IT’S not difficult to recognise why Lincoln Bell is rated among the best driving instructors in the country.

At 70, the Deeside, Trelawny native has given driving instructions to more than 4,000 people locally and abroad. The feat has been over his almost 45 years as a certified driving instructor.

His many students in Jamaica include mayor of Falmouth Jonathan Bartley, as well as former members of parliament, scores of medical doctors, nurses, teachers, resident magistrates and taxi operators.

“What I like about it (instructing) is the respect I get from the people who I have taught to drive,” Bell told Sunday Observer. “After they (students) have obtained their drivers licence, wherever they see me they always show nuff respect and love.”

Bell’s illustrious career as an instructor started in 1963, nine years after he migrated to England at the age of 17. But teaching people to operate a motor car was not his first love. He has always wanted to become a driver.

And so, shortly after his arrival in England, the youthful Jamaican quickly enrolled himself in a driving school and within months obtained his credentials as a qualified bus driver.

He later secured employment at London Transport as a driver. But before he was allowed to ply a route, he had to undergo additional hours of training, which involved driving techniques conducted by instructors employed to the company.

It was during that period of training that Bell came to the realisation that although he had obtained his driver’s licence, there was still much more to be learnt.

“While I was doing the training with the bus company, I acquired a lot of knowledge about driving, which led me to the conclusion that although I had a driver’s licence I did not know a lot about driving,” Bell said. “I then told myself that I have to share the knowledge that I had acquired to others during my spare time.”

According to Bell, during his 10 years of service as a driver with the transport company, he found time to give driving instructions to just over 400 people in London, England.

Eager to impart his knowledge and experience as an instructor in his homeland, the now competent driving instructor returned to Jamaica and opened a driving school, operating in Trelawny with his dual-controlled Vauxhall Viva motor car, which he had shipped from England. That vehicle and a few others used by Bell to assist people to hone their driving skills have since being retired.

The calm and knowledgeable instructor now uses a Toyota Corolla motor car to give lessons to his many students from Trelawny and adjoining parishes.

Up to the end of last month, the number of Bell’s students who have obtained driver’s licence under his tutorship while operating in Jamaica has surpassed the 3,600 mark.

Meanwhile, the able instructor who is expected to retire in another few years, said he is not looking forward to doing so.

“I know I will have to retire some day, but I am still loving what I am doing. I look forward to it every day,” said Bell, who conducts classes from 7:00 am to 5:00 pm Mondays through to Thursdays; and from 7:00 am to 1:00 pm on Fridays and Sundays.

He, however, told the Sunday Observer that before he retires, he will ensure a suitable replacement is found.

“I know that I will have to go someday, but I will have to find someone suitable who can take over,” Bell said. “Teaching people to drive is no easy work. You have to have something in you for that.”

Kaybean Young, who is currently doing her driving course under Bell’s tutelage, noted that when the veteran instructor retires, it will be a great loss to Trelawny.

“He will be sadly missed; his replacement will be hard to find. It certainly will not be easy to find someone as competent as him,” she said. “Mr Bell, in giving his lessons, always takes time to make sure that you do the right thing.”