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00:13I've tried six times, and I was hopeless.
00:22And when I pass, if I pass, I'm going to drive out of Preston to see my girlfriend.
00:31When I pass, if I drive Brian, I think he'd be a terrible passenger.
00:41Right, are you going to do as you're told when I get you out there now?
00:44What do you want me to do, fly?
00:45Just do as you're told and get out there, please, for once. Get in the car, please.
00:50Each year, over a million people take their driving test.
00:53Most of their tuition time is spent not with instructors but with friends and family,
00:57pushing relationships to their absolute limit.
01:00I've got a bypass today, God help us.
01:04Start up, start the car up there then, let's go.
01:08Right, remember the children, in the gear.
01:11What's that car? You're not going to pull out. You missed it.
01:15Thank God for that.
01:16Maureen Reese's bus driver husband, Dave, lets her loose on the family larder.
01:21Maureen has already failed her test six times and spent over £5,000 on lessons.
01:27Right?
01:28Right.
01:28Left.
01:29In the first...
01:31No, there's a car coming.
01:33I can see, dear.
01:42Oh!
01:44It's alright, I told you don't panic.
01:46Start the car up again.
01:5080% of my income goes on in my lessons, cos I'm not determined.
01:55You must be dying for her to pass, Dave.
01:57Yes.
01:59Absolutely.
02:02Round the corner, another couple are driving each other to distraction.
02:07Brian Rodwell won't let Joan drive their 14-year-old Datsun.
02:11He reckons they're both safer if she learns by watching him.
02:15Joan's been relegated to the back seat.
02:17So then what should I do when I get down to the bottom of here?
02:21Uh, which way are you going?
02:23I'm going left.
02:25Left.
02:26Right.
02:28Slow down, make sure there's nothing coming.
02:32Turn your wheels towards the right, into the right.
02:42Turning left.
02:44Right.
02:45You turned left.
02:46Huh?
02:47You turned left.
02:48I said I'd go turn left.
02:50Well, I take her out, like, on the road, like, show her what to do.
02:56Oh, he's alright, really.
02:58I am learning from sitting in the back with them.
03:02Well, I point out the road signs and that too, don't I?
03:05It's...
03:05It's...
03:05It's...
03:05It's...
03:06It's...
03:06Yeah.
03:07It's more or less to read the road.
03:11So then what should I do when I get down to the bottom of here?
03:13Yeah.
03:15Uh, which way are you going?
03:17I'm going left.
03:18Left.
03:19Right.
03:20Slow down.
03:22Look both ways.
03:25Make sure there's nothing.
03:28Joan hopes her nine grandchildren won't have passed their tests before she does.
03:33After 110 lessons, she takes her third test this week.
03:37Beautiful.
03:38These are all my grandchildren.
03:40And I would love to be able to go around and pick them all up.
03:46I think I'll need the lorry.
03:49I suppose, really, I've got to prove something as well.
03:53Hopefully.
03:56Yeah, imagine taking this lot on the bus.
04:00Oh, my God.
04:05I'll have a look on those now.
04:07I can see.
04:09Okay?
04:09Yeah.
04:10I'm all right.
04:11Over I go.
04:12You shouldn't come over, Dad.
04:13You should use the end till the end.
04:16If it'd have been a car coming down...
04:17No, you're in wrong here, too.
04:19I'm in top.
04:20I've got to go in top.
04:21Over.
04:21Right.
04:21That's it.
04:24After him now.
04:25No, no, no.
04:26No.
04:27No, no, no.
04:28There's a car.
04:29No.
04:30No, no, no.
04:31He's moving now.
04:32Slow down.
04:32He's moving now.
04:34Of course he is.
04:34He wants to.
04:35Mine's another car.
04:36Too many cars coming.
04:37Too many cars coming.
04:38Don't risk it.
04:39Keep up the curve!
04:46I told you to slow down.
04:47All right, now.
04:49Whoa!
04:50Whoa!
04:50For Christ's sake!
04:51What's the matter with you?
