Driving: The saga continues....

I am back with my favorite topic on my blog.... ‘Driving License'

Currently I am in a state where in I can attempt and write a book relating to life cycle of owning a driving license with special notes on how to make things not work for you :-0

 

So you would imagine why I am the most frequent visitor to DMV, i have lost the chronological order also of all my visit.

Not to mention I would have visited more number of time in last one year then people visit in their life time....

So here comes the latest post on DMV visit saga, this time it is for renewing my Provisional License (it’s a bit of wacky rule, at first I was given a 3 month Learners License after that  I cleared driving test and got Provisional license valid for a year and then comes the day when you can proclaim your permanent license. I feel it a bit longer wait).

 

In my case it has never been easy I was would always find myself in some exceptional case, and this time my VISA expired in 7 months. So I see myself again standing outside DMV with all the possible document that I can gather to renew by Provisional license, which means I have another visit pending to claim my Permanent license.

License expiry dates are tagged with your VISA expiry date, with a 3 months grace period, where in they assume that by then VISA would get renewed. I had my finger crossed as last time my VISA renewal took 8 full months

 

So after all the wait I was at the window, what had never ever happened it happened  in next 90 seconds I had my renewed license in my hand and I was out of DMV… phew with a sigh of relief 

I got my Driving license...

Phew... Finally I have my driving license with me...

This Tuesday I had my road test scheduled at 10:00 in the morning, I had called up the driving school for a last hour class before the test... But thongs did not work out the way it had... He came only by 9:30 and i only had time for one small parking practice.... And then another person took to the driving test area....

She mentioned, I took two students this morning and one of them failed, as he ended up driving the way car is driven in India (left hand drive) that’s all required to fail a drive test....
Finally at 10:15 I was in driver’s seat and that's when KC took the adjacent seat and was all set to evaluate me...At that moment I was a bit nervous... And just to show him I adjusted my seat the rear view mirrors and I was all set to roll...

First it was to drive straight
Then a right turn followed by left turn
Parallel parking
K-Turn
Straight reverse
And couple of more turns
And finally to a complete halt and set the car in Parking...

That’s when KC told me "Dude u have cleared the test"Ahhhh!!!! A big sigh of relief

But wait how things can be so easy for me... And as guessed it was not done...

I went back to the office and that's when they told me that their system is down.... I was laughing....

So once again this meant that I have to come back...
So today (Friday) I planned again as on Saturdays just to get through the line it takes minimum 2hrs pain and I really did not want to ruin my Saturday morning.

And today I got my License

Day 2 Driving Lessons

So day 2, at start I was still a bit nervous about the driving lessons as I am due for my driving exam in 4 next days and I only have 2 hours of driving under my belt which my any standards is not sufficient. I am a bit scared as to reach this far I have crossed through many hurdles, as I just want to make sure that it is just perfect

So today my instructor was Raul (who is a Mexican) he is a really nice driving instructor who was very much detailed in explaining me what to and what not to, and at first only he corrected me that its "Raul" and not "Rahul" as I know in India you have “Rahul” and we both had a nice laugh.

So as we started from my place first it was to drop the earlier student home, and when I drooped her I asked "I hope you were not real scared" she smiled and said it was fine, as assumed that even she was doing her third class, so it not a real nice lead she had...

Then I drove and headed to Newport downtown and drove directly to a parking lot and for next two hours I was doing again and again
Sharp left turn
Sharp right turn
K-Turn
Parallel parking

And after some 90min of driving with all above combinations I now feel more confident and in my next lessons I should be more good and be able to drive better and most important I would be able to enjoy driving

I will keep posted how things proceed about my driving in this space....
My Drving skills earlier post -- Driving

And I hope I am not doing this in real life… through I would love to but want to have a real car :-0

This is the best advertisement one can see..

First Driving lesson:

So finally the day arrived when I finally planned to take my first driving lesson, I had called and booked up with this driving school for a two hour driving lesson.
So this guy come up by 9:30am and for the first time I was sitting in driver’s seat for real, so as a customary he asked me bunch of questions:

- Is this your first class, I said YES
- Have you driven a can in India, I said NO for which he replied Good, the reason would be the driving direction, in India its Right Hand drive while in US they prefer the wrong side and say that as the better side… let me leave this topic here only

So with initial instruction for Right & Left indicator, and just use you right feet to control Acceleration and brakes and I guess I was all set buckled up and roll wheels. You all have to believe me on this one the RIGHT and Other Right, at the first turn itself he bombed me to turn right, I was saying to myself right, right, right, and ahhh I took the Right turn,,,,


So I first stepped on accelerate and that when for the first time i was driving car, nit sure why but it was a major mind block for me to start driving, and for next 2 hrs I was driving.

First 30 minutes I was driving on internal roads slowly juggling between each right and left turn, and later the instructor took on to highway that the same road I have been traveling daily to office from last three years but today it was something different I was driving myself for the first time...
The speed limit on that stretch is 55mph and I had all the reason to drive slowly, as safety of other along with me is of high importance and I was clocking 35mph

Then I was back again driving on internal roads so at the end of 2hours i can say i have broken the jinx and I am yet not fully comfortable but yes I can drive and definitely I am getting my driving license and driving in US...
On a liter note, let’s pray for all the people who will be sharing road with me....

I got my learner license!!!! hurry

7th time is lucky for me...

