Advanced Driving Instructor for County Durham

Overview

David Vickers is one of the UK’s most experienced advanced driving instructors, based in Bishop Auckland, County Durham. A Grade A ADI and Senior International Driver Trainer/Examiner for RoSPA, David has many years of professional experience in policing and driver training.

After 32 years with Durham Constabulary, where he achieved the Police Class 1 Advanced Certificate and specialist pursuit and close protection driving skills, David went on to deliver advanced, defensive, and emergency response driver training worldwide.

Since 2006, he has worked across the UK, Middle East, Europe, Asia, and Russia, delivering all manner of driver training. Calm, professional, and highly respected, David works with individual drivers, emergency services, and major international organisations.

Core Expertise

• Emergency Response Driving – on-road training, refreshers, and examiner duties for ambulance, fire, police, and organ transport drivers.
• Behavioural & Defensive Training – delivery of Level 2 Defensive and Level 3/4 Behavioural Driver Training, including Diploma-level instruction.
• Specialist Vehicle Skills – HGV Class 1, PCV D, Lantra 4×4, trailer towing, desert/off-road capability, fuel-efficient driving (SAFED).
• Course & Company Accreditation – auditing and accrediting trainers, venues, and programmes across Europe, Asia, and the Middle East.
• Banksman Training – reversing and manoeuvring safety courses, including Train-the-Trainer programmes.
• Close Protection & Tactical Pursuit – advanced skills rooted in 32 years of operational police driving.

Experience

David has worked with a wide range of clients, from emergency services to global corporations:

• Medical & Emergency Services – NHS Blood & Transfusion, Hamad International Hospital (Qatar), Direct Medical (organ transport, UK).
• Fire & Rescue – London Fire Brigade, American Mine Rescue.
• Police & Military – Durham Constabulary, RAF Lossiemouth, RAF Leeming.
• Oil, Gas & Energy – Halliburton (KSA), Constellis (Iraq), Petroleum Development Oman, Kuwait Oil & Gas, CNPC (Islamabad), Megamas (Brunei).
• Transport & Automotive – Jaguar Land Rover (UK & overseas), Bahrain Public Transport.
• Security & Airside – Trident Manor (UK), Hawki Worldwide (Jordan).

Qualifications

• ADI Grade A – Approved Driving Instructor
• Senior International Driver Trainer & Examiner – RoSPA
• Police Class 1 Advanced Driving Certificate (with Tactical Pursuit & Containment, Close Protection, Blue Light)
• HGV Class 1 Licence & PCV Category D Licence
• Lantra 4×4 Qualification
• Banksman Train-the-Trainer (RoSPA)
• Safe & Fuel-Efficient Driving (SAFED) Instructor
• Member – Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents (RoSPA)

Delivery Philosophy

David believes advanced driver training should be calm, practical, and directly relevant to real-world driving challenges. His philosophy combines:

• Safety under pressure – embedding risk awareness and safe decision-making for emergency and high-stakes environments.
• Practical realism – lessons rooted in decades of operational police and emergency driving.
• Adaptability – tailoring courses to individuals, small groups, or entire organisations, in both UK and international contexts.
• Professional credibility – training is delivered with authority, clarity, and experience, ensuring learners gain skills that stand up in the real world.