Nov 19, 2025 · 55 min · 22 segments
This is a classic episode of Things People Do with Aman, who is a driving instructor. Joe tells us about his very questionable driving lessons, the stress of driving tests and who are the worst type…
Joe MarlerHostAmanGuest
Tom FordyceHostI've got a dual clutch and a dual brake.
Well, I don't need to make the car go any faster.
Well, if anything happens, it's only when I need to take control to slow down or stop the car, whether it's the student making a mistake or whether it's something outside, like a police car's turned up and I just need to take control.
Why don't you have your own steering wheel if you're that bothered about taking control?
The thing is, when the students are driving in the first lesson, I might have to kind of interact, like grab the wheel here and there, help them out.
But as the lessons progress, I don't really want to be grabbing hold of the steering wheel at all.
It's only if there's an issue that I'm having to help out.
So I don't really need the steering wheel on my side at all.
Could you have a little subtle, maybe rather than a steering wheel, because I think, Joe, if you're learning to drive and you glance across and your driving instructor has their hands on a wheel, you might think they have very little faith in you.
But maybe, Ammon, you could just have a little joystick just by your right leg, and if they start to veer, you could just...
No, I hate what you're saying there.
But yeah, I'd only really have to take control if anything is going on where it could be a bit dangerous if I let them continue with whatever it is they're doing.
But right at the beginning of the lesson, I would tell them like, listen, I do have a break.
I do have a clutch.
If anything happens, I'm going to help you out.
And if I have had to use the dual controls, you will know.
So I never use them and go, yeah, yeah, you're doing really well there.
So they know whenever I've had to take control.
And same goes for the steering.
I'll let them know if I need to take control, I'm going to grab it from here or here.
I've got a dual clutch and a dual brake.
Well, I don't need to make the car go any faster.
Well, if anything happens, it's only when I need to take control to slow down or stop the car, whether it's the student making a mistake or whether it's something outside, like a police car's turned up and I just need to take control.
Why don't you have your own steering wheel if you're that bothered about taking control?
The thing is, when the students are driving in the first lesson, I might have to kind of interact, like grab the wheel here and there, help them out.
But as the lessons progress, I don't really want to be grabbing hold of the steering wheel at all.
It's only if there's an issue that I'm having to help out.
So I don't really need the steering wheel on my side at all.
Could you have a little subtle, maybe rather than a steering wheel, because I think, Joe, if you're learning to drive and you glance across and your driving instructor has their hands on a wheel, you might think they have very little faith in you.
But maybe, Ammon, you could just have a little joystick just by your right leg, and if they start to veer, you could just...
No, I hate what you're saying there.
But yeah, I'd only really have to take control if anything is going on where it could be a bit dangerous if I let them continue with whatever it is they're doing.
But right at the beginning of the lesson, I would tell them like, listen, I do have a break.
I do have a clutch.
If anything happens, I'm going to help you out.
And if I have had to use the dual controls, you will know.
So I never use them and go, yeah, yeah, you're doing really well there.
So they know whenever I've had to take control.
And same goes for the steering.
I'll let them know if I need to take control, I'm going to grab it from here or here.
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