Scout Driver Encourages Teen Safety on the Road
- Cara Goldstone
- Apr 7
- 2 min read
Updated: 6 days ago
By Cara Goldstone
A Lake Forest resident for 24 years, teacher, and father of four children, Dave Balmelli understands the importance of accessible, safe and fun driving instruction. That’s why in August 2023, he established Scout Driver Driving School.
Located at 246 East Deerpath, the school offers a variety of programs for student drivers.
Another class of teenagers learns the rules of the road thanks to Scout Driver Driving School.
“Our teen drivers’ education programs fulfill all Illinois requirements for earning a drivers’ license,” said Balmelli, adding that adult instruction is also available.
His teaching experience is vast, spanning multiple schools, states, and even countries. He has served students from Lake Forest Hight School, Lake Forest Academy, Woodlands Academy, and even St. Paul’s in New Hampshire. He has taught adults from all over the world: U.K., France, Spain, Senegal, Jamaica, Nicaragua, Belize, Haiti, Brazil, Argentina, and Singapore.
With Scout Driver’s teen driving programs, kids can start drivers’ education as soon as a few months before they turn 15, which allows for a longer learning period and thus safer driving.
“With Scout Driver, there is no chance of having a ‘late’ birthday,” assured Balmelli. “Parents and kids can customize their learning so that they can start when they want and get their license on their preferred date.”
Balmelli’s passion for driving education comes from his background growing up outside Boston, where he and his peers learned to drive as a community at a school in the center of their small town.
“This was the era of muscle cars and European imports,” he said. “It was such a great environment to learn together and keep each other safe as drivers.”
For this reason, Scout Driver’s programs not only emphasize safety and confidence, but also togetherness. After all, driving is a shared experience for everyone on the roads; learning together encourages new drivers to be responsible, safe, and conscious of others as a community.
Scout Driver’s class options are available to browse at scoutdriver.net – contact Dave Balmelli at scoutdriver60045@gmail.com to schedule a lesson.