Last Tuesday night almost one-fifth of the country's population sat down in front of their television sets to watch a group of learner drivers reverse up kerbs, fail to stop and generally, frighten the life out of their instructors.

"The Driving School" is the latest in a series of 'observational soaps' on BBCl. It's proving very popular, thanks mainly to the efforts of a fifty-five year old woman called Maureen Rees. She's a cleaner from Cardiff and has also become something of a cult figure. I can vouch for this having recently spent a week in France with some of the students from Oaklands Year 8. They saw evidence of Maureen in every French driver and screamed out her name in appreciation.

Maureen's driving lessons, aided by her long suffering husband, Dave, have to be seen to be believed. The ten million viewers of "Driving School" have watched Maureen swerve into the path of a vehicle in the fast lane, argue incessantly with her husband and even run into him with their car, a Lada called Betsy. Why should all this be such popular viewing? Is it that we love the underdog or that we find watching other people funny or do we just love to be able to criticise others from the comfort of an armchair? Whatever the reason, the efforts of Maureen Rees have proved very popular.

Her determination at the wheel is also a lesson for us if we are struggling in our relationships either with God or each other. Very often we drive our lives either like motorway maniacs or kangarooring learners; being quick to criticise the faults in others but remaining oblivious of our own. We are afraid to ask for advice yet know that when it is given we often dismiss it. We give up on God as readily as we give up on the speed-limit. When these things are happening we have forgotten that life is always a learning experience. It requires patience, resilience and humour. Life may even be regarded as a test which if successfully passed ensures us a reward in heaven. Perhaps then we should learn to slow down and keep driving on through life's occasional storms into the promise of the sun/son.

One final word about Maureen....on 1st July she passed her driving test at the 8th attempt. Her test day will be screened in a fortnight. Drivers in the United States should take note: Mrs Rees plans to celebrate with a fly-drive holiday to Florida! DG