temporary resident licenses will now be linked to visa validity, and all candidates will require Canadian driving experience to secure commercial licenses.
Notably, foreign driving experience will now account for only up to 12 months toward the G2 waiting period, rather than providing an exemption.
We observe that many newcomers to Canada are proficient in passing a road test; however, they often lack experience with the winter driving conditions prevalent in Northwest Ontario, as well as often having inadequate parking skills.
It is imperative that we approach driving with the seriousness it deserves.
In many professional fields, ongoing skill enhancement is a prerequisite for advancement; however, in Ontario, there is little incentive for drivers to further refine their skills once they have acquired a G license.
Our corporate driver training program:
- Aims to enhance driver skills and safety, reduce collisions, and help both lower insurance costs and vehicle maintenance costs. These programs include defensive driving, advanced vehicle control, and customized training solutions tailored to meet a company's specific needs.
The Benefits of Corporate Driver Training:
- Collsion Reduction: Corporate driver training can significantly reduce collision risk by teaching safe driving practices, collision-avoidance techniques, and situational awareness.
- Improved Driving Behaviours: Training helps drivers develop better habits, reduce stress, and enhance their overall performance behind the wheel.
- Increased Safety Awareness: Corporate driver training promotes safety awareness across the organization, helping create a safer work environment.
- In-Vehicle Assessment and Defensive Driving Training are based on several key principles, including:
- Psychomotor Skills: This involves handling the vehicle under various driving and weather conditions. Correct inputs for steering, accelerator, braking, and speed control are essential.
- Perceptual Skills: Also known as hazard perception, this refers to the driver's ability to accurately scan the driving environment. This includes sign recognition, scanning, and hazard detection.
- Spatial Awareness: The ability of a driver to understand their positioning in relation to the driving environment and other road users.
- Cognitive Skills: These refer to the driver’s ability to make appropriate decisions and judgments and to communicate effectively with other road users.
- Attitudes and Motivations: This involves the driver’s commitment to safety and their willingness to adopt responsible driving behaviour, including personal risk assessment and consideration of the company’s brand reputation.
Progressive Driving School has provided safe driving training to the following businesses, institutions, and corporations since 1986.
Trans Canada Pipelines
Thunder Bay Health Unit
Confederation College
Lakehead University
Children’s Services.
M.N.R.
MTO
City of Thunder Bay
Thunder Bay Regional Health Unit
D.S.T. Englobe engineering
Clean Air Metals
C.S.L engineering
Stantec engineering
St. Joseph's Care Group
