| Producer: | Guy Templeton (Series 1) Sara Woodford (Series 2) |
| Runtime: | 60 mins |
| Narrated: | Stephen Mangan |
| Country: | United Kingdom |
| Language: | English |
| Num Series: | 2 |
| Num Episodes: | 12 |
| List Episodes: |
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| Company: | Renegade Pictures |
| Channel: | BBC Three |
Barely Legal Drivers is a BBC series which follows teenagers' driving habits and style, unaware to the teenagers the parents are watching each journey and they are being assessed by a former traffic officer. At the end of the week, depending on the style of driving, the teenagers either win a free car or an advanced driving course.[1] The series is narrated by Stephen Mangan.[2]
The teenagers are led to believe that they are filming a slice of modern teenage life, but in reality they are being judged on their driving. Each participant takes three trips; each trip will be watched by their parents, an ex-traffic officer Judith Roberts and driving instructor John Lepine MBE (Series 2 only). After each participant has completed three trips ex-traffic officer Judith Roberts will make a decision based on their driving. If they have shown they are a safe driver, they will be given the cash to buy their own car, but if they have shown they are a dangerous driver they will be given advanced driving lessons.
Following the broadcast of the first series, the police have begun investigating the show because of the shocking driving offences committed by teenage motorists on the programme. More than 300 viewers complained about the behaviour shown and police looked into whether the participants should be prosecuted for their bad driving.[3] Many complained that the teenagers were rewarded with a free car despite the sloppy driving.