“We first undertook a DVLA licence check and then they were asked to carry out an online assessment to assess their approach and attitude to driving.

"We also used it as educational tool to help drivers understand what they would need to be thinking about when providing this service.”

If successful in the online assessment, drivers were then invited to a driver training course, which started putting the volunteers through their paces this month and will last until the end of June.

Fryer explains: “Driver training comprises two days of training, which are not consecutive. The first day has a number of elements, the first of which is called common role training.

“That’s the information that all volunteers need to know, such as information about uniforms, accreditation, how they will get their shift information and all the background details to the Olympics.

“We then do some training on fleet policies, procedures and processes, which includes aspects like vehicle familiarisation, sat nav training and radio training. This is followed by a safe driving presentation.”

Volunteers are then split into groups of three where they then join a driving instructor for in-car training.

“They will carry out a driving assessment of the volunteers making sure they are safe, confident and competent,” says Fryer.

“The driving instructor is also able to reinforce good driving habits, such as defensive driving and fuel efficient driving; reinforcing the skills the drivers will be required to demonstrate.”

On-road training in London also gives volunteers the opportunity to familiarise themselves with the Olympic Route Network (ORN), as well as the satellite navigation system in all vehicles.

In addition, while the driver is being trained in the front, the two in the back will be given two-way radios to familiarise themselves with all radio procedures.

The second day of training will see volunteers go to their Games time depot, where they undertake depot specific training.

There are three depots in London dedicated to three different driving roles, plus another depot for national Olympic committee vehicles, as well as a commissioning site just outside London.

There is a further satellite depot in Weymouth and in each of the six football host cities.

Volunteers have a safety briefing and discover where they will check in each day and where they will be fed.

“They then go out in a car again, this time without an instructor for further route training,” Fryer says.