04:53What'd you do that for?
04:54I can't have been over there!
04:55The car was up your arse!
04:56I could have been off!
04:58No.
04:58No.
04:59What'd you do that for?
05:01I could have been off!
05:01Right.
05:01No pass.
05:03No pass.
05:04That's it.
05:05I could have been off in the first place, you city salt!
05:08No, the cars.
05:08I could have!
05:09What should you do in the slow down?
05:11I'm getting in, though, Claymore.
05:13I could have gone.
05:14All right.
05:14Slow down.
05:18Dave works nights at the bus depot.
05:20After today's dance with death, only one word can describe how he feels.
05:26I'm horrified because I thought I was going to die, both of us.
05:29And if I hadn't grabbed the wheel when I did, we both would have been dead.
05:36At the local police station, Maureen earns £4 an hour as a cleaner.
05:41One driving lesson leaves her little change from five hours' work.
05:45As you can see, basically, this is my main job.
05:48Toilet cleaning corridors, odd jobs, the bowling alley, etc.
05:54That's why, if I have the chance to pass my test, which I desperately want to do,
05:58I want to go into business on my own.
06:01I want to change.
06:02I want to be a freelance cleaner, but not industrial like this.
06:06I'm with houses.
06:17Hello, Joan.
06:19How are you?
06:20Hello, Paul.
06:21Not too bad, thanks.
06:22Yeah.
06:23Ooh.
06:24Yeah?
06:25Joan is on her last lesson before her test.
06:28Paul Farrell is her fifth instructor.
06:35Excellent.
06:36OK.
06:37Thank goodness for that.
06:38That's a nice move off.
06:40Right, where are we going?
06:42End road turn right.
06:44Right.
06:45Here's part of my collection of 400-odd toy cars,
06:50one of which is priceless to me.
06:53In fact, it's the only one that's all scratched up, so you can see that it's been very useful.
06:58You'll see on the roof there's a steering wheel,
07:02which directly links the front wheels.
07:04Really, very sharpies.
07:06Pull it up on.
07:17Walk here, Mo.
07:18Third.
07:19Speed depth changer.
07:20Every week, Maureen spends five hours practising,
07:23but can only afford one hour with her instructor, Linda Clark.
07:26Speed limit down here, Mo.
07:2730.
07:28What are you doing?
07:29I'm on 30 now, but I was between 30 and 30.
07:33I'm going to get a 40, I think, Mo.
07:35Now, what we're going to do...
07:36That's not my corner.
07:37Do you want to roll well?
07:37That's not my corner, is it?
07:38We're going to drive past that road on the left there.
07:41Pull it up and stop, and reverse into it,
07:43staying reasonably close to the curb.
07:46All right.
07:46Now, my philosophy is, if you can do this one, you can do anyone.
07:52Right.
07:53We're going to practice the reverse around the corner today, Mo.
07:57So, tell me, what type of corner is it?
08:00Downward.
08:00Upward, sorry.
08:02Upward.
08:03Well, it goes...
08:04Yeah.
08:04It's fairly flat, really, isn't it?
08:06It's the corner that's more...
08:08Yeah, but is it a sharp corner?
08:10Sharp, yeah.
08:11Well, I wouldn't have said it, Mo.
08:12No, sharp.
08:14Mine's rather clear.
08:16Today is Joan's last chance to master the trickiest of all manoeuvres,
08:20reversing round a corner.
08:24Now, hold the steering mode, don't oversteel.
08:26Little move the car, isn't it?
08:28It's like baking a cake once you've thrown all the ingredients
08:31and seen it's too late to taste it.
08:35That's coming round lovely, isn't it, Mo?
08:37Gentle.
08:39Okay, and stop.
08:40Thank you very much.
08:42That was rather good, actually.
08:43Was it?
08:44That was.
08:44God, my heart and soul went into that.
08:47That was really rather good.
08:48Okay, stop by there now.
08:54Beautiful.
08:55That's the same distance as when we started.
08:57So, you're really picking up now.
