So, it's been a while since my last blog, what can I say? I've only just made it down from that cloud bleedin nine up there, or should I say the Cloud Nine Ringroad, what with only going and passing my driving test! *beams incoherently*
Yes, I know, I've been harking on a while, all gears, clutch control, freedom of the open road n that, but with many hours of practice, one failed test (I like to think of it as a practice for the real thing) and thankfully, one successful one, I've only gone & cracked it! Oh, and by the way, while we're here, let us just discuss that practice test where the vicious examiner made me do a parallel park as my manoeuvre. Not too hard one would think, until it transpires she wants me to do it backwards UP A HILL! Even my highway hardened, vehicularly experienced pals admit that is quite the challenge. Personally, I just think the prune mouthed examiner took a dislike to me, demanding such a ridiculously hard manoeuvre. After all, most drivers I know would just turn around and do it forwards if they were really determined to get that space, or more likely drive on to find somewhere else to park. But hey ho, I'm not bitter.... AT ALL *inwardly fumes*
So where was I? Ah yes, the hard work. It's been quite the slog really, but also, quite the achievement. You see, the last time I can say that I have studied, practiced and stressed my substantial tush off about an exam, well, it were quite the while ago. Longer than I care to admit to be fair, but let it just be said that dinosaurs weren't long off roaming the A406*. And studying, revising, practicing, well that's a young uns game innit? It goes hand in hand with GCSEs, UCAS forms and optimistic rosy cheeked faces, but whereas learning to drive is something most associated with young uns, staying alive & being safe on the roads is not. After all, although young drivers only account for 1.5% of licence holders, they account for 12% of serious and fatal crashes and drivers aged 17-23 are TWICE as likely to die in a car crash than those aged 40-49. Yikes! No wonder insurance for recently qualified drivers is so eye wateringly expensive. When I look at it like that, perhaps its just as well I waited, even more so when you consider that a recent UK study predicted that young people would have 9% fewer crashes if they delay learning to drive by a year at 18 instead of 17 years old, and a further 8% fewer crashes if they delay until 19 years old. By my maths, and as it apparently decreases by 1% every year, that either means at my ripe ole age, I'll have 45% fewer crashes than a 17 year old, or 0%. I can't quite figure it out. Now I could be entirely wrong as I was never very good at maths (that's another thing for them young rosy cheeked among us) but I think them odds aint too bad.
Now I will say, the older you get, the harder it is to pass (that rosy cheeked optimism has got something going for it). DSA statistics state there is a difference of over 17% in men passing at age 17 to those aged 50, which only increases to 20% with women in the same age ranges. So we may not pass as quickly (as my, ahem, 'practice' test showed), but there is something that the older learner brings to the table when learning to drive.... that of the power of cynicism. Or as the DSA puts it awareness of potential hazards and speeds. We know, from our many years of being passengered, just how big a twonk humans can be. Whether its dozy schoolkids stepping out into the road without looking where they are going, or old dears pulling out without indicating properly, or young mums in 4x4s behaving as if they own the road, we know just how dangerous other people can be, and in fact, we're kinda expecting it.
So, to those driving chums of mine still afraid to step into the car with me at the wheel, let me just say this, while your many years of experience has undoubtably contributed to your ability as a driver, so have all my years of passengerdom. I can spot a dimwit school kid at 50 paces, while simultaneously identifying those new road markings you've not quite figured out yet, all the time you're still twiddling with your radio volume. And during your many years on the road you've been building up a litany of bad driving skills (one handed driving anyone? 90 mph on your local dual carriageway? You know who you are) I'm still fresh, driving safely at the correct speed, with my hands firmly at ten to two, all bad habits yet to come. So fear not oh driving chums, do not be scared of my newly acquired skills, freshly polished and finely hewn, just pop me on your insurance will ya, cos goodness knows I can't afford my own.
*slight exageraation but it feels like a long time ago since university. I blame the wrinkles, grey hairs and shattered dreams, but that's a story for another day.
No comments:
Post a Comment