Class One Training

Since launching last month we've been asked a lot about the differences between Police advanced driver training and the driver coaching we offer to the ‘civilian’ population.

Back in The Day

More than fifty years ago, I attended a Police advanced driving centre and I listened attentively to a well executed talk on Police advanced driving. It captivated me so much and I remember it vividly. The key take away for me was: ADVANCED OBSERVATION and ADVANCED PLANNING.

I have never forgotten that and still use it today on my high-performance driving talks and it's a fundamental in our briefings to our elite coaching team members at Driving Masters. Basically, this is the foundation of all advanced driving.

It was also on that visit that I drove on a skid pan facility for the very first time. It was such brilliant learning and great fun too. So, my entry into advanced driving came courtesy of the West Yorkshire Police, who invited me to their brilliant, monthly open night talks.

Life Changing Accident

The invitation came after I had a Police constable visit me in hospital, having written of my treasured Lotus Cortina, in a crash that nearly killed me. This debacle changed me and my life in a big way.

Without question, the UK Police were the global leaders in driving standards and advanced driving attributes.

Let’s take a look into what advanced driver training the Police did/had in those days.

All advanced Police Class One drivers had 6 weeks of intense training that included pursuit driving and skid control – some forces also had car control exercises dropped in too. To evaluate this significant training regime, think how much you would personally progress with thirty days of intense and renowned driver training? Quite incredible progress will be made by most drivers put through such commendable training. However, that doesn’t happen anymore as over the years, such things have diminished significantly, due to budget cuts and modern-day Policing requirements.

What I witnessed first-hand back then, had a colossal impression on me. My interest in improving my road driving grew enormously. Fortunately, I made friends with a couple of their senior instructors, who used to sit alongside me pointing out my misdemeanours and use of speed and specifically, my speed into hazards (having bought yet another fast car). I was privileged to get such fabulous coaching and learned how they did it, what skills and techniques they trained to their Class One Police drivers.

My Journey Began

After this, I kept up my inquisitive learning and understanding of different yet highly relevant experiences as I was super inquisitive and wanting to learn more about different driving skills and techniques. I went on to attend several racing schools to see how they did it. I received tuition in both fully prepared race cars and also single seater formula cars.

I also wanted to get to know more about the differences between front wheel, rear wheel and 4-wheel drivetrain layouts, and how to control these cars making serious progress on loose surfaces on a Rally driving stage. I did this numerous times as its was unbelievably educational and massive fun too.

From there I remained committed to finding more about advanced and extreme car control, as I had already made the decision that I wanted to be able to train industry test drivers and ride & handling chassis engineers, so this was part of a pre-planned strategy.

That in depth passion remains today and one of the reasons I have got involved in Driving Masters, so we can bring to market for enthusiastic drivers and high-performance car owners alike, all kinds of elite training to everyone who wants to learn about the art of true advanced road driving along with further elements of true high-performance driving.

Our Team

Back to business. But why am I telling you this? All of the factors above determine how we choose who joins our elite instruction team.

• They are not just approved driving instructors.
• They are not just Class One advanced driving test "passers".
• Many of them have trained the police, military and top chauffeurs around the world.
• Most do driver training for the world's top car manufacturers in a broad variety of coaching roles.
• Like myself, they have gone ‘above and beyond’ what is normally required to deliver normal advanced driving training.

The point here is that with my backing, support and hand-picking procedures, these are the greatest driver coaches in the UK, is why we offer the greatest training packages and programmes serving customers who want the best. We deliver on expectations as they realise, they can choose their own path to improving their driving and this path perfectly matches their level of experience and years behind the wheel, but essentially, also includes all other driving experience they have taken.

Standards

So back to the question in question! Is Driving Masters training as good as or better than Police Class One driver training? Let’s start by pointing out that Police driver training is purely for the Police and their very specific needs.

Driving Master elite driver coaching is for everyone else who has an interest in improving their driving and further to this, some of our instructors are ex police instructors, so that’s as near as we can get to offering you similar training aside from of course, Police pursuit driver coaching.

With Driving Masters we've set out to cover the full range of requirements and expectations from civilian/enthusiast drivers. From young novice drivers to current advanced drivers - from chauffeurs to industry test drivers and chassis development engineers who work for car manufactures, we have the expertise to coach according to ability and bespoke requirements.

With our programme, you take up the reins from your current level of ability and past experience and go from there – it’s a tailor-made solution that provides literally everything and anything a driver will ever want to learn about and provides the foundations of becoming a great driver.

We've set out to make our advanced and high-performance driver training programme the very best you’ll find anywhere. Let’s forget comparisons and get driving. That’s what it’s all about, surely!?