On this day fifty years ago, 10th December 1974 I passed my driving test...
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It was a nondescript winter's day, much like today, in fact. Several degrees above zero, cloudy, no memorable wind, no rain. Just another dull day. Except that this was the day I was taking my driving test. I took it in the driving school's light blue Triumph Toledo that I'd mostly learnt on. It was going to turn out to be a memorable day. After an hour's preliminary lesson, me and instructor Mike parked up outside the driving test centre. It was mid-morning in the Surrey suburb; the traffic should be reasonable.
Then, I caught a glimpse in the rear view mirror. There was something familiar about the girl in the car behind. She was someone I'd met at the college where we were both students of French earlier in the year and I fancied the socks off her. She'd left and gone to another college and I hadn't seen her for months. And here she was! We exchanged waves, and when we got out and met it was 'what a place to meet!' A few questions about our respective studies, and then we sat down to wait our respective turns. Which duly came.
We went of on our respective routes. In those days the driving test consisted firstly of a practical test - driving in traffic plus a few specialist manoevres like an emergency stop, reversing round a corner and a hill start, These were followed by a few random questions on the Highway Code. There was no separate theory test. When it was all over the examiner told me, very deadpan: 'That is the end of the test and I am pleased to tell you that you have passed'. Mike appeared and asked how it had gone. He'd guessed, I think. 'The girl in the Mini passed' he added. And. ..she'd already gone on her way.
Back at the technical college I shared the good news with my fellow students. 'It's like being on top of the world!' said one lad who'd passed his test earlier on in the year. 'And you know who turned up in the car behind!' Of course they knew. 'It was meant to be!' another of them joked, Of course it wasn't. Not in any way, shape or form. I saw that girl on a few occasions over the following years as we moved into adulthood. I went to university. She got married, What did happen was an amusing coincidence which comes up sometimes in discusstions about probability, and which illustrates that 'unlikely' isn't the same thing as 'impossible'.
I'm not much of a driver these days. I cover nothing like the mileage that I did even a decade ago. Traffic levels, surveillance and parking issues have all blunted its appeal. Together with the fact that for many journeys a bicycle, train, bus or even walking make more sense. Fifty years on I am left with the impression that the golden age of motoring is over. I've always liked cars. But I'm just not so keen on driving anymore!
It was a nondescript winter's day, much like today, in fact. Several degrees above zero, cloudy, no memorable wind, no rain. Just another dull day. Except that this was the day I was taking my driving test. I took it in the driving school's light blue Triumph Toledo that I'd mostly learnt on. It was going to turn out to be a memorable day. After an hour's preliminary lesson, me and instructor Mike parked up outside the driving test centre. It was mid-morning in the Surrey suburb; the traffic should be reasonable.
Then, I caught a glimpse in the rear view mirror. There was something familiar about the girl in the car behind. She was someone I'd met at the college where we were both students of French earlier in the year and I fancied the socks off her. She'd left and gone to another college and I hadn't seen her for months. And here she was! We exchanged waves, and when we got out and met it was 'what a place to meet!' A few questions about our respective studies, and then we sat down to wait our respective turns. Which duly came.
We went of on our respective routes. In those days the driving test consisted firstly of a practical test - driving in traffic plus a few specialist manoevres like an emergency stop, reversing round a corner and a hill start, These were followed by a few random questions on the Highway Code. There was no separate theory test. When it was all over the examiner told me, very deadpan: 'That is the end of the test and I am pleased to tell you that you have passed'. Mike appeared and asked how it had gone. He'd guessed, I think. 'The girl in the Mini passed' he added. And. ..she'd already gone on her way.
Back at the technical college I shared the good news with my fellow students. 'It's like being on top of the world!' said one lad who'd passed his test earlier on in the year. 'And you know who turned up in the car behind!' Of course they knew. 'It was meant to be!' another of them joked, Of course it wasn't. Not in any way, shape or form. I saw that girl on a few occasions over the following years as we moved into adulthood. I went to university. She got married, What did happen was an amusing coincidence which comes up sometimes in discusstions about probability, and which illustrates that 'unlikely' isn't the same thing as 'impossible'.
I'm not much of a driver these days. I cover nothing like the mileage that I did even a decade ago. Traffic levels, surveillance and parking issues have all blunted its appeal. Together with the fact that for many journeys a bicycle, train, bus or even walking make more sense. Fifty years on I am left with the impression that the golden age of motoring is over. I've always liked cars. But I'm just not so keen on driving anymore!
61-69, M
