Trent’s learning to drive experiences

Mum, Dad and I discussed having driving lessons when I turned 16 in 2008 but I wasn’t interested back then and I probably was not mature enough.

In 2013, when I was nearly 21, Mum, Dad and I went to Tocumwal, NSW for a few days. Mum and Dad played golf and Dad thought that it would be a good idea for me to drive the golf buggy. I enjoyed that experience. Mum had bought some lessons from RACV when I turned 18 and again when I turned 21 but I wasn’t confident to proceed with the lessons then.

Two years later, Dad bought a 1990 Corolla for me. The previous owner had named it Rosy because of its colour. This finally motivated me to try for my Learner Permit but before that I had to get a medical clearance from the GP. Mum then took me to VicRoads to sit the test.

I was excited to pass the test on Wednesday October 21st 2015. On the following Sunday, Dad took me to the new industrial estate in Dandenong South, with its very wide roads and next to no traffic, so that I could familiarize myself with my car. He did this every Sunday for 10 weeks, and by this time, I was driving out of the estate onto smaller quiet roads in the area before Mum took over as instructor.

Mum and I went out most Sunday mornings for an hour or two, usually stopping for a rest and hot drink and doing the weekly shopping before going home. We tried to drive in all weather conditions and cover all scenarios; thick fog, teeming rain, driving on dirt roads, country roads, freeways, suburban streets, in the city performing Hook turns, P turns, navigating raised tram stops and trams, unexpected breathalyser testing one morning whilst driving to Emerald and avoiding cyclists. We also went driving at night.

After returning home one day, I noticed that I had picked up a nail in one of the tyres so Dad showed me how to change the tyre.

Once I become more confident, we would go on much longer return trips;

• Kyneton (121km one-way)

• Lang Lang and Drouin (157 km)

• Moe (206km)

• Wandong (194km)

• Phillip Island (216km)

• Avalon Airport (174km).

One of our more interesting trips was around the bay in a day (226km). We went to the You Yangs Regional Park and then I drove onto the Queenscliff to Sorrento ferry before driving home. We usually stopped after one hour to have a break otherwise I would be too tired to drive home. On another occasion, whilst driving home from Ballarat (290km), we encountered a 5 km line of traffic. We crawled along with the traffic but the car started to boil. We pulled off the road and had to wait about 30mins before filling the radiator with water. Luckily, we had a bottle of water in the boot. We re-joined the line of traffic but just as we got close to a service station, the car boiled again. We managed to limp into the service station, wait another 30 mins before refilling the radiator and water bottle. The trip home after that was uneventful. Phew!

Even though I didn’t have to record 120 hours and 20 hours of night driving in a log book, as I was over 21 when I got my permit, Mum made sure we drove at least the required number of hours. In fact, we probably covered 3 times that.

In late 2019, Mum thought that I would benefit from driving lessons with RACV, particularly focusing on mirror use and parking. After a false start with one instructor, we met Sharon who was excellent, though, I had to keep reminding her to speak up, so I could hear her. At the start, Mum sat in the back seat, observing and picking up tips.

Unfortunately, when I was close to booking a Driver Licence Test, the Covid-19 restrictions came in and I had to cease lessons. This happened a couple of times in 2020 and 2021, so it was like 3 steps forward, 2 steps back. In preparation for my Drive Test, we concentrated our efforts around the suburb of Mulgrave, then, when the temporary testing station closed, we drove around the Nunawading/Burwood East area.

Before booking the Drive Test, I went back to the GP for another medical clearance and I also completed the Hazard Perception Test on-line.

After the Covid-19 restrictions were lifted, there was a big backlog of people wanting to book Drive Tests. After a long wait, I booked a test appointment but the only site I could book for was at Heatherton, so we then concentrated our efforts around there. I usually booked a 60min lesson with Sharon but as it got closer to the Drive Test we extended the lessons to 90min.

Finally, on Thursday February 24th 2022 the day had come for the Drive Test. Sharon picked me up from home at 9.50am so that I could have a 60min lesson before the 11 am test. I felt quite nervous during the test but managed to pass!

When we got home, Mum and Dad were quite emotional to think that I had passed on my first attempt. Mum was hopeful of a pass and she had already bought my green P plates. On the Saturday after I got my Ps, I drove around the block by myself (5km).

The next day, I followed Dad and members of our car club in convoy along back roads to Bunyip, then onto Trafalgar and Warrigal (120km). Mum drove home after that as I was quite tired. It took a lot more concentration driving by myself.

I now do Mum’s grocery shopping every Sunday. She is very happy about that and she says that it shows initiative and independence. I also now drive home from The Bridge, a job readiness program, at Springvale on Mondays and drive to and from there on Tuesdays and Wednesdays. Even though I enjoy driving Rosy, I will probably get a more modern car in the near future.