Everybody in US agree on one thing no matter what, that is, WE CAN’T LIVE IN US WITHOUT A CAR. That’s 200% true, especially if you have a family and kids. I had spent 2 years in UK and Australia without a car and there I never felt I needed a car, but here in US, it didn’t take much time for me to realize that Car is a MUST. You can manage without a car for few days or months, but not for ever. Sooner or later you have to buy a car. Once you have a car then next inevitable part is getting a driving license. I heard many horrible stories about getting a driving license in US especially in CA. Many people not cleared the exam in their first attempt. Some extent those stories are helpful to prepare yourself mentally for the drive test.
I cleared the written test easily. That was my second time to visit the DMV office after coming to US, first time while registering car. The DMV office is always crowded. Hundreds of people are visiting this office for different reasons on every day. Whenever I go to DMV office, I see many people are taking drive test or behind the wheel test. Sometimes I feel “from where the hell all these people are coming?” If this office has been running for several years, and people from the local community are taking test, then at least there would be some “window period” where there should NOT be any people left to take the test. But surely that is not the case, somehow people take the test, and it seems to be a never ending story.
Anyway, after clearing exam, I did my plan. First took the appointment. Then from the internet I got the most frequently visited driving routes in DMV area and planned to practice those routes every Saturday and Sunday. It is highly advised to get familiarize the routes near to the DMV office where ever you’re taking the test, even though you are an excellent driver.
I practiced all those routes. And the day before the exam, the stress that I had gone through is really horrible. I had gone through similar stress during my semester exams, and after that around 8 years, I was again experienced similar strain. I tried to calm down myself by saying “either you pass or fail the test, but that’s not end of the world, that’s it, you do your best, rest leave to god (in this case to inspector ;) )”
It was my drive test day. I drove carefully and reached DMV office 15 mins earlier than schedule time. I was very confident while driving. That confidence was all because of my practice. I stood in the queue for some time then I got the required papers, the person at the desk told me to stand in line with my car outside for behind wheel test.
I did as he said; it was a long line of cars. I waited around 40 minutes. I saw bunch of DMV instructors holding some papers in their hands and waiting to get in the car. Finally, I noticed a guy was coming towards my car. He is Asian, short and mid age guy. My heart beat was increasing while he was approaching me. I told to myself “Calm down, all is well !!!”.
He asked me to start the car without engine to check signals. He asked me to give right & left signal, and I did then he asked me to put my leg on breaks to check break lights. I did that too. I was following his instructions mechanically.
He went back and shouted saying did I put the leg on breaks or not. I said yes, and then he said then “why the brake lights won’t turn on?” So “Brake lights are not working”. I shocked after realizing that my brake lights are not working. He said he couldn't take me to drive test without brake lights so he asked me to reschedule the test.
I didn’t say anything. Without appearing for the test, I returned home. Basically I disqualified. I was disappointed; I never imagined it would end like that. The lesson that I learnt was, it’s not just “Pass” or “Fail”, there is another aspect in any test, which is “disqualify”. How best you prepare, if you don’t check basic things like break lights, defroster etc..in your car then you may disqualify. That is what fate decided that day to me.
Nevertheless I didn’t leave there, I rescheduled in the next day took the appointment in another day. That time I was double checked all my controls in the car to make sure that all are working.
Instructor came, and he appeared mighty strict to me and no smile and all on his face. I totally disappointed that I got this guy in my technical second attempt / theoretical first attempt.
He also asked same basic stuff like show all controls in the car etc…
After he confirmed that everything was Ok, he sat beside of me and told that I need to go exactly as he instructed and if I don’t understand what he says then I can ask to repeat that.
I said ok and started the car, but it was going in backwards because I put the reverse gear (got damn it); seconds later I realized and put the correct gear.
While returning somewhere while taking a right turn, I felt that I did n't stop so I might not pass the test as that was a critical error. But I was not sure whether there was a green light signal ahead, if it was then there won’t be any problem.
Finally, we have reached DMV office, and he was doing some final calculations and writing few things, my heart was pumping blood with bullet speed and My inner sense was telling me that I didn't pass the test.
He looked at me and said I was driving too fast and asked me to slow down as I was going 1 mile speed high than the posted speed limits.
He also said that I made 6 minor errors, but I CLEARD TEST. My God It was a big sigh of relief and I tried to say thanks to him, but he refused to give his hand and saying doesn’t touch me with same hoarse voice.
Anyway I felt immensely happy that I cleared the test. It was as if I was elected for Oscar awards. Of course after so much hard work and practice, it was indeed Oscar award to me at that time.
