DVLA – Chitty Chitty Bang Bang
SIGN IN TO EDIT
A 2002 Public Information Film from the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA) to prompt drivers to pay their road tax within the deadline. This is explained to the tune of Chitty Chitty Bang Bang (albeit with the lyrics changed).
DVLA_-_Chitty_Chitty_Bang_Bang_(2002,_UK)
DVLA – Chitty Chitty Bang Bang (2002, UK)
Description: On a country lane, Caractacus Potts, along with his children Jeremy and Jemima and schoolteacher Truly Scrumptious sing to the famous Chitty Chitty Bang Bang tune about how they didn’t get a road tax. Explained through flashback, as the car drove round a bend, it was caught unaware by a DVLA (old-fashioned) camera. With the DVLA on their tail, Caractacus starts Chitty up to fly away, only to discover that the wheel has been clamped, leaving him, Truly, Jeremy and Jemima stuck in the car mid-air as down below, the DVLA men and other characters including the Child Catcher dance to the last lyrics of the song. In Chitty Chitty Bang Bang (the film)’s same onscreen font, text appears on the screen that says “Get Your Road Tax” followed by “No Exceptions, No Excuses, No Escape”. The DVLA logo appears with the latter phrase as the advert ends.
Trivia: There was also a radio commercial version of the advert.
FX/SFX: Live-action.
Music/Sounds: The Chitty Chitty Bang Bang theme song is played throughout with the new lyrics. In the flashback, we hear Chitty’s engine as the car drives along and a camera flash when the DVLA photograph Chitty. There’s a whirring of the car’s flying contraptions and a chain pull when Caractacus makes his failed attempt to escape. The lyrics are:
Oh, no! Chitty Chitty Bang Bang
Chitty Chitty Bang Bang, we’ve been bad
For we should’ve got a road tax
But we were a bit maxed; now we’re sad
We were driving ’round a bend
And didn’t see the camera there
Flash bang, Chitty Chitty Bang Bang
It’s been a real nightmare!
We tried our best to fly away
Because we’ve got these fines to pay
But we didn’t get very far
The camera caught Chitty on tape
They foiled our plan of winged escape
By clamping the wheel of the car!
Oh Chitty, no Chitty! Nowhere you can go, Chitty
Isn’t it a tragic end?
Clamping Chitty Chitty Bang Bang
Our road tax dodging friend!
Chitty Bang Bang, Chitty Chitty Bang Bang
Road tax dodging Chitty Chitty friend!
Availability: It can be found on YouTube and Dailymotion.
Scare Factor: Low. However, the sudden cameo by The Child Catcher at the end might raise the scare factor to Medium for people who find the character scary after he got a new top hat after he left Volgeria