About Us

 After attending the State University of New York at Farmingdale, Mr. Antkow began his career in the field of driver safety in 1973 as a professional driving instructor with Fitzgerald's Driving School, one of the largest commercial driving schools on Long Island.  Mr. Antkow continued his education in this field by successfully completing certification courses at The Center for Safety at New York University, mastering the five step Defensive Driving Techniques program offered by Harold Smith, and obtaining pre-licensing classroom instructor status by the New York State Department of Motor Vehicles.  As a result of his experience and expertise, Mr. Antkow was promoted to Senior Instructor where he had the responsibility of training new instructors in defensive driving techniques.  Conducting behind the wheel training for students from the general public as well as those attending Driver Education Programs at six area High Schools were also part of Mr. Antkow's day to day duties.  In 1974, Mr. Antkow became the Adaptive Driving Instructor for Fitzgerald's, specializing in instruction of disabled students requiring special equipment.

 In 1977 Mr. Antkow relocated with his family to Phoenix, Arizona after accepting a position as an Area Supervisor for Sears Arizona School of Driving.  One year later, Mr. Antkow opened his own firm, Southwestern School of Driving in Phoenix.  This driving school specialized in training students with special needs through contracts from The Arizona Department of Economic Security Division of Vocational Rehabilitation.  Southwestern School of Driving was also contracted by Phoenix Baptist Hospital for Mr. Antkow to perform training in their Adaptive Driving Department.  Considered an expert in his field and an advocate for disabled drivers, Mr. Antkow was featured in the local media for his views and techniques on evaluating and training students with pre-morbid and post injury challenges, as well as those with mobility and independence issues.  A gifted public speaker, Mr. Antkow served as program chairman for the Sun City Host Lions Club and frequently spoke at functions concerning driving and disabilities.

 Mr. Antkow left the industry to pursue other avenues in 1980, relocating to San Diego California in 1985.  Hired to head the Adaptive Driving Program at Sharp Rehabilitation Center, Mr. Antkow continued to act as an advocate for the disabled on issues of mobility and independent living.  He was featured on the local news, training patients in the Adaptive Driving Program, spoke on radio and appeared in a feature article in the San Diego Union.  Shortly thereafter, acting on referrals from a highly respected neuro-ophthmologist, Ellen Gable M.D., Mr. Antkow formed Driver Safety Consultants of San Diego.  DSC of San Diego was a private consulting firm specializing in evaluating and training patients suffering from neurological and low vision problems and their impact on the client's ability to safely operate a motor vehicle.  Along with vision specialists, physicians and the California Department of Motor Vehicles Office of Driver Safety, Mr. Antkow evaluated patients, conducted behind the wheel evaluations and trained clients in the use of bi-optics, prisms and other special visual aids, as well as adaptive devices relating to driving.  Mr. Antkow was also an active member of the California Association of Driver Education Programs for the Disabled as well as a Certified Driving Evaluator for the California and Nevada Departments of Rehabilitation.

 After a career spanning over 30 years, Mr. Antkow has been personally responsible in evaluating and training well over 10,000 students, clients and patients in the art of defensive driving tactics as well as enabling disabled drivers to find a means of regaining or maintaining their independence.  Mr. Antkow currently is the President and CEO of Driver Safety Consultants, Inc. of Colorado, a member of the Colorado Safety Association, is a certified State BOST third party tester and a certified National Safety Council DDC-4&8 Classroom Trainer and serves on the steering committee for DRIVE SMART Colorado Springs.

 Mr. Antkow has appeared in feature articles in the Woodmen Edition and the Colorado Springs Gazette.  He has also been featured on the local ABC affiliate Channel 13, with news reporter Tim Glenn appeared as a guest on Channel 10's "Talkline", was the subject of the news on KOAA channel 5 evening edition with Susan Davies and KRDO "Good Morning Colorado" and as a guest on KRDO radio with "CK in the Morning", as well as Joseph Machelli's afternoon program and KVOR radio am 740 as a traffic safety specialist. Mr. Antkows' most recent appearance was on Peak Radio FM 96.5's 30 minute Sunday morning broadcast hosted by local reporter Kyle Troxel.