Mike started his driving school in Ditchingham in May 1984. Since that time he has sat beside thousands of people of all ages and taught them to drive. The motto from day one was always to teach drivers to drive and not just pass a driving test. He has always found it to be a very rewarding job and watching people succeed in starting from scratch who may have never been behind the wheel before and go on to passing the test first time and in doing so opens a whole new world for them.

Mike has seen many changes in 25 years, to name just a few the introduction of the theory test and hazard perception test for new drivers, the reverse parking exercise, more open road driving 60 and 70mph areas, the much needed tighter marking system on learner tests and the new photo card driving licence (remember it only lasts 10 years then needs replacing – or £1000 fine).

In the driving industry he has seen many changes such as instructors having to sit the hazard perception test, the introduction of CPD (Continuous Professional Development) in order to keep the instructor up to speed with re-training.

Mike has taken and passed the Diploma in Driving Instruction, and is a qualified Advanced Driver Trainer and covers Norfolk and Suffolk as a Diamond Advanced Supervising Examiner.

Also as a Fleet Trainer he works with many companies with Health and Safety at work. This is assessing Company Drivers and re-training to help Directors and Companies to keep safe and have a driving policy in place to avoid and Corporate Manslaughter problems.

Also he is a accredited Taxi Driver Trainer and teaches driving in classroom presentations. Recently he has included Trailer Towing courses (for the trainer details watch the Waveney Valley Blog).

Belonging to many driver training organisations especially a member of the Elite Master Tutors of Driving. Mikes interest outside work is with Rotary as a member and a Past President of Bungay Rotary Club, he devotes a lot of time to the movement and did serve on Rotary District 1080 as a Membership Chairman (Development) for 3 years.

Mike always says it is his wife Jenny who had been the backbone to all his business interests and assists him with the paper pushing. Jenny for the last nine years has been employed at The Castle Inn Bungay.

Their son Mark is a member of the team employed at R. Charlish of Bungay who maintain and keep the training vehicles in good order on the road. Mike can always be found somewhere giving after dinner speeches on ‘The Life of a Trainer‘ and putting the word road safety over to the public.

During the years Mike has appeared on Television, and on BBC Radio Norfolk where he did a live phone in programme on driving with Louise Priest (what a lovely lady).

Mike now looks ahead to the next 25 years promoting and teaching road safety. He would like to see everyone taking an interest in road safety: driving the eco way, really taking care on our roads and drivers being better prepared to take driving test, as it is not cheap with a practical test now costing £62.

So thank-you to everyone for their custom during the last 25 years, all the good wishes and I look forward to serving the community safe driving for the next 25 years.

Mike Daniels Dip Di and AcciDON’T
D.S.A. Registered Instructor, Awarded Highest Grade 6

Well done Mike, from all at the Waveney Valley Blog!