Local man teaches valuable skill

By KEATON WILLIAMS

Luigi Pesarini, 78-year-old retired military man, discovered his passion for driving when he served in the war in 1948. Pesarini spent most of his time teaching soldiers how to drive tanks.

Following the war Pesarini went into teaching physical education for high school students. There, he watched students develop and told them stories about the army. That is also where he decided he wanted to help his students learn the proper techniques to be safe and conscientious drivers.

However, he was unable to open his own driving school because he was still employed as a teacher, so his wife did. As his passion for driving and teaching grew, he decided to combine the two.

“Children are not required to attend driving school,” Pesarini said. “But it is definitely good and with our three locations, it is convenient.”

In Italy the driving ages vary. When a child reaches the age of 14 he or she may ride a motorbike without a license or prior experience. At age of 18, he or she is eligible to earn a drivers license for cars and other vehicles. Although some parents will take their children to a field or secluded area and teach them how to drive when they are 15 to 17 years old.

“These days young drivers trust themselves too much, Pesarini said. “They don’t respect the [driving] rules.”
Pesarini considers himself a patient man. He doesn’t push his students if they are having trouble learning and he doesn’t get nervous when he is in the car with an inexperienced driver. Pesarini remembers when he was in the car with an inexperienced driver. Pesarini and his student were driving from Osimo to Camerano when they came to a stop in the road. When the student looked no one was coming, so Pesarini urged her to go ahead. As their car pulled out a car came upon them fast behind them and crashed into the back. Pesarini’s car was thrown 10 meters. Pesarini said it was a terrible experience.

From that point on Pesarini dedicated himself solely to helping young people be better drivers. His two-month course costs 260 euros, or about $325 at an exchange rate of $1.25 for each euro. The course includes weekly lessons, multiple tests and a chance behind the wheel. Italy has five different driver’s licenses; license A is for motorbikes, license B is for cars, C is for lorries or vans and D/E are for delivery trucks. Pesarini demands good results on tests and plenty of practice before he will sign the papers saying a student passed the driving course.

A student is given a test by the driving instructor's assistant at the Pesarini driving school in Camerano.
Photo by Mark Rowan.

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