New drivers in Brampton get permanent places to practise as city expands program

Following a successful pilot project, the City of Brampton has permanently opened six recreation centre parking lots for driving instruction, giving new drivers and instructors legal, designated spaces to practise while reducing conflicts elsewhere in the city. 

The new permanent Driving Instruction Zones Program eliminates many of the restrictions that were in place during the one-year pilot, making it easier for licensed instructors to train students in controlled environments. 

Among the biggest changes, instructors are no longer required to register with the city or reserve time slots in advance. Driving lessons are now permitted seven days a week with no restrictions on hours of operation, although instruction remains limited to designated areas within the six participating community centre parking lots. 

Up to five driving instructors can operate at each location at the same time, and updated signage will be installed to identify the designated training areas. 

For many driving instructors, the permanent program solves a long-standing problem. 

Before the pilot launched in June 2024, instructors had few legal places to teach students. They were prohibited from using city parking lots, while many private parking lots required permission from property owners. The Peel District School Board also barred instructors from using its parking lots, leaving many to teach in areas where they risked being asked to leave or ticketed. 

The issue prompted Brampton council to create the pilot after hearing that instructors had experienced confrontations with police while conducting lessons. 

At the time, city officials said Brampton was home to more than 800 registered driving instructors and more than 75 driving schools, highlighting the need for dedicated practice areas. 

The city says the designated instruction zones provide a controlled environment where beginner drivers can safely develop their skills under the supervision of licensed instructors while minimizing impacts on recreation centre visitors. 

The six designated locations are: 

• Cassie Campbell Community Centre  

• Century Gardens Recreation Centre  

• Earnscliffe Recreation Centre  

• Gore Meadows Community Centre  

• Brampton Soccer Centre  

• Susan Fennell Sportsplex  

Driving lessons are permitted only in the signed areas of each parking lot. 

The permanent program also represents a shift from the pilot’s original rules. During the trial, instructors paid a $25 registration fee, booked 30-minute weekday time slots through an online portal and were limited to specific daytime hours. The city has now removed those requirements after determining the pilot was successful. 

The initiative is intended to improve road safety by giving novice drivers predictable, low-speed environments to practise basic manoeuvres before moving onto public roads, while reducing unauthorized driving lessons in commercial parking lots and other locations not intended for driver training. 

Residents who have concerns about the program can continue to contact the city through 311.