I had my final driving lesson this morning. As I sat on the driver’s seat my instructor asked me why I look like a walking zombie. I told him it’s because I haven’t had much sleep recently and I had been working on something until around 2am in the morning. Before my driving lesson, I really wanted to avoid getting scolded (just like the few days before my off-road test). So I consciously mentally prepared myself for this final lesson.
I had to remind myself that as long as I was not absent-minded on the road, everything would go fine…thankfully, I wasn’t scolded at all today. I did all the routes except for St. Louis and Le Niol. I don’t really know why but it’s fine because the area up Le Niol where they haven’t painted the middle line on the road confuses me a bit. I mean, is there or is there not suppose to be a line there?
I’ve taken several mental notes. Remember: the car being used tomorrow for the test is my instructor’s Daihatsu Cuore.
- The test will begin and end at the police station car park.
- A policeman will be in the car while I drive.
- I should remember to tell the policeman that he should have his seat belt fastened before I start.
- Before driving off, I have to remember to check the mirrors and look behind for approaching cars.
- While entering the lane towards the car park, I should be on first gear because I ought to be driving at a very slow speed.
- I should move to third gear at long straight roads, and fourth gear if I’m on the highway.
- I should maintain a speed of 40Kmph, I can go slower in town.
- I have to slow down before a zebra crossing, and stop if there are people waiting to cross the road.
- I should honk the horn to alert anyone who might be in my way on the roads.
- To be on the safe side, I will keep to second gear while tackling Bel Air, St. Louis and Le Niol roads.
- Downhill, I can shift to second gear and just let the car roll down but press brakes whenever necessary.
- If I’m asked to park somewhere, I should not park at an entrance. I should park either before or after the entrance.
- If I’m asked to do the Chilli Bar reverse exercise, it is unnecessary for me to use the handbrake before reversing. It is also unnecessary for me to shift the gear to reverse. I only need to watch for cars behind, and then let the car roll down. Handbrake should then be up before accelerating out of the lane.
- At every ‘stop’ sign on the road before a junction I should literally stop and shift to first gear whether or not there is a car (according to my instructor). I should then look on the right and make sure the police is aware that I am looking on the right for the possibility of approaching vehicles.
- Before entering an uphill lane (e.g. small roads near Belonie from Revolution Avenue), I should shift to first gear.
- Indicator should be switched on early enough, unless there is another lane in that direction which can be quite misleading to the driver behind me.
- I should drive slowly and carefully at curves.
That’s all I can think of for now. My test begins at around 9am or so. This means I should not be faced with traffic of any kind. I can tell you now that the only road I am dreading is the La Louise one, because I have only done this exercise once and I can’t even remember the point where I’m supposed to stop let alone start reversing. But that said, given a real-life situation where I have to do this exercise or anything similar I will have to face it and if I do get my license eventually, these are obstacles I will have to know how to do.
