Corporate Training

HAVE YOUR DRIVERS BEEN TRAINED AT DAVID BOWYER'S OFF ROAD DRIVING CENTRE?

HERE'S WHY THEY SHOULD BE

OFF-ROAD DRIVER TRAINING

Health and Safety At Work regulations require all operatives of any form of equipment to be trained for its safe use - for their own good and the safety of others in the vicinity. Four-wheel-drive vehicles, by their specialist nature, are no exception to the rule.

It is essential, therefore, that every driver of a four-whee- drive vehicle is trained properly in its use. The reasons for professional training can be broken down into four main areas:

1: SAFETY

Do your drivers really know how to operate their four-wheel-drive vehicles safely in off-road conditions? Do they know when, and how, to use the centre diff lock (if fittrd)? When to use low ratio, and how to select the right gear for the conditions. Do they know the correct procedure for climbing a steep hill or bank?

And even more important, how to decend? Do they know the real dangers in attempting cross a side slope.

There is always a risk in taking a four-wheel-drive vehicle off road, but the dangers can be minimised, Davis Bowyer's Off Road Driving Centre can teach your drivers how to ensure their own safety and the safety of passengers, other staff and members of the public.

2: RELIABILITY

Do your drivers know how to use their vehicles to ensure maximum reliability? To quote one of the phrases we use in training: "Always drive as slowly as possible and as fast as necessary"

Using the correct off road techniques will ensure reliabilty and minimise downtime and expense.

3: COMFORT AND SECURITY

Do your drivers know how to handle their vehicles to ensure a comfortable ride for passengers and the safe transit of equipment or goods.

Our experienced instructors teach techniques which ensure passengers and goods arrive safely - and neither shaken nor stirred!

4: EFFICIENCY

Do your drivers get the best out of their vehicles and associated equipment, making them m ore versatile and cost-effective?

As well as teaching how to handle a four-wheel-drive vehicle properly, we can offer specialist tuition in subjects such as trailer handling or advanced winching techniques.

THE COURSES

The corporate training courses are a mixture of classroom teaching and discussion, plus practical instruction on the purpose built off-road course. Obstacles include steep ascents and descents,side slopes, deep water and mud, rocky terrain, ditches, gullies, rutted areas etc.

The following subjects are covered in depth: Off-road driving techniques, theory and practice; vehicle maintenance and preparation; safety and reliability; recovery - towing, jacking and winching; specialist techniques - trailer handling etc.

Training can be tailored to individual requirements but most run for One-and-half days. Most organisations bring their own off road vehicles, but we do have 4 x 4's available for hire.

ITINERARY

Corporate training courses are held on the Tuesday and Wednesday or Thursday and Friday of each week. Most courses run for One-and-a-Half days, when the following itinerary applies:

DAY ONE

1. Arrive at the Centre for 9am for signing in and coffee.

2. Approximately One-and-a-Half hours in classroom, covering all aspects of off road driving techniques.

3. 'Hands On' check of the vehicles, prior to going out on the course.

4. The instructor accompanies the trainees for remainder of morning.

5. Lunches included (vegetarians catered for).

6. Full afternoon of off road driving, concentrating on special sections of the course not driven during the morning.

7. Tea is taken at around 4.30 pm while viewing a special off road video covering all aspects of vehicle use, safety and reliability.

DAY TWO

8. Arrive at The Centre for coffee at 9am. Into classroom for lecture on all aspects of recovery techniques. The emphasis is on safe use of specialised ropes for on and off road recoveries, towing points and jacking, including discussion on winches and winching.

9. Outside classroom for demonstartion of equipment discussed earlier.

10. return to off road course for 'hands-on' recovery demonstrations, followed by more driving.

11. Lunch

12. Return and power wash vehicles.

Exceptions to above itinerary

1. If trailer handling instruction is required, trainees will be taught these technques after lunch on the second day.

2. If the course is run specifically as an instructor course, roles will be reversed on the second afternoon and trainees will take turns to 'teach' our instructors.

CERTIFICATE

A signed certificate is awarded to each participant at the end of the course. Additional copies are available for files.

THE CENTRE

David Bowyer's Off Road Centre was the first of its kind in the country. Opened in 1986, it quickly became established as THE centre for corporate off road driver training. Davis and his team of experienced instructors have taught more than 10,000 drivers over the years. They have included emergency services and blue chip companies from across the country.

This is a sample of the current client list. All have had training in the past few years:

Automobile Association (AA), Aidcall, Arlington Motors, Atomic Weapons Establishement, Autotrader, Avon Fire Brigade, Bovis Constr?, British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC), British Gas, British Red Cross, BF Goodrich, Central Science Laboratory (CSL), HM Coastguards, Colt Cars (Mitsubshi Shogun), Countryside Commission, Crown Agents, Daihatsu,Denbighshire Countryside Warden Service, Department for International Development, Devon and Cornwall Fire Service, Devon County Council, Devon & Cornwall Police, Devon Driver Training Centre, Dorset Countryside Commission, Ecotox, East European Partnership (part of VSO), Emergency Service Overseas, English Nature, Environment Agency, Ford of Europe, Ford UK, GKN Westland Helicopters, Grange of Exeter, Grassland Institute, Gulf Offshore, HM Customs and Excise (TSU), Hampshire Constabulary, Hampshire Fire & Rescue Service, Health Unlimited, Heritage Coastal Warden Service, Heritage Trust, Hornbill, Jeep (UK), Kew Botanical Gardens, Lantern FM, MANWEB, Mercedes Benz Unimog, Meridian Television, Metropolitan Police Service, Ministry of Agriculture Fisheries and Food (MAFF), Ministry of Defence, Ministry of Defence Police, National Rivers Authority (NRA), National Trust, Nature Conservancy Council for England, One2One, Orange Communications, Overseas Development Agency, Partridge Films, Pearce Seeds, Poole Borough Council, Powergen, Quantock Warden Service, Racal Fieldforce, Rhodes Event Management, Rowcliffes of Taunton, Royal Navy, Somerset County Council, Somerset Fire Brigade, South West Water, Special Air Service (SAS), Swansea Council,SWEB, Superwinch, Tarka Trail Trust, The Government Car Service, Vauxhall Motors, Vodaphone, Voluntary Service Overseas (VSO), Water Aid, Welsh Water, West Mercia Police, Wildlife Trust, Wiltshire County Council, 21 Regiment, plus a great number of Instructor Courses, small business users around the country, and groups setting out on expeditions around the world.

• Accomodation near David Bowyer's Off Road Centre (Training / Holidays etc)
• TRAINING: About David Bowyer's Off Road Driving Tuition

(c) Goodwinch Limited 2006