DIARY - Saturday 8th September 2007 I watched them walking down the drive-way to the CBT area. Mother and Son. Pride and affection clearly showing in her face as she laughed at some remark her 16 year old made, they were a little late for the 8.30am start, the other two trainees already booked in. Welcoming them to the training school I asked Angela first, for her driving licence. Completing her paperwork I turned to Ben and asked for his licence. "Here it is" his Mum answered for him and handed the licence over from her pocket. I smiled at him, "Brought your own secretary with you?" "I always do everything for him, he would forget everything if I didn't" Angela jumped in before he could answer. Before long it became apparent that Ben merely had to snap his fingers and his Mum was there, even to the extent of fastening his shoe laces properly for him before we went out on to the training pad. To give Ben his due, he listened to my instructions and could soon ride the scooter as though he was born in the saddle, as many young riders can. The same could not be said for his Mum. On her own admission she had only wanted to do the CBT with Ben so that she could relate to the experience but she seemed more concerned in making sure her offspring was managing rather than concentrating on her own riding I had to take her to one side and remind her that she really had to ride for herself and try to forget that Ben was there. In the 6 years I have been teaching CBT I have to admit she was one of the worst I have ever seen. Going along in a straight line was a near impossibility, turning corners under control was definitely not going to be on the agenda in the immediate future. At the end of three hours we were no further forward and Ben was watching with growing concern as his mother pulled wheelies, tried a bit of grass tracking, and squealed, both in voice and tyres as she practiced the emergency stop. "She's not very good is she?" was the understatement of the day from a very worried looking son. "I wouldn't like to think she was going to ride on any road I was on". It was time to tactfully suggest to Angela that she needed to come back for further training as she hadn't yet reached the standard that the DSA require before we take them out on the road. "But I don't need to come back" Angela said "I can legally ride Ben's 50cc moped on my car licence can't I?" A look of sheer horror spread across Ben's face. "No", he whispered "she can't can she? Please tell her she can't ride my bike - it's brand new". It was with a heavy heart I had to agree with her that she could indeed, legally ride. If a full car test was passed before 1 February 2001 then that person is entitled to ride a 50cc moped, without displaying L plates, they can even carry a passenger provided there are rear foot-rests fitted. Poor Ben, torn between loyalty to his Mum and his pristine bike. Poor you, if you meet Angela out on the road.