Driving Test

After 5 months of practical lessons, its finally the day for me to reap what I sowed. And yes, its my driving test today ! Specially took a day off for this major event in my life. I started developing signs of stress such as diahorrea, stomach cramps and even fever one week ago with the condition escalating just yesterday when i felt weak throughout that i cant even climb out of bed. I wonder if these were just the product of my stress or i am really contracted with gastroenteritis.

I woke up this morning feeling the cramps in my stomach again. Damn. I looked out at the window praying that it will not be a rainy day...well its partly cloudy, as per my wish. I basically did nothing the entire morning even though i thought i may hit the pool for a swim, however gave myself the excuse of not wanting to tire my legs out during the test. I was emotionally feeling normal, or at least i tried to remain calm and normal. 11.30am, i walked out of my habitat and bought lunch at subway. I did not have breakfast. It could be due to the gastroenteritis again that i've lost my appetite.

After lunch, i slacked for a while longer and then took a bath before leaving for the driving centre. I reached at 2.30pm for my warm up session. I was one of the few early ones. The warm up session was okay, no major gross errors, it was rather a smooth one. I hope my test would proceed as smoothly, i prayed. Then the SSDC instructor brought me up to level 3 to wait where i waited for the examiners to claim us.

The wait was a rather long one, it makes my heart beat faster, then came the examiners who briefed everyone about the test. Computer balloting of testroutes and instructors gave me test route 8. Upon knowing i was to do test route 8, my heart sank. "Shit!" i said inside me. Its the shortest but most difficult test route of all - lane changing across 2 major roads with heavy traffic (AMK Ave 6 and Ave 5) with a very sharp u-turn of no stopline ! I knew i was done for it.

I followed the fierce-looking instructor down to the car i warmed up earlier on and then started out with the circuits. I was calmer than I thought i would be. Everything was smooth until i hit the roads. The examiner lambasted me at how slow i drove in this kinda road condition where every car is speeding for their life. Then he asked me to made a uturn infront (which was not the designated ones). Then i recalled what my friends said - dont memorise test routes, the examiners may not follow through the entire course. At this point, i analysed that i either drove too lousily or had one immediate failure that the test process must be cut shot so as not to waste time, or that my driving was okay and there isnt need for further assessment.

Nonetheless, as i tried to remain optimistic and returned to the circuit, just before i was about to turn into the gate, this pedesterian appeared from nowhere wanted to cross the gate but i did not notice her fast enough to slow down and merely just turn in. SHIT !!! I thought to myself, there goes many many points. Its that kinda mistakes you never wish you would have committed, or at least bumped into by chance during your test.

As my car pulled to a halt, i followed the tester into the room at level 3 waiting for my results. I was, again, suprisingly not feeling very panic or anxious, i was just, calm. With the results slip in his hand, he lambasted at me again for how i never hit gear 4 at the major roads outside and how i did not slow down for that lady pedestrian (curse her!!!) and then he handed me this...

I did not feel elated or relief upon receiving this when i saw the demerit points. As you can guess, I merely scraped through the test. I hid the demerit pts part so as to avoid gloating from others. I know its something not worth celebrating. If not for that cursed pedestrain that poped out from nowhere i could have scored MUCH better, she cost me 8 points!!! Damn, at least i passed, but sadly and disapointedly, a borderline one.

After coming out of the examiner office, filled with guilt and self blame, i was made to watch this 7 min long video on road safety and then queued for more than half an hour to register my license card. Because the pass will take a month or so to be made, i temporarily received this that certifies me legal to drive:

After the big woohaa that happened in the driving centre, i walked to AMK Hub where i spent $13 bucks on the probationary plate:

Well, at least i can drive my father's car from now. At least i passed.