National Drivers Test
Audience-participation documentary testing driving skills, aired 1965–1967.
The National Drivers Test was a documentary television special that first aired on CBS on May 24, 1965, hosted by Walter Cronkite and Mike Wallace. It employed an audience participation format, with over 65 million test forms distributed nationwide by various organizations and published in many newspapers; approximately 30 million people took part. The program was produced in cooperation with the National Safety Council and sponsored by Shell Oil Company.
It featured five segments of common accident scenarios filmed near Tampa, Florida, performed by stunt drivers including Joie Chitwood. Test takers answered true/false or multiple-choice questions, while 2,000 participants in four CBS studios underwent real-time electronic scoring. The special won a Peabody Award and was the most-viewed program in the Nielsen Ratings for the May 24–June 6, 1965 period, with a 28.2 rating and 53 percent share.
Quick Facts
- Producer
- Warren Bush
- Runtime
- 60 minutes
- Network
- CBS
- First aired
- 24 May 1965
Facts from the source article.
Background
CBS President Fred W. Friendly decided to develop the special after he was compelled to take a drivers' education course due to having many traffic violations, and failed the test, as did executive director Warren Bush. The program first aired on May 24, 1965 from 10pm to 11pm Eastern Time. It was the most viewed television program in the Nielsen Ratings for the two week May 24–June 6, 1965 period, with a 28.2 rating and 53 percent share. While the show was very popular, it was not without detractors.
Some viewers with small televisions complained that they could not clearly see road hazards in the driving scenarios, and quibbled with the wording of some questions. The average score in the four studio audiences was 51 out of 80—Associated Press reporter Cynthia Lowry blamed this poor showing on the presentation instead of drivers' abilities. Due to popular demand, including a reported desire of many test takers to improve their bad scores, the special was re-aired just before Labor Day 1965.
Additional national tests were aired in 1966 (now in color, which CBS News had moved to) and 1967. By the time of the third test, the New York Times noted that the material was getting a bit repetitious, even though the series was an important service. The success of the program generated other CBS 'test' programs, including 'The National Citizenship Test' (November 1965) and 'The National Health Test' (January 1966).
More in 1960s American Documentary Television Series
Spotted an error? Know more?
Reader corrections go straight into our review queue. Suggest an edit · How this site is sourced