Past post with detailed story
I Flunked
Another Failed attempt

Okay and finally after all the previous attempt, last Saturday me and my roommate, planned to venture back again to the know territory "another attempt to get out Driving license work done"

So this time also we tagged with a friend who will drop us by the examination centre, as mentioned in my last post "6th Attempt" we were able to pa the fee and not able to give exam that paid us of this time, we walked directly to the examination centre.

That’s when we realized that this time no turning back, before giving a exam one has to clear vision test.

Vision Test: In this we had to press our forehead against a binocular looking object and read one line with "Left" eyes and another line with "Right" eyes.....
My friends know how good I am with directions, all can vouch and say that I am a great navigator, I can confidently point with my right hand and ask one to take left turn "actually the other right"

So this lady tell me to read me the line from right side, that’s when I read the left line, she said what!! what!! okay sun read the left line, I confidently did read the line from right.
Then she told me to sun read "the other right" ahhhh that’s when I read the correct line.

My friend who was in adjacent line was telling me assumed that i am out from their itself as i was confused in right and left....

But the lady was sweet enough and asked me to continue give the exam....

And in next 14 mins i completed my 50 question test and their i was with my learners license in my hand.... that legalized me to drive under supervision for next 3 months....

So Bond is set to ride his silver BMW.... while the lady told me she will wait for the original license to accompany me....

My another Driving test attempt....

I have written a separate post that narrate my last 5 attempts of getting a driver learners license ==> I Flunked

Saturday was the day when I attempt again with a positive view that u would be clearing the exam...
Preparation started couple of days before hand... I scanned through the driver test manual noted down many points
- Safety rules
- Penalty rules
- sign board rules
- And blah blah & ahhhh hmmm

Friday night: we all have friends have met after a month, at TGIF over beer & pool game, we all had a nice time, chit chatting, playing many games of pool, not to mention I had a giant cup of ice cream. I finally crashed home at 2:30 still determined to clear exam next day morning.
I gave couple of practice test and scored 46/50 & 47/50. I was happy with teat and slept over.

Morning at 8:00 I was up again and trust me the first thing I was doing was scanning the book, gave another test scored 47/50 quote consistent. Called up a close buddy of mine and confirmed the time.
10:10 my roomy and me were standing in the line that was way out on the pavement, filled up the form.

Then a sweet lady from the driving office came and announced the wait time is 1:45min and we close at 12;00 that was all a sinking attempt came to my mind, I told to my come on this is not happening again to me.
So finally, I managed to get in the building at 11:25… I said Ahhh I have another 35min

Musical chair game: It reminded me of my childhood day at most events for small kids we had the game played this was something similar Sit in a line, and jump to next seat as it goes, this was for 1t review of the document once done.

Sit in line 2, hop on to next seat as line progresses for second review of the sane document once done.
Grab a seat in line 3, again the music started hop to next seat as line progresses for third and final review and pay a fees for the test.


Moment of truth: o was at this counter and Maggie (not real name) was a pretty lady... with a sweet smile she verified my document and told dear, we are late I can give u the permit but u would have to come back again to give the test....

I bet i have some more time before i take on a ride like "Donald Duck" took "Daisy Duck"

This as it, attempt no 6, me will have to gather my self again and plan for one more time.... On the liter note, I should ask, “Am I impatient”.

I Flunked :-0

I Flunked in Knowledge Test (mandatory test one has to clear to get a US road driving license).



Today finally after all my attempts of clear the exam and i move a step closer in getting my driving license took a back step, as i have to wait for 7 days before attempting another test.... And next time i should have no other reason.

In all I have been to the DMV (Driving Motor Vehicle) for 5 times, yes its true five times.

Attempt 1#.
As all suggested, there is no need for one to read the book (driver manual) its better to give practice online test till that time, preparation level should reach a stage where looking at the answer one should tell the question.

Okay i prepared for 2 weeks had given bunch of practice exams, and finally i was at the DMV, they have a six point verification (more details 6 points). I had to submit address proof; my landlord was so lenient that he gave me the agreement without mentioning dates. That was all it required for me to mess up (this is what i had put 1 Apr 2009 - 31 Mar 2009), The person cancelled the document and i was sent away with nothing :-0

Attempt 2#.
After couple of months another my friend was visiting DMV, asked me to join so i took some test before that and accompanied him, after reaching their not sure what happened i decided not giving the test and ended up only getting a ID proof for my self :-0

Attempt 3#.
This same friend #2 motivated me for second attempt, so i tagged along with my room-mate for preparation, and finally on a Sat we decided, and this time, Friday we have a weather alert (mentioning we might receive as much as 18 inches of snow). But alas not a single flake were yet ready so Sat morning we reached DMV, for our surprise, a Memo welcomed us (Due to adverse weather alert we are closed)... Gosh

Attempt 4#.
This time again i tagged and two other people to try out our luck giving the exam, so finally Sat morning we were once again at the DMV, and this time, "System Down" Gosh i am jinxed and as i am only the common variable in all the above attempts hehehe, cant resist laughing

Attempt 5#.
This time i had not prepared for the test but made my mind and planned to change the day of exam as in all above attempts it was Saturday, so this i took gambled and planned to venture on Thursday, after all above try i got myself cleared from all the verification points and but things were not to end for me.... In the exam one has to clear 40 questions from 50, and in my case on 48th question I happened answer 11 incorrect... So I flunked.



Attempt 6#.
Not sure when this will happen but know its a matter of time i guess hope #6 turns out to be lucky or me.