08:59You're getting the understanding of what you're doing, aren't you?
09:02Yeah.
09:03And it's not by luck or judgement, it's by proper planning, isn't it?
09:06Yeah.
09:09My wife's packing bags of screws over there.
09:11If she works hard, she'll make about £2 an hour.
09:14As a dryness stretcher, I don't earn much money.
09:17Last year, it was under £8,000.
09:19The only way I could increase my earnings significantly
09:22would be by going solo and not using the agency.
09:26One option would be going to partnership and I would do that with Pam.
09:35Oh, look who that is.
09:36That's Pam down there.
09:38Yeah.
09:38What do I want you to do, actually?
09:40Hmm?
09:41Shall you draw alongside that red fiesta on the left?
09:43Yeah.
09:44And we're going to use that for parking practice for a moment.
09:46Right.
09:51Hello, Pam.
09:52Have you been stood up?
09:53Yeah, it looks like it.
09:54I'm not getting any reply.
09:56Yeah?
09:56How are you doing?
09:57All right?
09:58Well, not so bad.
09:58Not working for yourself yet?
10:00Not yet.
10:01I'm giving it some serious thought, has to be said.
10:03Hmm.
10:04Give me a ring with your thoughts.
10:05Okay, I'll do that.
10:06All right, yeah?
10:06In the meantime, can we reverse behind your car?
10:09Cost you, but go on.
10:11Oh.
10:12Okay, Joan.
10:13Take it away.
10:15Pam Carr and Paul Farrell once taught at the same driving school.
10:19Pam's gone solo.
10:21She's a sharp business operator with a strong eye for presentation.
10:26Ah, this is quite a nice skirt, but I don't know whether it'll be a bit big,
10:28and I'm not used to plates, but I like to be comfortable in the car when I'm teaching.
10:32Yeah, it probably would be good for work, because I've got manoeuvrability in it, haven't I?
10:36Yeah?
10:37Right, Joan, in a moment, when I give you the signal which is stopped,
10:40I want you to stop promptly under full control, imagining somebody steps out in front of us.
10:45Bear in mind that the road's a bit slippery.
10:49Stop.
10:50Ah!
10:54Have an open fruit pour.
10:56Okay.
10:57Oh dear.
10:59Oh, excuse me.
11:01That's my phone ringing.
11:03This is always happening like this.
11:05Yeah?
11:06Just a moment.
11:06PHONE RINGS
11:10Good afternoon, Streetwise Driving School.
11:12Pamela Carr speaking.
11:14Hello, Danny.
11:15It's driving lessons you're after, I presume.
11:18Um, have you driven before?
11:20No.
11:21And, er...
11:22How old are you, Danny?
11:24Seventeen.
11:25Just had your birthday.
11:28Danny's in love, and like all teenagers, he's itching for independence.
11:34He's rather keen to escape his dad's organ recitals, too.
11:39But right now, the only thing on his mind is his girlfriend.
11:46Bye, Dad!
11:47Trouble is, Jillian lives 200 miles away.
11:50For a non-driving teenager, there's only one way to get close.
12:02I want to learn to drive because I want to be, like, free.
12:07It would take me out of the last phase of being a kid or a teenage child.
12:14It would feel like it would be the next step into adulthood.
12:29PHONE RINGS
12:36Hello?
12:37Hello, is that Jillian?
12:38Yeah, it is.
12:38All right, my lover.
12:39Hello.
12:40How are you?
12:40I'm fine, how are you?
12:42Cold.
12:44Maureen's revising for the new theory test.
12:46She hopes her 400 lessons will help her with tomorrow's exam.
12:53I've probably passed before you, so I'm going to drive up to you
12:56and take you out somewhere nice.
12:59You can drive along Blackpool front.
13:01Oh, yeah.
13:02And look at the lights under the stars.
13:06Yeah, OK.
13:07Does anyone have anything to say to me?
13:09No.
13:10Go on, then.
13:11Well, all right.
13:12How much you love me?
13:14A lot.
13:14Good.
