Driving Lessons - III

As promised (rather hoped for) in the previous post, the 3rd edition in this series comes with experiences from behind the wheel. Yes, I have had my first real hands-on driving lessons. Here are some of the learnings made from the driver's seat.

• #1 - Having a experienced and professional driving instructor helps - a LOT. He knows exactly what kind of mistakes first time driver would make, what kind of roads to take to begin handling the car etc. I received an informative ten minute talk on the basic driving equipment and their usage. And then only was I allowed to start.
• #2 - The key to a driving is good handling of the clutch combined with the accelarator. I wasn't driving at a very great speed, but hardly needed to use the brake. Having good control of the clutch is an essential pre-requisite for a good driver. (Proud moment - Not once did the car stall while starting due to  sudden clutch release)
• #3 - While changing gears, you don't really need to look at the gear handle. Its better to keep your eyes on the road and the mirrors.
• #4 - Use the horn a lot. At turnings, at turns, at busy parts of the road. Better to warn the person ahead, that an inexperienced fellow is driving the car instead of putting them at risk. Also gives sufficient warning to others.
• #5 - Practise and practice more. I actually jumped at a chance to get an extra session on the 1st day itself. It makes you more comfortable and eases out the nerves as well.
• #6 - Keep your speed low. It enables better control always. Lower the speed, lower the severity of any incident.
• #7 - Align the steering wheel to the road ahead. But this is easier said than done. Quite likely to overdo this simple thing.
• #7 - Learn about your car. Keep reading the manual whenever you get a chance. Even a simple thing like opening and closing the bonnet over the engine becomes complex. For opening, there is button near the front door on the driver's side which release the bonnet. Then you go and unlatch it manually. For closing the bonnet needs to be dropped from a certain height. It just does not latch up if pressed down.

Have to say, it was an exhilirating feeling to be driving a vehicle for the first time ever. The thrill of feeling the car move with me at controls is bit undescribale. Have to say this, learning to drive a car seems to be a simpler task than learning to drive a 2-wheeler. (Guess the brain feels safer being inside a stabler vehicle).

Some of the highlights -

• able to get the car moving at the first attempt itself
• not stalling the car during driving
• making a U-turn at the lights (Yes I did that)
• reverse driving (with the aid of the the instructor)
• taking an uphill blind turn

More driving sessions coming up and am certainly looking forward to them.

Driving Lessons - II

This is in continuation to the previous post on the subject.

I am still to take the wheel. Heavy rains, packed work week and non-availability of slots in the driving schools are to blame. As also my unwillingness to start in my own brand new car. But the lessons from observations continue.

• Lesson#6 - The roads are full of idiots. Specially on two-wheelers. And some on two legs as well. Why do people have the tendency to drift towards the middle of the road when walking? So to avoid any accident, keep pressing the horn as often as you can. Also use all sorts of signals, lights, horns, hands and your voice.
• Lesson#7 - New car, new driver, keep to the left side of the road. Let the faster ones move along the right and centre. Also makes it more easy when you have to take a turning. (Applicable for India and other left-side driving countries)
• Lesson#8 - When driving on a highway, keep a close eye on the turns. If you miss one, the next may not be coming up for quite some distance. And that is not easy on the nerves.
• Lesson#9 - Reiterating. Having an extra pair of eyes help as long as both sets are focussed on the driving. Keep alert for signals, traffic police, other vehicles, road signs. And there is always the fact that company is comforting. (P.S. I am now a certified good navigator). Only condition the co-passenger should be a patient and not easily harried person.
• Lesson#10 - Keep calm. Take care of your own safety. Others will also follow.

Hopefully next post will have experiences from the drivers' seat. And I get the driving school slot.

Driving Lessons

The title of this post has no connect with the movie of the same name. So any one who has wandered here by accident hoping for a movie review may stop reading (or not).

Driving a motorised vehicle is an idea which terrorizes me, for reasons which I am yet to fathom. I have had lessons in driving a 2-wheeler and have done quite a few miles on it but still never went beyond the learning stage. With lack of personal vehicular mobility becoming a minor hindrance in commuting and embarrassing as well, have finally decided to take matters into own hands (rather fingers). Have decided to blog about the issue here. Hoping that putting it on a public forum may finally overcome that unsourced fear.

So the first few learnings which came about, even though I wasn't the one driving are here.

• No point in being embarrassed. Tackle things head on. 
• Do not drive alone at first. Having an extra brain in the vicinity helps.
• Refer the manual. Keep it handy in case of a new car.
• New cars have lots of safety features. Follow them. 
• If a beeper is going on and on, there is some issue. Stop the car and try to find out. Me heard a beeper. Found that it was due to the hand brake being engaged. Disengaged it (Press button, pull up and release). So Lesson #1 - Disenegage hand brake when you start. And keep it engaged when parked.
• Lesson#2 - Try to learn about the millions of buttons which are present all around. The switch for the fuel and rear boot are located near the driver's door.
• Lesson#3 - The power windows come with a child lock. Make sure its ON/OFF as required.
• Lesson#4 - And above all, keep yourself as cool and calm as possible. Rational thinking at all times is the biggest help.
• Lesson#5 - Ask for help. Petrol pumps are a good place.

1st lessons done. More will come as I finally tackle it.