Loveday Writing

SPEED HUMPS

Like it or not, freedom is never really free and the journey is never smooth.

The freedom to drive, for me anyway, has cost me five years, seven tests, patience and a total of $1096. Nevertheless, I was determined to get my licence.

The L’s test only cost me $62 because being the nerd that I am, I studied like crazy and did the demo test over and over. I was sixteen years old and the day I was granted (Learner) freedom was January 22^nd 2007. Three months later, I discovered I needed glasses, my mother’s response to this discovery,

“Oh, that explains your driving!”

I love you too mum.

The driving test worried me most. I had driving lessons for over a year and my last one was an hour before the test, during which my instructor told me,

“For your sake, I hope you don’t have to do a reverse park!”

I would have been offended if I didn’t agree with her.

When I finished my test, five seconds after I sat down, waiting for my results, my instructor, who was waiting for me said to me,

“I think you failed.”

Thank you.

I proved her wrong, I passed first go, and was given (Provisional 1) freedom of being able to drive without my mum wishing there was a brake on the passenger side of the car, on May 5^th 2009, I was eighteen years old. My red Ps cost me $322 as I had ten driving lessons, plus the obvious booking and licence fees. I had my braces off for nine months, and my licence photo was gorgeous.

The green Ps test worried me too. Between the time I got my red Ps and this test; I had wrecked two tyres, the same one: the front left, on gutters. The first time was spectacular; I did a speedy U-Turn and drove up and over the gutter. The second time, I simply ran INTO the gutter. So, clearly my hazard perception skills aren’t perfect, but I still passed first go at nineteen years old, on June 28^th 2010. My second last step towards freedom cost me $390, this is the cost of the two replacement tyres and again, the obvious booking and licence fees.

My last step towards unrestricted freedom was the step that was the hardest. Despite my nature to prepare and study, I knew I wasn’t going to pass it first go. Although I wasn’t expecting to fail it on second go, or third go either. My mother’s reaction, always priceless was:

“I feel so vindicated.”

With the help of a lovely staff member at the RTA to understand the questions, I passed on my fourth go and was officially granted freedom on December 4^th 2012 at twenty-two years of age at a cost of $322, the cost of three failures and again the obvious booking and licence fees.

Now I have the joy of renewing my freedom every five years!

See you on the roads!