On the first day of this new year, I finally overcame my procrastination and went for my first driving practical lesson. It was quite an interesting first lesson and taught me many new advances that put the theory handbooks used for theory tests fairly outdated. Modern manual vehicles no longer require the accelerator to be slightly depressed. Another amusing thing is that the vehicle that I’m learning in doesn’t stall easily. Even at 1000 rpm (with a 1-3 km/h coast) without the accelerator, brake, and the clutch being depressed, the engine doesn’t stall.
Generally the hardest part in getting a driving license is not the driving, but the practical test.
So basically, in a practical driving lesson, the instructor teaches you the skills that you need to pass the practical exam, not just to be able to drive safely. Those skills to pass the exam generally consists of elaborate and sequential steps in doing basic things, such as adjusting seat positions and mirrors, starting or restarting the stalled engine; exaggerated head movements to check blind spots, and gluing your hands to the steering wheel. More importantly, you are not to demonstrate aggressiveness while driving, and to exhibit your highest standard of courtesy to other more nifty (read: nasty) road users.
In all, it’s quite a fun and great experience.
