WHEN firefighter Simon Gent took his commercial advanced driver's test he did it in style — behind the wheel of an 11.5ton fire engine.
'To do it in that was a dream come true,' said Simon, 35, from Bere Alston.
But as well as the personal satisfaction in passing he is keen to use the opportunity to promote the virtues of the Institute of Advanced Motorists. The aim — to underline the vital link between driving skill and road safety.
'It is quite feasible for anyone to take their advanced driving test. It is not an impossible task,' said Simon who is based at Greenbank fire station, Plymouth.
He had already passed advanced motorist exams in the motorcycle class and car — and wanted to pass in the commercial vehicle class.
Simon took his HGV 2 test as it was in 1995. After driving the fire engine back to the station at normal speeds — for a minimum of 250 miles — after call outs he then did an emergency fire appliance driving course.
'From then on I was allowed to drive 'on blue lights'. I have been doing that for five years now.'
Simon says 'I am very grateful to the fire service as they let me borrow one of their vehicles as a way of highlighting safer driving.
'I did it to grab people's attention and hopefully make them aware of the virtues of advanced motoring,' he said.
'Part of our duties as fire fighters are to attend road traffic accidents and cut people out of their vehicles. Often these people would not have been in this predicament if they and the people around them were better drivers.'
Simon, who, in his spare time is an observer with the Institute of Advanced Motorists, points out that each year there is a high death rate due to road accidents.
'If you acquire the motoring skills the institute says you are 75 per cent less likely to have an accident. And if you do have one the damage is likely to be less than an ordinary driver,' he said.
'Advanced motoring also helps save petrol, cuts down stress and saves 10 per cent on car insurance. But even if you fail the test you cannot lose because you will still have learnt to be a better driver.'
l It costs £25 for a year's membership which ensures drivers get all the training they need from an observer to bring them up to test standard. The test costs £45. For more details contact Peter Pearce of the Plymouth and District Advanced Motorists (01752) 365558.