Driving Test (1980) COI UK Public Information Film 

Back then people talked differently, dressed differently, drove differently...and even walked differently!

Passed my test in 1980. Funny, the test has got a lot harder since then yet people seem to be much worse drivers.

The instructor is played by Jeremy Young who sadly passed away last year as i write this in 2022. First husband of the actress Kate O Mara.

5:42 What was that? An emergency stop? Mum taught me the emergency stop - clutch and brake - before I took lessons. Used it about a year after I got my license. It saved a dog's life whose owner wasn't holding onto the lead.

Another great COI PIF @Ephemeralfilm, look forward to more of your great PIF film finds.

Took a motorcycle test in 1999: Failed (Clocked up a couple of "S"s) Took a car test in 2003: Passed first time with a few minor faults. Today, 2018: No motorcycle. No car (Too costly). Get around everywhere by pedal cycle, though what I learned in car driving comes in very useful for cycling too... Still think I should've taken my theory and then left it at that, though...

This instructor had a secretary and office! Instructors these days barely earn enough to live on.

One caveat to this. I failed twice because I was "too confident but no errors at all". Annoyed my instructor so much. Over confidence in a 17 year old could be a dangerous boy-racer in the making. 3rd time I was told to drive like an old lady and passed.

I used to work for BSM (British School of Motoring) as a receptionist in 1979/80 and all our cars were manual Ford Escorts or Minis. We had one automatic car which I think was a Mini. If you passed your test in the automatic you couldn't drive a manual but if you passed your test in a manual you could drive them all

Driving school cars looked the part in those Days, no fancy graphics or silly text message style names

AYN 228T is registered as being silver, not this red colour. First registered March 1979 and been tax due since 1st May 1990. Also great to see all those seatbelts being used even though it wasn't mandatory until January 1983.

It's George from "DROP THE DEAD DONKEY" !

This is an excellent video!

where is this a clap clinic? Actually very good film that should be shown to learners today, the lads cocky attitude is so common😁👍

I passed my test in 1989 in a metro with BSM. I later became a PCV driver. I went for a driving test examiner job.....and failed the practical test......!!!!😯

Here's a fact. Turning left at Red lights is illegal in the UK as it would increase the risk of collisions between road traffic and pedestrians, and is not being considered.

5:40 Ford Escort. I passed in my mother's Ford Escort in 1985. ...She doesn't have it anymore!

18:03 - Clip is turning right from A600 London Road into Kathie Road

Always wonder how it is like to have a test in 80s

The instructor was in the Sweeney. And the learner was in drop the dead donkey.

Geoff Rawle (Amos Diggory from Harry Potter) as the learner.

And the brown Avenger stayed on the road til Feb 1992!

Why does he need an office and a secretary?

I took my test in a Hillman Avenger. Failed the first time because I screwed up the reverse round a corner. Are you sure that was 1980? Geoff Rawle was already an established actor by then, having starred in his own sitcom on ITV (Billy Liar). It seems a bit earlier than 1980 to me. More 1970s-ish.

I think it was hard every year even today it's hard but if you know how to drive properly you can pass first time but there are people who fail so many times and still get to drive later. The worse thing in today's day is getting your first car and then getting insured as insurance is so expensive it's 4 times the price of tour first car and still you might pay 2k to 4k for first and you get a stupid black box which cases new drivers drive slow which normal people are angry about as they get slow drivers in front, also it causes more accidents as the driver don't get the freedom to drive openenly on road rather then drive slow like granpha and be a safe driver, how is black box helping people be safe it's actually makomgnit worse. And cars have become so much like toys that people get into accidents more with these annoying parking aids and all the tech in cars they have I rather have a simple car with simple things and buttons not toch screens and tv screens on dash.

Mill hill test centre

I passed 1981.

Look at hose dodgy polluting motors-blue smoke oil burning death traps!!!

Blimey the 80s. It takes me back in time. Look how dated the cars are. How noisy the engines were back then. Now modern cars you can hardly hear the engines all hear is the tires rubbing on the road.

No female instructors or examiners. Thankfully thats changed.

I had 1 lesson and passed first time.

I took my driving test in 1981 in a escort mark 1