It's a Harrowing Drive On the Learning Curve

By N. R. KLEINFIELD
Published: July 22, 1992

"O.K., start the engine, put your foot on the brake and put it in D for dumb," Bob Kousoulos said.

Ely Quezada, terror etched on her face, did as instructed.

"Now, remember, I don't know anything," Ms. Quezada said.

"O.K.," Mr. Kousoulos said, "the first thing is, don't pull out when cars are coming. The results are usually disastrous."

"I am so scared," Ms. Quezada squeaked.

As she eased away from the curb, a pickup truck nearly sliced off the front end. "Oh my God," Ms. Quezada said. "Did you see that?"

It was just another rewarding afternoon of work for Bob Kousoulos, Manhattan driving instructor. [more ...]

Photo: "I feel you can teach them all," said Bob Kousoulos, an instructor with the Model Driving School who has worked full time since 1972 teaching people to navigate the streets of Manhattan. He held the wheel in a lesson with Mica Koslov. (Suzanne DeChillo/The New York Times)(pg. B1); "In this city, you should never relax too much," said Bob Kousoulos, left, a driving instructor at Model Driving School in Manhattan. Mr. Kousoulos, who teaches cars, trucks, buses, tractor-trailers and motorcycles, taught Garrett N. Harris how to drive a bus on West 14th Street. (Suzanne DeChillo/The New York Times)(pg. B2)