“Our son completed the Basic Level curriculum, which included 8 driving sessions, and we couldn’t be happier with the experience at Florida Driving Academy.
Mr. Burns is an outstanding instructor—enthusiastic, patient, and genuinely passionate about teaching safe driving. What really stood out to us was how he explains the physics of driving. Our son now understands concepts like momentum, braking distance, and vehicle control—and can actually explain them back to us. Mr. Burns doesn’t just teach students how to operate a vehicle; he teaches them how to be drivers.
He was also very flexible with scheduling, which we truly appreciated given our son’s busy schedule with school, sports, and extracurricular activities. The driving reports were extremely thorough, and you can tell Mr. Burns truly enjoys what he does and takes pride in helping students improve.
The website and online portal are another big plus. We had access to detailed driving reports, driving logs, test results, and easy lesson scheduling. Our son also had his own student portal, which helped him stay engaged and track his progress.
My wife and I are very happy with the outcome and feel confident that we gave our son a strong foundation for safe, responsible driving. We would definitely recommend Florida Driving Academy.
Your teen son or daughter won’t just become licensed—they’ll become drivers, not operators. 😊”
- Eddie T, Parent/Guardian
“The teacher did an outstanding job with one of my first times in a car did great with making me feel comfortable right away.”
- Caroline C., Student
“I used to be really scared to drive when it rained. A long time ago, I hydroplaned and got into a bad crash. After that, I would panic every time it rained. I didn’t know what to do, and I felt like I was a bad driver. Then, Jim helped me. He rented a racetrack so we didn’t have to worry about traffic and he gave me driving lessons. A bunch of us went that day and he helped each one of us individually, and guess what? It started raining hard. Water started pooling on the racetrack—my worst fear! After practicing with Jim, I gained a new confidence and wasn’t afraid anymore. He showed me how I could control my car instead of fearing it. He taught me about tire grip and hydroplaning. Now, I know exactly how to drive safely in the rain. It changed my life! I’m so thankful for Jim. He never gave up on me!”
- Lisa B, Student
“Excellent program that all new drivers should go through!”
- Christina T, Parent/Guardian
“Florida Driving Academy has been an excellent experience for our family. They truly go out of their way to fit lessons around our schedule, which made the entire process much less stressful. Jim is extremely experienced and professional, and it shows in how confidently and clearly he teaches .
What stood out most was how customizable the lessons were to my daughter’s learning style. Jim took the time to understand what she needed, adjusted the pace accordingly, and focused on building her confidence behind the wheel. This personalized approach made a huge difference in her progress.
Overall, Florida Driving Academy is highly professional, flexible, and genuinely invested in their students’ success. I would highly recommend them to any family looking for high-quality driving instruction.”
- Christina L., Parent/Guardian
“Florida Driving Academy was wonderful. My instructor, Jim Burns, was very communicative and helpful from the very start. It was easy to schedule and get signed up. The driving lessons were great. Besides learning and practicing the basics for my road test, I enjoyed lessons on how to really drive a vehicle how it was intended to be driven. Jim was pleasant, fun, and super knowledgeable. I thoroughly enjoyed my lessons, and had a lot of fun in the process. Highly recommend Florida Driving Academy.”
- Kristi B., Student
“I’ve driven all my life and always thought I was a pretty good driver (parallel parking a stick shift in San Francisco, negotiating rush hour traffic on the Hollywood Freeway). I’m 71 now and have some physical impairments. While I’ve never been in an accident, my confidence level was very low. I didn’t want to be that person about whom everyone’s thinking “You know, it’s really time for you to hand in the car keys.” I swallowed my pride and called FDA. I was very candid with Jim about my fears and physical condition. He honed right in and we got to work. In addition, I feel I learned a lot that I should have learned in basic driver training but didn’t. Such as, I’ll bet money your mirrors are adjusted wrong – mine were. This was a smart move and the best present I’ve given myself in a long time.”
