SAIDI is a national, multi-racial institute, established in 1977, under the auspices of the National Road Safety Council (NSCR), in order to place driver training on a co-ordinated basis, and to professionalise and standardise the driver training industry.

Since its inception, great strides forward have been made, and SAIDI is recognised by bodies such as the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR), the Provincial Authorities, the Institute of Advanced Mororists of South Africa(IAM), the Automobile Association (AA) and serves on driver training committees of the NSRC.