6+6

My driving class culminated last week and I’m greatly relieved that it’s off my bucket list. Finally, I was able to put into practice the basics, tips and tricks of driving that I’ve learned from the handbook and from the in-class. I’m praying that I can practice everyday before winter.

Here’s a brief  outline of my driving blunders:
1st Hour

• Mood:  nervous breakdown!
• When I was required to slow down, I stepped on the gas pedal instead of the break.
•  Turtle like speed.

2nd Hour

• Mood: antsy
• Incorrect steering! Should do hand over hand.
• The steering wheel was “out of control” whenever I do the right and left turn so I always end up in the wrong lane. Hazardous!
•  The driving instructor was going nuts because of my repeated lapses.

3rd Hour

• Mood: slightly jittery
•  Going to the rightmost lane when doing a left turn as if I will do a right turn. Ha!
•  Doing a left turn too late or too quick.
•  Flipping the left and right turn signal like Christmas lights.
•  Turtle like speed.
•  Driving for 30 minutes without a seat belt! Darn!
•  Breaking while turning on a curve. Bad habit!

4th Hour

• No longer tense.
• Mood: bothered
• Not doing the shoulder check during a right turn and changing lanes
•  Slowing down on a stop sign.
• Doing a full stop on a yield sign.(It should be the other way around.)
•  Speeding in a residential area.
• Turtle like speed in a main street. (It should be the other way around.)

5th Hour

• No longer tense.
• Mood: enthusiastic
• Breaking while turning on a curve
•  Forgot to put on a seat belt again
• Finally hearing a  “Good Job!” remark  from the driving instructor whenever:

**** I’ve managed to do a correct left and right turn
**** Stopping and slowing down on the correct signs

6th Hour

• No longer tense.
• Mood: tickled pink
• I remembered to put on my seatbelt. 😀
• Doing the correct left and right turn more often
• Still overwhelmed when driving in a busy street. It scares the hell out of me whenever I see cars all around me. LOL
• Can now speed up to 50-60 km. A great jump from 20 ey? 😀

What’s next after the 6 hours in class and 6 hours actual driving course?  Practice to the maximum level! I need to take a road test in a few months time to “upgrade” my driver’s license.

Below are the things for me to improve before the road test:

• Be alert on spotting traffic signs
• Follow religiously the rules of road
• Consistent correct steering
• Proper left and right turn
• Practice mirror and shoulder check
• Driving in downtown
• Driving in the freeway
• Maneuvering in circle drive
• Rough road driving
• Reversing
• All types of parking techniques
• Most importantly, grace under pressure must prevail. 😉

Whew! I have a long way to go! I wish I can have SUV as my first car. However, it will still be a dream… for now.. Ha! Aja!