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Meet The Get in Gear Team
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Section of blank white graphic used as a spacer to maintain table column widths June Howlett, Road Safety Offices of Bucks County Council. Section of blank white graphic used as a spacer to maintain table column widths Julian Smith, Managing Director of Ride Drive advanced driver training courses and motorcycle rider courses Section of blank white graphic used as a spacer to maintain table column widths
  June Howlett
Bucks CC Road Safety Officer
  Julian Smith
M.D. Ride Drive Ltd 
 
         
 

June Howlett joined Bucks County Council as a Road Safety Officer in 2002. With a background in driver training, as both a driving instructor and a driving examiner, June particularly wanted to help develop both the driver and instructor, to ensure that best practice is incorporated to the benefit of all. "It’s crucial we give instructors the tools to deliver an up to date package that fully addresses the key risks that young drivers face, especially when driving independently. I believe the team we have delivering the Get in Gear course has the ability to inspire novice drivers to take pride in safer driving".

 

Julian’s company is the driver training services provider for the Bucks CC Get in Gear scheme. "The training programme is a fantastic opportunity," he says. "Not only for the students, but for the team of trainers to do something outside the usual driver training format. I spent 20–years as a police traffic patrol officer and a big part of that job involved dealing with road collisions and investigating their causes. It made me very aware of how inadequately equipped young drivers will be after passing their test. To at last have the ability to give them something that is as valuable as Get in Gear is just brilliant."

 

         
Russell Hill, Chiltern Driver Training at Amersham in Buckinghamshire. Section of blank white graphic used as a spacer to maintain table column widths Diane Curtis Preston driving instructor in fleet driver training and learner driving school. Section of blank white graphic used as a spacer to maintain table column widths Anita Doughty advanced driving course trainer and with her own learner driver driving school.
Russell
Advanced Driver Trainer
  Diane
Advanced Driver Trainer
  Anita
Advanced Driver Trainer
         

Russell has been a qualified ADI driving instructor since 1994 and operates a driver training company, called Chiltern Driver Training, based in Amersham. His work is primarily that of post test driver training, training drivers with various vehicle classifications and types. Russell joined the Get in Gear team in 2008 and regards his work in support of the scheme as being totally worthwhile. He says, "I get a great deal of enjoyment from delivering this training because the course offers new driver’s the chance to improve their driving skills and knowledge, and may rub off on their friends and family too."

 

Diane is a qualified ADI, an IAM and RoSPA Gold advanced driver, and a fleet trainer. She also runs her own independant driving school, training learner drivers through to full licence holders to enhance existing skills. She joined the Get in Gear team in 2008, and says, "I have a strong belief in driver education for people of all ages and spend a lot of time presenting courses and providing on–road training. I am delighted to have been chosen as a Get in Gear trainer. Too many people are taught how to pass their driving test, but are not necessarily prepared for the true risks of driving on the road. This course goes a long way towards changing this."

 

Anita has been a driving instructor since 1993, is an advanced driver and runs her own independant driving school. She has been involved with driving instructor training, but now enjoys focusing on young drivers. "I am deeply concerned by how much at risk young drivers are on the road. I was delighted to be selected for the Get in Gear Scheme as this is the best opportunity I have to help young people. Group discussion in the classrooom is unique to this young driver post test course and is proving to be a valuable tool, along with the intense on–road routes. These routes have been planned to stretch the trainees beyond the requirements of the current driving test."

         
         
Darren Mundy, a Get in Gear advanced driving instructor who has his own learner driver training school in Aylesbury.   Simon Russell, a Get in Gear advanced driving course instructor who also provides learner driving tuition in Aylesury with his own learner driving school   Terry Smith a an advanced driving course instructor with the Get in Gear team and who deliveres fleet driver training.
Darren
Advanced Driver Trainer
  Simon R
Advanced Driver Trainer
  Terry
Advanced Driver Trainer
         

Darren has been an ADI driving instructor since 2003, and operates as Bucks and Oxon Driver Training in Aylesbury. He is a SAGE assessor, an A2om qualified assessor and is training to be an IAM observer. Darren became a member of the Get in Gear training team in 2008, and sums up his experience of training young people under that scheme by saying, "I am delighted to have this opportunity to pass on a such vital life–skills to young drivers. The scheme is a great idea and to see each student develop into higher grade driver is just fantastic."

