Everybody must have heard of these car names, others might have owned an old one or a new model. I don’t own either a Volvo or a Saab car. It so happened that I have driven both of these cars. But before I go any further, let me shout this out so I could feel that I’ve accepted the fact that - I FAILED MY DRIVING TEST! Ack! I did the test a week ago but until now I couldn’t think of ways to get rid of nervousness on my next driving test, which is very soon. It was a darn heart-pounding and terrifying experience, I don’t know I could handle it next time. It’s comforting though that I passed the theory test the same day I did the driving test. That was a nervy feat of me as normally, others would do the tests on separate days. The factors for my failed test could be the car and the place that I haven’t been used to drive.

I drove this Saab 9.5 on my driving test. That was my first time and probably the last time to drive this car.  There was nothing I could do to protest since it’s the Transport Administration’s car for driving test. I was sitting quite low in this car and as hubby would comment on it, Saab cars are made for tall people, lol!  I should have had with me my pillow to sit on instead, if I would have known. I started to get more nervous when I missed the turnoff from the freeway and I happened to run the right tyres on a solid barrier line. So unacceptable mistake. I ran about 70 km/h on a 50 km/h road. Another unforgivable mistake.  Ahaha!  And last but not the least, I almost ran over the curb. The reason for these mistakes was the car that I wasn’t comfortable with from the start.

I drive this Volvo V50 in my driving school. I’m also sitting low in this car but not as low as in Saab. I’ve been used to driving this car that I have not done those mistakes I did in my driving test. I was expecting a car like this on the test since most driving schools are having a Volvo V50, if not a Volkswagen Golf. My driving school could actually book the tests for me and let me use their car but they’re not making any move yet so I booked myself. I’m beginning to suspect that they want me to do more driving lessons and pay more. No way!  I have spent much enough and the lessons we’re doing now are all repetitions from what we have started.  I couldn’t use our own car for the test because the Transportation Administration requires a car with dual controls.  Driving schools have this kind of a car for driving lessons.

Fortunately, we managed to rent a car from my old driving school. It will be a Volkswagen Golf. I have driven the car before and kind of used to it. Although I would prefer a Volvo V50 cos it’s the car I’ve used to drive for five months now.  Anyhow, my teory test result is valid only for two months and if I don’t pass the driving test within these months I will be forced to do both again. Dear me! I have known some friends who got their driving license after the third or fourth driving test. Should I do the same doesn’t matter to me as long as I get mine, too.

I did my risk driving today as a requirement to get a driving license here. I should say it was a nightmare in a broad daylight. My driving instructor had booked me for today’s risk driving. I thought it was perfect cos I’m getting loose with my workloads. I had nothing to think about but this and oh, how it made me nervous. I had to skip blogging last night cos my mind was preoccupied with this thing. Then I had to wake up early just to get to the place. It took me three buses and had to leave home right before 6am. Geez, that was the earliest time of day I’d ever left home so far. My nervousness rose to the highest level when I reached the place. I didn’t have the faintest idea what I should be doing there. I remember my work colleague who failed the first time she had her risk driving and she had to pay another 1600sek again to do it the second time.

We were 15 student-drivers divided into four groups with one instructor each. My feet were shaking when we were on our way to the parking lot where the cars were waiting for us. I drove a Volvo C30, kind of small and easy to handle. It was bizarre cos the moment I sat in the car, I felt relaxed and the nervousness just faded away. But here comes the nightmare of all nightmares! For more than 2 and a half hours of speed driving, I experienced how the car skidded, spun a couple of times and collided to a fake danger in a form of rubber posts. I felt like I was in a car race when my car turned twice when the instructor asked me to drive and maneuver the car in a 70km/h speed. But perfect driving and control of the car was not the aim of the training; it was to experience the different situations when driving in different speed and most importantly, when and how to use the brake effectively. It was horrible when my turn came to drive in a roundabout with water, as if it was raining. When the instructor asked me to raise the speed in a given sign, my car got into a skid and it was really hard to gain control of the car again. Good thing it stayed within the roundabout.

In one situation, the instructor told me to drive and control the car in a 75km/h and stopped before a curved road. I was shocked when he said the 75 cos we were told beforehand that the speed limit we’d be training would be from 40 to 70 only. Ack! Instead of steering the car to the right, the car went left and almost turned. He said I did a good job on 70 so he gave me 75 to know the difference. The last one was kind of test for us to make use of the brake on a rough road. Again the speed was 70km/h. I did this twice cos my instructor didn’t hear the brakes screeched when I stopped the car.

Way to go for my driving license. I need it badly for my job and this is my goal before the year ends. Crossed fingers!