A new three part series in which familiar faces present a sideways look at the issues most bothering Britain’s car owners gets off the grid with John Sergeant revealing his biggest motoring gripe – 4×4s.

In the first episode of Driving Me Crazy Sergeant takes a look at the 4×4 – the most talked about vehicle on the road today.

”Calling them Chelsea tractors is far too polite,” says Sergeant. “They’re urban monsters and they’re driving me crazy!”

In a poll for the programme 67% of those asked said they felt 4×4s were unsuitable for urban areas. More than half of those quizzed thought they should be banned.

However, Sergeant has no interest in preaching to the converted. In the programme he attempts to change the opinions of three committed 4×4 drivers.

He argues that driving a 4×4 requires very different skills to those needed for driving the kind of car most people learn to drive in. To test the theory he asks three drivers to attempt two of the manoeuvres required to pass a standard driving test in their 4×4s.

Mark Lewis, 48, completes the turn in the road with ease but mounts the kerb when reversing round a corner. He says of his 4×4: “I don’t want a smaller normal car. I’m just not a small normal person.”

Jennifer Stout, a 41-year-old mum-of-two who has chosen a 4×4 for the safety and space aspect, also mounts the kerb on the same manoeuvre.

Phil Leach is a car customiser and says of his black Humvee: “Generally, driving it around is really what it’s all about. It’s more the posing factor.” Phil fails both aspects of the test.

Addressing mum Jennifer’s idea that a 4×4 is safer for her children, Sergeant asks Mark to sit blindfolded in his 4×4 in the middle of a playground. At regular intervals he asks him to take off his blindfold and describe what he can see in his mirrors. “An empty playground,” responds Mark, blissfully unaware that Sergeant is in fact lining children up at the rear of his vehicle. Not until the ninth child is placed behind Mark’s car can he finally see something.

Mark reflects: “I suppose there’s an irony that parents who take their children to school in a four wheel drive vehicle with the intention of preserving and maintaining the safety of themselves and their children are, as a consequence, endangering the safety of other children.”

Another of Sergeants’ arguments against 4×4s is that driving a 4×4 in a city is “a bit of a waste” and to show Jennifer how the extensive features of her 4×4 are meant to be used, he arranges for her to go off-roading. After a quick drive round some pretty hectic terrain Jennifer falls out of the car and declares: “I want a mini!”

In addition Sergeant asks the drivers to try out driving a ‘normal’ car. Phil protests: “I don’t feel aggressive enough. You’ve got to drive properly. In my car you’re just like, ‘you’re in my way, I’ll drive over you!’”

Also addressed in the programme are the dangers posed to pedestrians and other drivers by the 4×4. Dr Peter Wells, a motor industry analyst, says: “If you are in an ordinary passenger car and you are in an impact with a large 4×4 you are up to nine times more likely to die.”

In an attempt to see both sides of the argument Sergeant challenges a car salesman to sell him a 4×4. “When it comes down to it how much is it about sex really?” asks Sergeant.

“Sex plays a very important part,” admits the salesman.

After a test drive Sergeant is unimpressed. But what about the owners he’s been trying to convert?

“It’s made me feel more sensitive about what I’m doing,” says Mark. “It may even move me to take some action and change my vehicle.”

Jennifer appears the most moved by the experience. “This was meant to be an extension of who I am as a person,” she explains. “Now I’m driving a potential monster and it’s distorted my whole vision of who I am as a person and I don’t want to be a part of that.”

Phil is the only driver still remaining true to his 4×4, saying: “I don’t think it’s going to have a major impact to be perfectly honest.”

“At the end it comes down to choice,” Sergeant concludes. “I’m not biased, I just think they’re horrible!”

Monday 14 May 2007 9:00pm – 10:00pm on ITV1.