Friday 2nd May 2014

Driving Test 1959: Time For Tea?

See how everyone passed their test in the 50s, including drifting bus drivers

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The PH Gassing Station is a veritable treasure trove of first class procrastinating material. Cars, technology, videos, err, takeaways; you will never be short of something to further delay the actual task at hand.

Fortunately forum exploration can be passed off as work round these parts, especially where Time For Tea? videos are concerned. So a huge thanks to PHer uk66fastback for posting this little gem.

As the title implies, this video details the various exams required to be given a British driving licence in 1959. Bus drivers have to recover sliding double deckers (that they prove rather adept at), police officers play with model cars and pupils of grammar schools (because they have the space) learn the basics of driving in the playground.

It all looks far less stressful than passing a driving test in the 21st century, and the narration is fabulously prim. Keep a look out for the chief examiner of the Institute of Advanced Motorists showing is how to stop too. With a fag on the go. Splendid.

Watch it here.

 

[sebhaque]

Nice little clip there. I chuckled at the hand signals, they were obviously phased out later than I expected.

Fully expected to see one of those Routemasters fall over though.

[JamesHayward]

I, without a shadow of a doubt, NEED to drift a Routemaster!

[Harji]

Kudos to the bus drivers of the past, today they can barely pull into a bus stop .

[rek]

Whats the blue soft top at around 6 minutes in with the glass of water?

[IROC-Z]

Those arn't Routemasters, they're Leyland Titans/RTs

[Garlick]

How does the 'driver with no hands' hold that apparatus? Curious...

[renaultgeek]

Garlick said:

How does the 'driver with no hands' hold that apparatus? Curious...

hooks/ice cream scoops attached with cable ties.

[NormanP]

rek said:

Whats the blue soft top at around 6 minutes in with the glass of water?

Sunbeam Rapier Series III

[QuantumTokoloshi]

Why does the leaner driver at 30 secs in the video, indicate and signal right, but turn left ?

World certainly was different then, including left and right.

[chrisls]

"And always remember that the other fellow may not be sober, or even sane!"

Brilliant video.

[Jonny TVR]

chrisls said:

"And always remember that the other fellow may not be sober, or even sane!"

I liked that bit too!

Brilliant video.

[iluvmercs]

It made me chuckle how it was the lady who couldn't master the driving test. Didn't have to worry about equality PC back then!

Also, it is interesting to see the advance driving techniques which are still in use today.
The adaptations for disabled drivers was good to see. I guess that would have been keen for the war injured to take up driving, too.

Darren

[mooseracer]

Loved the 50's style driving simulators!

[Roadru77er]

I've got a copy of that Junior Drivers Handbook. My dad was an RAC Registered Instructor.

[The Leaper]

Unfortunately perhaps, I well remember that this short film was regularly shown on BBC TV (no channels 1,2,3 or 4 of course) and in B&W!

R.

[Russellely]

Don't seen to be able to watch it on the iphone, I click the link but it opens up safari on a blank screen

Edit, search for look at life driving test 1959 on YouTube and it's there

Edited by Russellely on Friday 2nd May 18:56

[Hoofty]

Jonny TVR said:

chrisls said:

"And always remember that the other fellow may not be sober, or even sane!"

I liked that bit too!

Brilliant video.

Me too - laughed out loud at that point...

[gforceg]

At 7 minutes 15 seconds, I see what they're getting at.

[Condi]

I like the quote....

'Cars have evolved from barley above walking pace to a comfortable 90'


And that was in 1960s. That's progress eh?

[moribund]

That Rapier is lovely