Vroom Vroom

Earlier this week, my father-in-law began teaching my niece to drive. It got me thinking. When my husband and I learned to drive, the process was very simple. Legally we were allowed to drive at 15. Our parents (usually) taught us to drive, and as long as we were over 15, we then went and sat our written and practical tests, usually on the same day – assuming a pass in the written test. I still remember my practical test. I took it in our small Mini. The traffic officer testing me was well over six feet tall. Every time I changed gear, I touched his knee.

Passing these tests gave us our full, unrestricted motor vehicle licence. But 15 years old was really too young to be allowed to drive. Even though I had been driving vehicles (the farm tractor, for example) since I was about 12, my parents wouldn’t let me sit my licence till after my 5th Form examinations were over, when I was 16. Many kiwi kids however got their licences when they were 15, and some would sit them on their 15th birthday. (Which begs the question, “how did they learn to drive before that?”)

About ten years ago, the government finally changed the system. Now you need a learner’s licence to even get behind the wheel. My father-in-law wasn’t aware of this change in requirements, so I am thankful there were no accidents or problems during the lessons. Had anything gone wrong, he would have been legally liable, and uninsured. Getting a driver’s licence in New Zealand is now a three stage process, involving three different tests over a period of two years at a minimum. Knowing this I feel a little more confident on the roads.

But I constantly see bad drivers – people talking on cellphones who are distracted, those who forget to indicate when they are changing lanes, who tailgate aggressively (like the courier van behind me yesterday on the motorway), who go too fast or (usually the elderly) too slow. I know myself that I have driven when I have been tired, or distracted by thoughts of work. So bad drivers scare me. I don’t mind if they kill themselves. I object if they do that by driving into me.

My personal trainer recently sat his motorcycle test. He didn’t realise that part of the test was a written test relating to the general road rules which he had already passed for his car driver’s licence. He failed first time, and had to sit it again. I suspect, he would not be alone. In fact, I suspect that most of us would fail first time, if we suddenly had to resit our driver’s licence written test (with no time to study). All those questions about legal parking distances from a hydrant, legal depth of tire tread, etc, would flummox me now.

I passed my test 30 years ago, and under current rules, I can legally continue to drive for the rest of my life, as long as I pass medicals and eyesight tests when I turn 80. This means that it is perfectly legal for my 80 and 86 year old in-laws to continue to drive, unchecked. For some reason (votes perhaps?) a few years ago, the government removed the requirement for over 80 year olds to pass practical driving tests every two years. Madness! So we have decided it might be wise if my husband gives his parents an informal, family, driving test. I don’t want to think of the consequences if they fail.

Still, I’m not sure what is more frightening. The thought of a 15 year old boy driving towards me, or my 80 year old father-in-law teaching my niece to drive, or my 86 year old mother-in-law driving towards me at an intersection. Actually I am. And it’s not the 15 year old boy.