Driving lessons home

Story by Wendy Gabbe, photos by

HE IS:

Committed to keeping the roads safe.

ALL ABOUT THE KIDS

Ever since the untimely death of his son, Armando Corona has dedicated

his life to working with youth.

Corona, 67, has been a driving instructor at the Orange Coast Driving

School in Huntington Beach for 10 years.

“It is a challenge every day, but I really enjoy working with kids,”

he said.

With the majority of Corona’s students being teenagers -- he takes

delight in being constantly surrounded by young people and serving the

community as well.

“All my life I’ve been blessed with the ability to teach and the

desire to serve,” he said.

So that is just what Corona has been doing. Working 12-hour days,

Corona spends much of the time out on the road with young drivers.

“Every kid is different,” he said. “Some are very nervous, some are

very relaxed and receptive to learn.”

FIRST TASTE OF TEACHING

In the late 1950s, while living in Mexico, a 20-something Corona began

working for the Mexican Department of Motor Vehicles. He administered

driving tests and enjoyed his first taste of instruction behind the

wheel.

When Corona left that position he did not move far from driver

instruction. As a manager at Pepsi Cola, he trained new drivers for many

years.

Instructing drivers has never seemed like work to Corona, as he

thoroughly enjoys the teaching process, he said. Even off the job, Corona

can’t seem to stay away from teaching.

“I trained my wife to drive when we were young,” he said. “And more

recently I’ve trained my kids.”

Ironically, Corona was once a student himself -- in traffic school.

Corona was pulled over for a minor infraction.

“I was given the opportunity to clear my record by attending traffic

school,” he said with a laugh.

KEY TO ROAD SAFETY

Corona stresses that the most important aspect of driving is being

alert. Too often drivers become distracted and this leads to the majority

of accidents on the road, he warned.

“I see close calls every day,” Corona said. “Usually it is due to

other drivers tailgating or disobeying traffic rules.” He insists upon

the importance of following three seconds behind the car in front in

normal traffic conditions and instills proper safety techniques in his

students.

Corona is always concerned with the safety and well being of his

students. He finds his job to be very rewarding as it positively impacts

youths.

“I always enjoy receiving cards and letters from my former students,”

he said. “I am always concerned with how they are doing.”

Corona plans to be a driving instructor for many years to come. “It is

my life,” he said. “As long as I feel alert, I will be here. When my

reflexes aren’t good, I will stop.”

The same rule goes for driving, he said.