I passed my own driving test first time at 17 - I remember getting a nice round of applause when I walked back into my class at school afterwards! - but was keen to improve my skills even further.

So I signed up for advanced driving, passed the Institute of Advanced Motorists test at the age of 19 and have been a member of that organisation since 1988.

Life begins at 40, as they say, and it was then that I decided to embark on a career change to reflect my great interest in cars and road safety. I passed all three stages of my driving instructor exams at the first attempt and have been a qualified ADI (Approved Driving Instructor) since 2012, undergoing regular check tests and Garda vetting to make sure I continue to teach at the highest standard.