Pamela and Chris Dixon said they were surprised to win and happy just to be nominated for the Northern Territory Road Safety Award, as part of the the NT 2020 Community Achievement awards.

"Shocked," said Mr Dixon.

"When we found out that we were nominated, big surprise," said Mrs Dixon.

The couple said they don't know who nominated them.

"We asked around, did you nominate us?" said Mrs Dixon.

"If you're a finalist you're a winner anyway, when we were called out I couldn't believe it."

DRV4LYF are active in the community and recently purchased a driving simulator which they loaned to the Katherine Flexible Learning Centre.

Mr Dixon said DRV4LYF also run courses with Drive Safe NT to teach alcohol awareness.

The Dixons are also members of the local Rotary Club and were involved in the re-establishment of the Rotary Road Safety Centre.

Mr Dixon said in their acceptance speech they thanked former Katherine mayor and member of parliament Fay Miller who helped them get started.

"We thanked the person who's responsible for getting our driving school up and running really which is Fay Miller," he said.

The Dixons founded the driving school in 2003 after a friend of their son died behind the wheel.

"We take our teaching seriously," Mrs Dixon said.

"We thought there has to be something we can do to stop this."

The couple, originally from the UK, moved to Katherine in 1990 after spending time in Western Australia and teaching in the NT's remote communities.

The Dixons are also long term members of the Katherine Rotary club and were recently given service awards.

Mr Dixon said their work with Rotary and DRV4LYF are connected as they work on joint projects.

"We're trying to get the Road Safety Centre established," said Mr Dixon.

He said the centre hasn't been in Katherine since the 1998 flood.

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