13:15I love you loads.
13:16I like you.
13:17Bye.
13:25As the long-suffering Dave gets back from his late shift at the bus station,
13:30Maureen's still mugging up.
13:32They've already spent the price of a brand-new larder on lessons.
13:36She can't afford to fail.
13:42Oh, you are too.
13:43I don't care, are you?
13:44It's all right.
13:45I had a cold night down here last night.
13:47Oh, you poor thing.
13:49All I want to do is go to sleep.
13:52I don't know.
13:53How do you want to spend his bed in the rest?
13:54Has somebody been in here with you?
13:56Oh, shh.
13:56Yeah, so do you know.
13:56I've had the milk money.
13:57Oh.
14:02Learning to drive is keeping everyone awake.
14:10I met Julian last July when I went on holiday.
14:14And when I passed my test, if I pass my test, one of the first journeys I'll do
14:18is I'll drive back to Preston like a shot and be with her
14:20and we won't have to rely on the coaches anymore.
14:41Oh, it's no bloody good.
14:44Look, David, it's no good.
14:45We can't go on like this.
14:46God, no.
14:47I've got to do it, please.
14:49Oh, all right, I'm tired, but I want to...
14:53Well, what do you think I feel?
14:55It's not really a theory test.
14:57I've got two hours of driving before that.
15:00Oh, all right.
15:01Look, I'm absolutely shabbing.
15:02Oh, please.
15:03You're having a cold on, aren't you?
15:04Look, love, I'm really in tears.
15:06I've got to do it.
15:07All right.
15:09In windy conditions, you need to take extra care
15:12when passing pedal cyclists, using the brakes,
15:16taking the hill...
15:17Making the hill start, turning into a narrow road.
15:20Passage like this.
15:22Oh, I've got that one right in the knee.
15:32You were braking on a wet road.
15:35The vehicle begins to skid.
15:38What is the first thing you should do?
15:40Release the brake fully.
15:42Quickly pull out the handbrake.
15:44Push hard on the brake pedal.
15:46Put your foot on the clutch.
15:50Release the brake.
15:52How can you tell when you were driving over black ice?
15:56Your steering would feel light.
15:59It would be easier to brake.
16:01You are driving at the legal speed limit.
16:03A vehicle comes up quickly behind, flashing its headlamps.
16:07Should you accelerate to maintain a gap behind you,
16:11touch the brakes to show your brake lights,
16:13maintain your speed and prevent the vehicle from overtaking.
16:17Maintain your speed.
16:19Wrong.
16:21Allow the vehicle to overtake.
16:32Streetwise Driving School, Pamela Carr speaking.
16:36Yeah, you've got me on my mobile, yeah?
16:40Yeah, you can wait to bring me back in just a couple of minutes,
16:44you'll be able to get me on the house phone, yeah?
16:47You've got the number.
16:47With 20 pupils, Pam's business, Streetwise, is in rude health.
16:52But she's looking for a partner to share the load.
16:55Paul's a nice guy.
16:56I've known Paul for a number of years.
16:58We worked in a big driving school together.
17:02I'm a little bit ahead of him now, because I'm working on my own.
17:06It would be nice to have Paul work alongside me,
17:09but I think he's frightened of making the step of being on his own.
17:13It is a big step, but he's got a family, whereas I've got no commitments.
17:18But Paul's commitments aren't just to his family.
17:22As a Christian, it's our duty to give back a tenth of our earnings to God.
17:29Sometimes it can be very difficult.
17:30We've got a mortgage.
17:32We've got a wife, a child.
17:33They eat lots and lots.
17:35And it can be very difficult.
17:38But I kind of feel it's something that I must do,
17:40something that I want to do.
17:41I think he's a bit scared of going solo, you know?
17:44But if I could get him to be streetwise just like me,
17:47it would be very nice.
17:48I've got some fairly interesting pupils.
17:51Nervous, batty, unpredictable.
17:57Quite elderly sometimes.
18:00Generally women, it has to be said, in the automatic car.
