A new approach to driving school is hitting the streets of Calgary, and aiming to stretch across the rest of Canada. Likening themselves to the “Uber of driving schools,” the app-based program Kruzee offers a more versatile and forthright process.
Originating in downtown Toronto during 2022, the idea for Kruzee was sparked after co-founders Mikael Castaldo and Osama Siddique discovered similarities when discussing their experiences in driving school – both in the classroom and on the road.
Castaldo explains that “ becoming a new driver is pretty broken in Canada. Whether it’s going to driving school or getting insurance, it’s kind of a painful process across the board.”
Using their shared sympathy for incoming drivers, the duo set out to find a way to not only simplify the process, but to modernize it through technology and better transparency.
While regulations for driving schools are strictly standardized throughout different programs, how they are applied is up to discretion of the school itself. Castaldo explains one of the main differences between a typical driving school and Kruzee is the option to complete driving theory classes online rather than attend an in-person class.
“The core process is the same across any school because it’s standardized, but the interpretation and execution of that standard can vary wildly.”
Self-paced online classes is not the only way that Kruzee is using technology in an attempt to improve the driving school experience.
“You can book lessons online, read about who your instructor is, check out the reviews, and get confident that you’re booking with the right person,” says Castaldo
Once students have begun their in-car lessons, student drivers are able to track their progress, see what they need to work on and compare their progress to other students. Then, after they have completed their lessons, they are able to engage in practice driving tests where instructors act as mock evaluators to assess if they are ready for the real test.
Castaldo says that this not only differs from the paper form used at more traditional driving schools, but it also allows for better transparency within the process for both the students and their parents.
In addition to the integration of technology within the driving school experince, Kruzee also strives to offer a high-quality experience. Castaldo explains their rigorous hiring and training process when it comes to in-car instructors.
“We turn away 95 percent of applicants and then only bring in instructors who pass a background vehicle check and then a three stage interview process to assess that they’re really the right kind of person to be putting in front of students with a genuine passion for this.”
