Just when I thought school was out for summer ... I have to write another test
Just when I thought I was done taking tests until September, I'm now scheduled to take a really important one: a driving test.
It'll be a nice change from the usual tests I take. Instead of filling in bubble sheets or scribbling out three essay answers in two hours, I'll get to drive around.
Next week I take my G1 exit test, and if I pass I'll get my G2 license.
To become a fully fledged driver (a G-class license) in Ontario you have to first get your G1 and then G2 licenses.
With a G1, you can drive when accompanied by a fully licensed driver with at least 4 years of driving experience.
With a G2 license, you can drive by yourself, but there are a bunch of restrictions about the number and age of the passengers in your vehicle.
This whole process can start as soon as you turn 16, and theoretically be a "real" driver with a full G license in 20 months.
I've taken a little longer.
I still only have a G1 license. I haven't waited this long to go for my
G2 on purpose. It wasn't a fear of driving; I really love driving. I just kept putting off taking the test. Between school and part-time jobs, I kept putting off the test.
I think I waited way too long, though. I've built this road test up into some impossible task. I'm treating it like a chemistry test. I'm stressing out and over-thinking it.
I know I shouldn't be. Everyone has told me the G1 exit test is easy, that almost no one fails, and that you don't even go on the highway. The hard stuff is saved for the G2 exit test to get your full license. I know I shouldn't be worried about it. I actually really like driving. I'm even pretty good at it.
But it doesn't help when the same people who say, "Oh, it's SOOO easy!"
then proceed to tell me to make sure I remember the "Dr. Rule" for parking on hills and that parallel parking will most likely be on the test, so make sure I brush up on it. The Dr. rule? Parallel parking? I had no idea what the Dr. rule was until three days ago. And I thought parallel parking was one of those things that you only have to know the theory of. You know: You're only expected to agree with the instructor that, yes, parallel parking IS impossible.
The Dr. rule was handy to learn. When parking on a hill you have to turn your wheels so that if the brakes fail your car won't roll away down the hill or into traffic. The Dr. Rule is an acronym that helps you remember which direction to turn the front wheels: Downhill = to the Right, uphill = to the left. Yes, the direction matters. Easy enough and I'll never forget it.
Parallel parking isn't so intuitive.
At first I thought that parallel parking wouldn't be a big deal. Just hop in the minivan and after a few tries, I'd cinch it. But now that I've been reading over the theory of parallel parking, I'm not so sure.
"Drive past the car you're parking behind, match up your mirrors, turn the wheel hard to the right and reverse to a 45 degree angle, then turn the wheels, pull up and BAM you're in."
Eh?
I thought watching a video would help. You know, read the steps and see them in action. It didn't. It just convinced me that a professional driver like the one in the video is needed to park between those two cars.
Finally, I just tried it. At first I stared at the spot, willing the family van to magically appear in the parking space. Then I tried following the steps I'd read, as alien as they seemed. It did not make sense that those instructions could get me into a parking space.
Amazingly, I actually got into the space. Well, after trying six times and having to realign myself again and again.
It used to irritate the crap out of me when people would say, "Parallel parking makes sense once you can do it." Wow, no kidding. But I understand what they mean now.
Sort of.