 

Simon has been a qualified ADI driving instructor since the year 2000, and currently operates his own learner driving school in Aylesbury. In his younger days he was a keen motorcyclist and therefore has a healthy respect for the vulnerability of motorcyclists. He also travelled the world, driving in many different countries. Simon joined the Get in Gear Scheme in 2008 and thoroughly enjoys his work as part of the team. He says, "Taking students through this course gives me a real buzz. What is so satisfying is how it really opens their eyes to what is needed and gives them the life-skills that young drivers ordinarily never learn."

 

Terry has a natural love of cars and driving, and thoroughly enjoys his work as an ADI. "The challenges are very rewarding, " he says. "To see someone begin their driving career with three arms, two left feet and very little coordination at their first lesson, and for me to develop their skill and ability to the point where they pass their practical driving test is very pleasing! I am delighted to be involved with the Get in Gear programme, as the training provides those real life skills, which the standard driving lesson format does not provide. It forms a natural progression for new drivers to take their skills to a more advanced level."

         
         
Simon Clowes in a ex police officer and police trained advanced driver. He is an advanced instructor with the Get in Gear team and runs his own driving school for learners in Hemel Hempstead.   Darren Mundy, a Get in Gear advanced driving instructor who has his own learner driver training school in Aylesbury.   Phil Hanham
Simon
Advanced Driver Trainer
  Darren Mundy
Theory Session Presenter
  Phil
Instructor Skill Assessor
         

Simon has gained a great deal of experience as an advanced driver during long service with the Metropolitan Police. Good driving has always been his passion, and now as a qualified ADI he is very enthusiastic about becoming a member of the Get in Gear team; seeing it as being a great opportunity to assist young people to develop their driving skills. He adds, "I have always been very keen to share my long and varied driving experience with people who are just beginning their driving careers. I feel it is vitally important they continue to take up quality training after they have passed their test to gain real life driving skills the learner training currently doesn’t provide."

 

When choosing the Get in Gear theory presenter each was put through a rigorous and perhaps cruel test of their ability, innovativeness and versatility. Out of all those assessed for the role, Darren was found to have exceptional communication skills and as such is a valuable asset to the Get in Gear young driver training programme.

Darren is also one of the Get in Gear practical session driver trainers

 

Phil is from an emergency services background and is responsible for assessing the ability of the training team

         
         

How We Chose The Team
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When the Get in Gear driving course was set up, it was decided very early on that it needed to be different if it was going to be effective. It had to break the mould, as it is clear that current training systems were not producing the required reduction in young driver casualty statistics.

Whilst the concept of Get in Gear came from Buckinghamshire County Council, the skills base came from Ride Drive, a Buckinghamshire based business offering high-grade advanced driving tuition, with skills coming from an emergency services driver trained background.

One of the conditions of Get in Gear was to involve local driving instructors and many were invited to apply. From the applications made, the best performing intructors were invited to attend an interview process. The criteria for this was tough, as the Get in Gear programme would only be delivered by the best avaiable people.

The team you see on this page were not only successful in being appointed as trainers to the Get in Gear young driver training programme, they also received advanced training input from Ride Drive. Therefore, what you see here are no ordinary driving instructors. These are high quality, well trained driver trainers, and they are what makes the Get in Gear driver training programme for young drivers so special.

The team has been kept to a small number for quality control purposes, as additional training and the monitoring performance can all be carried out more easily this way. It also helps to maintain continuity, as it is very important when managing a scheme such as Get in Gear that quality is maintained to a high standard, and that everyone is training from the same script.

If you would like to know more about the Get in Gear training team, please contact Ride Drive, or Road Safety at Buckinghamshire County Council, by use of the Make Contact Page.

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Left hand section of grey border surrounding information about Driver Training in Chesham Looking for Pass Plus Lessons in Chesham? – Try Get in Gear driver training instead.
The advanced driving course for young drivers, improving road safety and young driver education.
A Bucks County Council Road Safety Initiative. Available throughout Buckinghamshire.
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Get Driver Training in Chesham with Get in Gear. Available to 17 – 24–year olds, who have passed their test within the past 12–months and who live in all areas of Bucks County Council.

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This page was last updated
Thursday, 27-Oct-2011

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