Last Chance Driving School
Wednesday 19 December 2007 9:00pm - 10:30pm on ITV1.
Ten of Britain’s worst drivers, who have either failed to pass their tests or who have been banned from driving, attempt to succeed behind the wheel when they spend one week in the residential Last Chance Driving School under the uncompromising regime of three of the country’s top driving instructors.
Between them the 10 terrible drivers have failed 55 tests, spent £50,000 on lessons, had one license revoked, and one road accident.
Now they find themselves gifted with a golden opportunity to put their appalling track records behind them by taking part in an intensive driving course at a specialist driving school led by some of the country’s leading instructors before sitting the test for hopefully one last time.
All the emotional drama is caught on camera as the students face their biggest driving fears – from reverse parking and observation, to driving at more than 60 mph.
And with them for every punishing turn of the wheel on the road to gaining a much-coveted license are the instructors. Tasked with whipping the students into shape are Tim Eden, an ex traffic cop, senior educator Neil Beeson, and Laurie Jane Taylor, a former drugs counselor who specializes in using psychology on her students.
Innovative and hi-tech tools are also used to meet the challenge of transforming the students from highway hazards to roadworthy. Resident psychologist Dr Lisa Dawn runs detailed personality tests on each of them to help them understand more about how they drive and they undergo computerized brain training to teach their eyes to spot potential danger.
Tim Eden says: “The reason I’m a driving instructor is to make people safer on the roads. Over 3,500 people a year are killed on roads because of bad driving decisions.”
Laurie-Jane Taylor has been an instructor for only two years but already has an incredible 75 per cent pass rate.
She says: “It’s not just about how to put your foot on the gas peddle and go, and then be able to put your foot on the break and clutch and stop. There’s so much more to driving and if we want to make this place safe, you’ve got to get in the heads of these people.”
As the learners begin to crack under pressure and make mistakes, Neil is quick to make them realise that fretting about a minor error may only lead to something much more serious.
“If while you’re worrying about a little mistake you make a bigger mistake - now that could be the end of the world,” says Neil.
Last Chance Driving School reaches a tense and emotional climax as, after a week of intensive tutoring, the instructors decide who is ready to sit their test. None of the students know who faces the examiner first, and some feel they are far from ready, but can they overcome their fears once and for all and take control at the wheel?
Asim
I SAW AK IN BRADFORD HW WAS CAUGHT BY POLICE THEY SAID HE HAD STOLE A ANOTHER I SAW HIM HE IS A NUMBER ONE GANDU THAT IS GOOD HE DID NOT PASS HIS TEST HE DOES NOT DESERVE IT LOL.Lisa Brown
This comment is for jessy "Can you drive??" if so i bet you paid alot more than my fantastic son Steve did, have you got pass plus??? My fantastic son Steve has, have you been on tv & on the front page of your local paper for doing so well at something? Dont bother answering that question you jealous old trout, get a life & let my fantastic son Steve carry on living his too the full.Are you perfect??? Mmmmmmm i realy doubt that, you sound awful.Get a life in 2008, sounds like you need it.
The next comment is for Maria, well done for passing your test, i love success stories,Thankyou for your kind words about Steve, trust me he,s the best son any one could ask for, so he,s made mistake,s and??? Last Chance knew everything about Steve from day one & he beat thousands of other people so he cant be all that bad can he???!!!!!! We were warned about the Jessy,s in this world, jealousy is an awful thing. Maria, i hope you are enjoying the freedom that driving has given you,& you enjoy every day you are in your car, ime proud of you kid & we have never met!!!
emma lou
Who was that Peter Boy? Looked nice.
Whats his surname, wonder if he has face book
xx
tara
hi all i was on the show 2 steve was ok dont know why u made a coment about him mum thats just rude im sure she is proud of him of him now havnt we all done stuped stuff whe we were young . and ak what a nice bloke i spent 10 days with him and i would call him a friend and he has all ready passed he passed the same day as me i speak as i find tara xx ps steve has she had the baby yet
jessy
how can u be proud of that boy racer i wonder what his mum looks like bet she has no teeth lol and has cars outside there house on bricks
inran
regarding ak he seemed a really nice bloke u cant say things like that u prob made it up
Anonymous
well u should feel ashamed having a son like that i just hope he will not be on our roads for long how many babys has he got now ? bet the state is paying for it.
Hussain Allawati
Ikhlaq Hussain or AK as they strangely called him in the program was actually in my A level classes back in college some years back.
I found it bizarre why they had him in the show as his track record proves him to be an individual that should never be on the road.
He has been a drug dealer since 17 and did a 3 year stretch for it, additionally he boasted of all the Nissan Micras he stole in the Aston area of Birmingham due to possessing a master key. He is habitual joyrider with no regard for the life of others.
He has slept with an unbelieveable number of junkie women in exchange for drugs and is a disgrace to his family as well as the wider Muslim community, good he didn't pass lol!
Dan Giddings
Steve is my cousin and i am so very proud of him for doing the show AND passing his test.
Love you Steve
Dan
philip
i love steve brown
peter
Thankyou for making this documentary about learning to drive. I passed my test two years ago. At the moment I work in a hotel, but my ambition is to become a driving instructor. I enjoy driving. When I am driving I always remember what my instructor kept telling me. Once again thankyou very much.
Maria McCarthy
I'll be fascinated to watch this! I really struggled to pass my own driving test but was determined not to give up - as Lisa Brown above says, it's a skill that really does change your life! So glad your son passed, Lisa!
Once I passed I decided to write a book to help others - The Girls' Guide to Losing Your L plates - how to pass your driving test published by Simon and Schuster (aimed it at girls because they're the ones who read self-help books...boys tend to just feel they've got to tough things out...) - extracts on my website.
Really looking forward to the programme!
all best
Maria
www.mariamccarthy.co.uk
Lisa Brown
My son Steve is in this program!! He passed both his driving test & his Pass Plus with Last Chance & its changed his life, as a family we are all realy grateful too every one who got steve through his tests & all the people involved are lovely,down to earth & kind people.They deserve a bloody medal for what they have done for these kids!!!!!!!!xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
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