Bermuda's first female driving instructor steers into action next week.

P.c. Fiona Miller will begin training Police officers next Tuesday, assisting the two other driving instructors, department head Sgt. Darren (Shakee) Glasford and P.c. Michael (Terry) Thomas, in a training course that started on June 9.

P.c. Miller leaves her post in the traffic enforcement unit to assume the position, one in which she is already comfortable.

"I have worked as a relief instructor in the past so I am familiar with the runnings of the office," she said.

As a driving instructor she is responsible for training drivers in the Police system of car control.

This system is more involved than what is taught at TCD, she said.

"Any Police vehicle, marked or unmarked, driven on the road by an officer or civilian has to come through this department to get their license to drive that vehicle."

There are four courses, three of which are accompanied by traffic code exams, to total approximately eight weeks of driving.

"The object of these courses is to raise the level of driving by teaching a uniform and methodical system which will provide an increased margin of safety at all times," P.c. Miller said.

Because there is no limit to the speed we use during the last course officers are taught to use speed safely, she said.

And she commented that when the public observes officers speeding without the use of emergency equipment they may think 'we are just speeding to speed'.

Not so, she said: "There is a higher likelihood that we can catch a suspect, especially a thief or prowler, if the suspect is unaware that we are coming."

Drivng instructors must pass these courses with marks that exceed those of the officers they will teach. To pass the advanced course, an officer must earn an 85 percent grade.

"We have to know the material so that we can teach it. That is why the standard is so high for the instructor. I think I received 90," she said.

In January P.c. Miller spent four weeks at the Hampshire Constabulary in England to complete the advanced car driving course. Of her experience she exclaimed, "I drank too much tea."

But she found the programme no problem and she will return to England in September for the three-week standard motorcycle course. She also plans to schedule an instructors course as well.

Dwayne Caines, Police Service spokesman, said the organisation is really pleased with P.c. Miller's performance: "We have no doubt that she will perform to the highest of standards."

Her mother, Beth Miller, couldn't be happier either.

"She's achieved something she wanted to do," she said. "I'm just really proud and happy that she's doing something she enjoys doing."

P.c. Miller, who has worked in for the eastern, western, and central divisions, on the task force (now police support unit) and cycle squad (now vehicle crime department), and in various administrative positions, did not always know what she wanted to do.

After spending about three years at Howard University and earning a 3.4 grade point average, she returned home to assess her options. After serving as a Police cadet in high school, she tried her hand at Police work again.

"I decided to take a break to consider what I wanted to do," she said. "I joined the Police and 12 years later I'm still here."