Immeasurably More

An hour, 50 multiple choice questions and 14 video clips later, yours truly has passed the British driving theory test and has the right to schedule her practical test. My sole observation is that grainy video filmed from a moving vehicle is nausea inducing, but not so nausea inducing that it stopped me from buying celebratory Irish Cream Chocolate Tart. With spoon in hand, I remain Faithfully yours, ~~~LeAn

1996 was the last time I parallel parked a car unaided. (And when I refer to "aid" here, what I mean is "You're too close. Now you're too far away. You turned too soon. Watch the curb! Do you want me to do it?") But tonight my driving teacher and I spent an hour and a half terrorizing the owner of a blue hatchback by repeatedly pulling up next to it and then cutting hard to the left and then back to the right. Conclusion? Test standard! (In other words, sufficiently good to pass the driving test.) 1 out of 5 required maneuvers mastered. Here's hoping it was just beginner's luck.

The UK driving test consists of two parts, a written theory test and a practical driving test. The practical can't be scheduled before the theory has been passed, so my driving instructor is pushing me to get through this first hurdle. During my first practice test I scored 40/50, which isn't good enough. On the real thing, I have to be able to score 85/100. So I keep renewing and reading my library copy of the Highway Code. Here's a bit I came across today. Watch out for crossing Trams! Watch out for crossing Cattle! Watch out for crossing Worded warning signs!

Dear Reader, I’ve temporarily put my more philosophical reading list on hold while I study for the theory test that UK Driver’s license applicants are required to pass. I’m studying from the Driving Standards Agency’s book The OFFICIAL DSA THEORY TEST for Car Drivers and The Official Highway Code, which declares itself to be “the No.1 best selling theory test book on the market”. Given that the DSA designs and administers both the theory and practical portions of the driving test, I’m surprised anyone else bothers to produce driving guides. The Highway Code is a collection of both legal requirements and common conventions for all users of roads. In fact, the first section is addressed to Pedestrians, informing them that it is illegal to loiter in crosswalks or to hold on to a moving vehicle. Of course, unless a Pedestrian is also a driver, I’m not sure how they will be aware of these restrictions. Perhaps it is time to issue Pedestrian licenses? At the very least it would force ...

I got my UK provisional driver's license (Learner's permit) in the mail last week. Now to find a driving school...