18:03Maybe they've had five or six instructors previous to me,
18:09and that last instructor said,
18:11I'm sorry, I don't think you're going to make it.
18:15However, why don't you try an automatic?
18:17And they thumbed through the yellow pages, and there I am.
18:21Now, whether the name streetwise will appeal to these people,
18:25I'm not so sure.
18:33For each question, you must find the right answer or answers...
18:36The written test is Maureen's first exam in nearly 40 years.
18:40It's multiple choice, 35 questions in 40 minutes.
18:45Five mistakes, and she fails.
18:48For goodness sake...
18:48Fall at this first hurdle, and there'll be no driving test at all.
18:53All right.
18:53So if there are no questions, you have 40 minutes from now.
18:56Off you go, and the best of luck to you all.
18:59In to first.
19:01In to first.
19:01Danny's drive for freedom begins today.
19:04That's a little bit of pass.
19:04I've got that handbrake on, still.
19:05Yeah, that's all right.
19:07Yeah.
19:08Yeah.
19:08Rather than dab it, just squeeze it like a sponge and just...
19:12Yeah?
19:12A little bit more.
19:13Let's see a nice little hum from the engine.
19:15That's it.
19:16Now, if you bring your clutch up, just till you hear the tone of the engine change.
19:20Feet still.
19:21That's it.
19:22Clutch down a bit.
19:23Clutch down a bit.
19:24Clutch down a bit.
19:24Yeah.
19:25I moved the car.
19:26Oh my life.
19:27You did move the car.
19:37And we won't steer into the van.
19:39We'll leave the van alone a little bit.
19:44And we're actually going to turn right.
19:46Some mirrors and signal up for right.
19:49Right.
19:49Now, don't accelerate.
19:50Just come off the clutch.
19:53Off your clutch.
19:55See?
19:56Left foot on the floor.
19:57Right.
19:58Now, off the gas.
19:59When you're round, when you're straight, then you can accelerate.
20:04Yeah?
20:05My little phrases I've got.
20:07You'll be hearing a lot of those.
20:08Achy ankles.
20:10Left foot on the floor.
20:15It's halfway through the exam and everyone else has gone home.
20:19Maureen, however, is finding it tough going.
20:26Now, put your signal on for right.
20:28That's down.
20:29Up for right.
20:30Whichever way you're going to turn your steering wheel is the way your signal goes.
20:33Right.
20:34Down for left.
20:35Up for right.
20:36Yeah?
20:36Okay?
20:37Logical.
20:38A woman invented it.
20:39Well, I think so.
20:40If it wasn't, it should have been.
20:43Into first gear.
20:45I can't.
20:45I can't see past that truck.
20:48Little bit of gas.
20:52Who's that guy?
20:53He's an examiner.
20:55Sneak forward.
20:56Clutch up a wee bit.
21:01Okay.
21:02Now, checking mirrors.
21:03Nobody's on your tail.
21:05Now, you're round.
21:07Now, you're clear.
21:08We can change our gear.
21:10So, clutch down.
21:11Off the gas.
21:11Okay.
21:12Second.
21:12Clutch back up.
21:14And then back to the gas.
21:15Oh, that was really smooth.
21:16That was good.
21:18As Danny ends his first lesson, Joan begins her third test in the automatic micro.
21:24Paul sits in for spiritual support.
21:27Right.
21:28My name is Pete.
21:29What would you like me to call you?
21:30Joan.
21:31I'm Joan.
21:31Okay, Joan.
21:33The tests will last for about 30 minutes.
21:36All right.
21:37Mm-hmm.
21:37Try it on when you're ready.
21:39Okay.
21:39All right.
21:40All right.
21:56Okay.
22:16The engine's revving away because you're in neutral, Joan, put it into drive.
22:26What's the matter here? Come on, Joan, get a grip. Get a grip, Joan.
22:32Just try and relax and go through your checks and think what you've got to do.
22:39Turn it on.
22:47Just try and relax a little bit, Joan. Just sit back, just relax, just for a few seconds.
