A 'UNIQUE SKILL'.. MORE OF A PERSONALITY AND YEARS OF EXPERIENCE!
- As a Beginner and Learner, when he sat for the first time in the driver’s seat of the Driving School Car with his Instructor by the side and was directed to go straight into dense traffic, there was just a single thought in him all the time, “God! How are these people around me doing this task so easily?”
- After a few Driving Classes, on a day as he changed the Gear making a cutting sound, he was straight away commented upon by the Instructor with a stern look, “Oh! The car is gone…. Why are you so nervous? Why don’t you press the Clutch Pedal firmly before attempting the Gear change?”
- During the same time again one day, when he tried practicing in his own car, it was all together a new tension in him which in no time climaxed when he failed to ‘Pull’ through a steep up slope thus holding up the traffic behind with funny comments, advices and help pouring in from all directions all of which he had to bear for a while..
- Soon as a Certified Driver, on a day when he unexpectedly drove his car into a narrow Lane creating a traffic jam and was squarely shouted upon for causing such a hold up on the road, a lesson was quickly learnt that experience in driving is different from just having the Permission to drive!
- With almost a year’s constant driving and having become confident in that line, on a day when he squarely failed a planned overtaking of another moving car in front instantly attracted the attention of drivers of on coming vehicles with one of them shouting aloud, “Why don't you sit at home instead of coming on to road and troubling us?”
- Next few years having passed with no incidents on the road and out of a pride because of that when commented a bit on a beginner who made a mistake and came right in front of his car, some one was heard saying from behind, “That boy is a Learner…. As an experienced man, were you sleeping?”
- And that seemed to be the end of all such ordeals as years rolled on smoothly and that had its own thumps-up too on a day when he parked his vehicle to a side of a congested narrow road for a small work and the next moment a young driver driving through commented on his parking, gave back the reply, “What’s the problem? A vehicle almost double the width of your car can easily pass through the passage.. I think, you need a few more driving lessons!” and instructed him on how to pass through such spaces without expecting the other man yield an inch!
- Soon he was a seasoned driver of late forties ever having a basic responsibility of safety on road in his mind which in no time climaxed to the firm belief within..
"Driving is just an Art and each individual responds to it in his/her own style and each is correct in his/her own way except a few.. It's a complex psychology of an individual developed through years of experience being constantly on road with the vehicle forever keeping an eye on safety aspects with an equal pro-thinking in the mind, ‘All along, there is sure a man around who can unexpectedly do a costly mistake here and let me be on watch for that too!'”
I totally agree sir... and people have to be more tolerant... these days everyone just seems to be on a high horse who want to pace and not be sensitive about now learners!
ReplyDeleteLovely and thoughtful post...
Thanks Archna! As you said, it's ever the responsibility of seasoned drivers to be gentle and guiding type for the Learners.. But their urgencies often over ride this attitude.. Love your Comment!
DeleteFor someone who's taken driving lessons twice and is yet to master the fine art of driving, this post has come as a huge morale booster, sir. Thank you so much for writing this.
ReplyDeleteThanks Ragini for the valuable Comment you made here in respect of my Post.. Hope it helps a few Learners in keeping up their tempo and morale while learning and becoming experts!
DeletePint brought out nicely sir. It might be normal for the seasoned drivers to get irritated at the learner's mistakes but it shakes up the learner driver's confidence when people are impatient with them.
ReplyDeleteYou said it very much Somali.. All I can say further here is that patience is forever a virtue in this context and one who thus becomes calm will truly help a few coming up in the field without hurting their self.. A right Epilogue for the Post!
DeleteAlso it is not a joy ride, we hardly think of anyone's safety including people sitting in our own cars!
ReplyDeleteYes Mridula! Safety aspects should never be over looked while driving and the real Heroism truly lies here only when the Rules are followed to the core.. Thanks for the valid point brought out!
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