Simply Nandini

Simply Nandini

Sunday, March 20, 2011

Driving spree Part- II

Now, after two years I started to learn driving all over again… Yup!! You got it right! I left learning driving in between, na.. na.. not because of that sarcastic trainer. Now, I have started learning driving almost three months back as we have bought a car on Guru Nanak Dev Ji’s Happy B’day…


Then, wasting no time, I started searching for good & affordable driving institute nearby my new house (we have shifted to new house a year back J) and joined it. The instructor was not sarcastic this time but surely blunt and he told me, “treat your car like your body (what the hell, did he mean with his comments... Ok Nandini Be cool !!) and make sure, it does not touch anything on the road… the way you make sure, you walk safely on the road… I am sure, this last line is kind-of-cover-up for his 1st line…


Oh God!!! Why always I get weird instructors??


I somehow managed to learn driving in his car and then, I requested a professional driver of my neighbors to teach me driving in my car to get confidence on the road. Some scratches in my car… some in others… But, now I am confident to drive alone. Though I also requested my friends, cousins, neighbors to sit with me in my car to see my driving and help me with some driving rules but all in vain. I am blessed with amazing kind of blindness.. ‘redlight blindness’ : irrelevant of how big & bright the red light is.. I always missed to see it..!! Weird..!!




My first independent attempt was to drive my car 4-5 kms with my mom to the place of my ex-residence in Paschim Vihar. Noteworthy, I drove the entire distance in 2nd gear and did not go beyond the speed of 30Km/hr. (Well, it must sounds funny, especially for veteran drivers). And after my courageous ordeal, my brother called me to make sure, if I have reached safely. (Possessive HE not for me but for CAR, ofcourse).




One of the most embarrassing incidents, I hit an almost 70 year old uncle, while taking U-turn near my home. It did not hit uncle much as the car was at the speed of 5Km/hr but he fell down with the sudden jerk of the car. Soon, people gathered there and cursed me while helping uncle to get from the road. As soon as uncle ji got up, he was well enough to curse me. Thank God! I was alone that day else family members would have also cursed me also…




But most memorable incident happened in Rajouri Garden market. I took my mom to Rajouri Garden market and managed to drive in the crowded market safely and successfully, so, was little overconfident with my driving skills. And I had a narrow escape from could-be disastrous incident, which not only shook me but my mom as well. She still remembers that incident even after two months and always instruct me, whenever I approaches towards my car keys. Here It goes: I was standing at the red light near Grover Sweets in the market and did not realize the road construction has made big open sewage on my left side. Suddenly, my car stopped with some huge stones, when I tried to cross the red light. I came out of the car and realized that the left front tyre was in the air over the sewage. Shocked we tried to get car back on the road but all in vain. Lot of people came forward to help but all in vain. Then, after 10-15 minutes, a thin sikh guy came from nowhere and tried to push the car from left side to bring it on straight line. Then, he asked for keys from me and put the back gear and managed to bring it back on the road. Then, he vanished. Scared me took over the car and brought the car back home. I don’t know, why… But still, I have not got the courage to cross that Grover Sweet’s red light inspite that the sewage has been closed now.




Now, back to my driving skills, after almost three months, I have become more confident and cautious driver. I have driven the car up to 10Kms alone at the speed of 60Km/hr in 4th gear on the suitably empty roads. God bless me and people around me on the roads!!! J J J


Few quick tips for safe driving:




  • Follow traffic rules and for that, knowing them is most imp. J


  • Must keep driving license with you as you never know, your car can also be towed away (It has also happened with me)


  • Be quick in changing gears as when required, while keeping eyes on the road.


  • Be confident as you own the car not the roads and DONOT HONK- Be patient!!