The Driver Education System

When the first teaching materials and instructional films for teaching in driving schools began to appear in the early 1960s, they often did not reach the teachers, but remained locked away in closets. Jiří Pour, an employee of the then Driving School Directorate, tried to change this unfortunate trend. He initiated the “National Parades of Teaching Materials”, the first of which took place in 1964 in Vyškov. A total of three parades took place. Since then, that is, during the last almost 60 years, only five similar exhibitions have taken place, mostly on a local level, under the care of regional museums.

The exhibition at the National Memorial in Vítkov describes the history and development of the Czechoslovak driver education system, not only in the field of teaching aids, but also in the method of drivers’ training, methods, international cooperation, testing. It offers a look into the whole spectrum of this field, often from perspectives hidden from the average driver. In addition, the exhibition is dedicated to the life and work of the aforementioned Jiří Pour, who was undoubtedly one of the greatest figures of the Czechoslovak driver education system and who passed away at a ripe age only recently. Many of the exhibits were his property. The aim of the authors of the exhibition is to bring the experience to both the general public, coming from a general interest in motoring, and driving instructors with professional interest. And then to bring a little nostalgia to everybody.

The central installation of the entire exhibition is a “driving school room” with three simulators, which will be available to visitors as part of guided tours. It is also possible to see instructional models of engines, driving school textbooks and driving licences from the entire 20th century here.