Random Topic Generator: The First Time I Drove On My Own

Only once you’ve passed your test do you start learning to drive. This seems not to make sense considering you learn how to drive a car on the road during many lessons and then prove yourself on the test. If you pass, then you’ve proven you can drive. If you fail, then you need to retake the test. So why do people say you only start learning to drive once you’ve proven you can drive?

I remember the first time I ever drove a car. I was sitting in the driver’s seat, feeling completely lost. I didn’t know what anything does except that one of the pedals made the car go and one of the pedals made the car stop. The third pedal did something, apparently to do with changing gears. My driving instructor explained everything I need to do precisely and clearly. My nerves were making sure each and every word he said were absorbed into my brain and stayed there. But when it came to turning the car on and putting it in gear and releasing the clutch and pressing gently down on the accelerator, I completely forgot everything and I was back to not knowing anything and starting driving at a steady 15MPH, which, at the time, felt as if I was going light speed.

My driving instructor predicted that I would misjudge the power of the brakes and when I go to apply them, we would shoot forward. I did exactly that. I was so certain my head was going to hit the steering wheel. Nevertheless, we came to a stop, ready to begin again.

Skip a year and a half and I’m taking my test. I’d learnt so much, made plenty of mistakes, but most importantly, learnt from those mistakes to become a better driver. Unfortunately, I failed my first attempt due to misjudging someone at a roundabout. Their left indicator was on before the entered the roundabout and so I jumped to the conclusion that they were going left, but instead their intentions were straight ahead. I pulled out in front of them, the driving examiner knew immediately what was going to happen and so slammed on the brakes, instantly failing my test. Despite that, I was giving some good advice at the end.

I passed on my second attempt. The roundabout I failed on last time was void of all cars. All I needed to worry about was making sure I entered and left properly. I took my two tests in Clacton. There were countless people walking wherever they want, cars trying to get in the lanes they want, and cars fighting other cars for the same space on the road. I was told not to expect anything less and that is exactly what my instructor taught me to expect. When you’re driving, you spend more time worrying about what everyone else is doing rather than yourself, and if you can do that and do it properly, you would have passed your test.

Essentially predicting every single possible outcome leads me to the main topic of this article. When you’re on your driving lessons, you’ve got someone sitting beside you, and they have a brake and a clutch to use when necessary. If the learner makes a mistake, instead of crashing, the instructor stops the car there and then. When on your test, although you have to drive as if they’re not there, they are there and they do have a brake to use when necessary. Subconsciously, if you make a mistake, you know you’re not going to crash. When you’re driving on your own with no one beside you, you’re the sole responsible person in that car – you have the only brake in the car, which means if you make a mistake and if you don’t correct it quick enough, unfortunately, you’re going to crash.

I passed my test on 12/12/12 (a date that I’ll never forget). After I had passed my test, sooner or later, it was time for me to drive on my own, without an instructor or examiner beside me. I was petrified. I knew how to operate my car, and I knew how the road works. I knew what to do, but I was terrified to do it. I didn’t crash. I went from A to B with no problems. That was a small accomplishment, and a massive relief knowing that I am indeed capable of driving a car. The more times I drove, the more confident I became, and the more relaxed, and I became a better driver as a whole.

However, and I’m pretty sure that no matter who you talk to who has driven for a few years, they would say they do not drive as to how they were taught. We all still obey the laws of the road, however, if you compare your driving style to that of the one you were using when learning, it’s vastly different. Why? Because you had to learn how to drive. When you’re on your lessons, you’re basically only learning how to operate a car and what to expect on the road, and a test is to prove that you’ve retained all that knowledge.

The moment you start driving without anybody who’s able to hit a brake, you’re driving style starts changing. When you’re a learner, people will give you the respect you need. When you’re driving on your own, it’s a free-for-all battle. When you have passed your test, you can buy yourself a set of green Ps to place on the front and the back of your car. These are to tell other drivers that you’ve recently passed and therefore you won’t be as experienced as other drivers. Doesn’t work like that, I’m afraid. If you make a mistake, people will have a go at you despite the evidence. For me personally, I didn’t put the Ps on my car because then other drivers would treat you the same as they do everyone else, allowing you to intermingle better, and subsequently my confidence grew much faster and I was able to become a better driver from that. In other words, I was chucked into the deep end, but when it comes to driving, that’s really the only way you’re going to learn.

There are many drivers who would admit that if they were to retake their test and drive as they do now, they would instantly fail.

Thanks for reading

Antony Hudson

(TonyHadNouns)