22:52Think what you're doing, Joan. Because if he has to tell you what to do here, you've found the driving
22:58test in the car park.
22:59Right, now just think what you've got to do.
23:03Right. Start from the beginning.
23:05Right.
23:22I don't know what I've done then. I expect I just put it around too much.
23:29And we're turning to the right out of the gate.
23:31OK, yeah.
23:33I'm sitting here at the moment waiting for the results of my theory test.
23:38And the suspense is really crippling.
23:41It's now half past ten, and I'm praying in another half hour that I'll have the envelope that says I've
23:47passed.
23:48As Bob Munco says, I know I'm a sinner, but God, please make me a winner.
23:54Now, when you get to the traffic lights, turn to the right, please.
23:57I'm sorry, I didn't mistake you, sir.
23:59At the traffic lights, turn to the right, Joan.
24:01You want me to go straight ahead?
24:03No, we turn to the right at the traffic lights.
24:05Oh, sorry. Right.
24:07This is a new scheme to me. I was recommended bark remedies, so I'm going to take a drop now
24:12to calm me down.
24:14You're supposed to have an eye drop full, but what I'll do is...
24:24There's a red car there. Look in that door mirror. Show them that you can see it.
24:30Let's go a bit faster to get clear of it.
24:33Oops, that was close.
24:37What time is it, Mother?
24:40Time now is just two and quarter past eleven.
24:48Stop raining.
24:49I beg your pardon?
24:51Stop raining.
24:52Yes.
24:53A little bit dull now.
25:12Right, well, shortly I shall ask you to carry out an emergency stop.
25:15Now this will be the signal. Stop.
25:25Stop.
25:31I won't ask you to do that again.
25:32Nice.
25:33Drive on now, Joan, when you're ready, please. Try and relax a little bit if you can.
25:36Right.
25:54To do that again, don't bother with any other команд one.
25:56It's a big and a half.
26:31I feel really gutted.
26:38I'm not going to try anymore.
26:40Sorry.
26:41It's too many people involved and money.
26:45I can't keep going all the time.
26:48And what with holiday next year?
26:49I can't afford it. I've got to have a break.
26:51It's getting me down.
26:53I tried.
26:56Why me?
26:58I'm just a bloody idiot.
27:02Would you stop your engine now and take your seatbelt off if you wish?
27:09Well, that's the end of the test, Joan.
27:11And I'm pleased to tell you you've passed.
27:14Oh, thank you.
27:18Oh, thank you.
27:19I passed.
27:22I could kiss you as well, but I can't.
27:24You'll make my wife jealous.
27:25Oh, no.
27:27She's got food.
27:37Well done, Joan. I'm proud of you.
27:39Thanks, Paul.
27:41PHONE RINGS
27:43Oh, hello, Paul. It's Pam here.
27:46Hello, Pam.
27:46I've just had a phone call and I'm ringing you straight away.
27:49Because I think this might be just up your street.
27:52I've found, or they've found me, should I say, a pair of twins, a boy and a girl.
27:57They fancy a bit of an intensive over the Christmas holidays and so forth.
28:02Yeah?
28:03So if you could just sort of help me out.
28:05And we'll talk a bit more detail later.
28:07Just to remind you, I'm going to have the boy and you can have the girl.
28:13Okay?
28:14Okay.
28:14Take care, then.
28:16Bye.
28:19Streetwise.
28:22Streetwise.
28:24But the big question is, will the name Streetwise appeal to my more mature peoples?
28:38Next week on Driving School, will the love-struck Danny be able to concentrate long enough on
28:44his lessons.
28:46Joan's back on the buses.
28:48She buys a car, but bottles out.
28:51It's time for the twins to meet Pam and Paul.
28:55And Dave continues to steer Maureen away from disaster.
28:59Whoa! Whoa! For Christ's sake!
29:02What's the matter with you?
29:03What did you do that for? I can't be over there!
29:06The car is up your ass!
29:07I can't be loved!
29:08Oh?
29:10Oh.