Motoring School (1956)

Whitley West Midlands.



L/S of a man, reading a newspaper as he tries to cross the street on a zebra crossing. He poses in the middle of the road, still reading the paper. A car comes, and, being unable to stop, turns and drives off the road. M/S of the man still standing on the zebra crossing. He finally crosses the street and the driver goes back on the road to continue his journey. This is one of the made-up traps for the 'drivers to be' in the unique driving school in Whitley near Coventry. Students learn on a huge polygon which is constructed of made up traffic situations: zebra crossings, traffic lights, roundabouts, parking, crossroads, etc.



Frontal M/S of the car stopping on the zebra crossing with the bus in the background. A man in a suit approaches the car to give directions to the girl in drivers seat. The idea is that students are left in the car alone, once they learned the basics, to gain confidence. Ready to continue her journey, woman stretches her right hand through the window - signalling!



Succession of shots of people driving under the supervision of the instructors in white coats who observe their students usually standing on the side of the road. Explanations of the traffic signs are hung immediately under the signs so the students are reminded of them while driving. On the traffic light one can read STOP on the red light and GO when the green is lit.



The unique driving school is the idea of a Coventry businessman Leslie Sutton who "hit on the idea when training despatch riders in the Army."



Note: Mute neg for CP 092 issue is missing.
FILM ID:55.05

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