Hiew Yin Chong, a gentle lady who burnt rubber on Penang road for 4 years [1], had never thought that one day, she would have to spend sleepless nights (exaggerated) and several tense moments worrying about a driving test. She has driven 4WD on hilly slopes, raced up to 100mi/h (equivalent to 160km/h) on Highway 101 in the States, yet, the one sentence she spat out to the driving examiner right before taking the test was "I am nervous!"
What is wrong with me??? I admit I have no confidence in a lot of matter, but for driving, I am more confident than Lim Peh. It is the Victoria rule that is driving people nuts. It is as if this green-coloured laminated credit card-sized licence is worth a million. My confidence was completely shattered when I learnt that stopping < 3 sec at STOP signs, or not slowing down at roadwork area, or coming out from a junction to the leftmost lane but there is car approaching on the lane next to it etc etc, could earn you an Immediate Failure. The exam itself makes it worse as you are not allowed to make conversation with the examiner apart from requesting to repeat the instructions. And the most unbearable and dry reply you get is "I'm not allowed to talk about this now".
It's all over now. 31/10/2007 marked the beginning of a new life born to drive legally on OZ roads. After visiting VicRoad for 6 times in 6 months, I swear I will never step a foot in VicRoad for the next 10 years. That is also why I have them issue the licence that can last me till 2017.
I had a chat with a friend who was granted his licence a week before me (and who obviously had also failed before), we both agree that we couldn't be happier getting a full Victorian license than getting our PR approved! Finally, one piece of advice: It is always good to take a 1.5 hour lesson before sitting for a driving test, especially for those with 10-year driving experience.
[1] Quote from Jojo Ung
4 comments:
Those are Victorian traffic rules, written or otherwise.
Australian cities are well known for driving courtesy. In Sydney, when a pedestrian has stepped on the crossing line and you do not stop your car even you are at the furthest end from it, you will sure fail your test. My driving instructor did not even allow me to take the test after 10 lessons. I decided to boycott the NSW driving licence.
congratulations. what a relief
May, congrats!! Very happy for you!! Now you know why I beat about the bush to get my Vic license (converting from M’sia license to SG license, then SG license to Vic license without taking test), coz it just sounds scary to sit for driving test here, after hearing few experienced drivers failed before. Absolutely agreed, the 1.5 hour pre-test driving lesson is necessary.
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