- Melissa H., Student
“It is evident that Jim Burns loves what he is doing! His passion is to not only teach the basics of how to drive a car, but also how to be a knowledgeable and safe driver. I feel very lucky to have chosen Florida Driving Academy for my son's drivers ed.”
- Walt M., Parent/Guardian
“Jim is the best instructor with a lot of knowledge and patience! Great place to help your child to learn the rules and become more confident driver!”
- Edyta C, Parent/Guardian
“Jim was excellent with my son. He really instilled confidence and a great understanding of driving defensively. I highly recommend him!”
- Penny B., Parent/Guardian
“Outstanding Experience with Jim Burns and Florida Driving Academy!
We cannot recommend Florida Driving Academy enough!
We had an absolutely excellent experience with instructor Jim Burns.
From the start, Jim was incredibly professional and his focus on safety was evident throughout all the sessions. As a parent, my primary concern was our son's safety and confidence behind the wheel, and Jim delivered exactly that.
Our son felt safe and comfortable with Jim's patient and expert instruction. After completing the sessions, his confidence level skyrocketed.
It's very clear that Jim is passionate about not just teaching the mechanics of driving, but also how to be a knowledgeable and responsible driver for life.
Thank you, Jim, and Florida Driving Academy, for providing such exceptional service and peace of mind!”
- Jen D., Parent/Guardian
“Florida Driving Academy is by far the most professional and skilled driving school I have encountered. Jim is awesome, teaching defensive skills, with practical advice and safety first mindset. Highly recommend for new drivers wanting the best education and experienced drivers who want to up their skill level.”
- Joanne R., Student
“When considering driving lessons for my son, most programs seemed focused on teaching students how to pass the DMV road test. Jim Burns stood apart immediately.
Jim teaches driving as a serious responsibility. Each driving session was paired with online learning modules, evaluations, and discussions that covered not only vehicle operation, but also the physics, psychology, and decision-making behind safe driving.
What impressed me most was his commitment to developing safe drivers, not just licensed operators. He provided detailed feedback after every session, kept me involved, and genuinely cared about my son's progress.
By the end of the eight-week program, my son had transformed from an inexperienced teen into a confident, capable young driver. He passed his road test with a perfect score, but more importantly, he gained the judgment and skills needed to drive safely.
Jim sets the standard for what driver education should be. He doesn't just teach teens how to drive—he teaches them how to think behind the wheel. As a parent, I can't imagine a better investment in my child's safety. I wholeheartedly recommend him to any parent entrusting a child with the responsibility of driving.”
- Jill M., Parent/Guardian
“Highly recommend this drivers ed program. Extremely thorough education and very accommodating to a teenager’s busy schedule. From emergency stop scenarios to checking your tire tread, my daughter now corrects me on my driving skills. Very thankful to have found Jim and his drivers ed program.”
- Amaya H., Parent/Guardian
“As an orthopedic surgeon with 30 years of experience in a regional trauma center, I have witnessed firsthand the devastating consequences of preventable motor vehicle accidents. When Mr. Burns invited me to consult on the development of Florida Driving Academy’s (FDA) curriculum, I was impressed by his commitment to addressing critical safety gaps for drivers of all experience levels—whether new, inexperienced, or, like myself, seasoned drivers with decades on the road. During our discussions, we reviewed key safety principles, including proper lane discipline when turning onto a multi-lane roadway. I realized that, despite my years of driving, I had developed an unsafe habit of "cutting the corner". Applying FDA’s curriculum, I corrected this habit. Recently, while executing a proper left turn into the far lane, a pickup truck traveling over 70 mph suddenly crested a blind rise and narrowly missed striking my vehicle. Had I not followed FDA’s protocol, the consequences could have been catastrophic. FDA’s evidence-based approach, grounded in real-world scenarios and a thorough understanding of traffic laws, equips drivers with the knowledge and skills to make safer decisions on the road. I highly recommend their program to students and parents who are searching for the most evidence based and comprehensive approach to Driver Education. Ralph T. Salvagno M.D. AAOS”
- Ralph S., Student