TP Trilogy Part 1

This is first installment of my TP trilogy.

TP 1
17/3/2010 (Wed)
Warm-up: 0815
Test: 0915

It has been two weeks since my last practice and I felt really off form. I was very nervous during the warm-up and I could totally tell this wasn't going to be smooth during the test.

Although I've always believed in success via my own strength, I still heeded my mum's words and went for a session of praying last weekend to 'borrow' the powers of gods to aid me. I got a charm for the TP- an orange I was supposed to eat after my warm up. And I did. I ate it but I still can't help feeling that this is totally not going to help me.

After that, I went up and waited in a small room on the third floor together with the rest of the candidates. I was called shortly after and after checking my particulars followed the examiner to the test car.

First up was the circuit. I was tense but I thought it doesn't matter as long as I was focused. Preoccupied with my excessive thoughts, I didn't notice the examiner checking the rear, which was a major hint that he's going to pull off an emergency stop. When he tapped, I braked instinctively but forgot to clutch in, thus causing the engine to die. I was stunned and forgot to start the engine immediately and move off. I had a tick against both delay in restarting stalled engine and moving off but wasn't penalised.

Next was the S course. I entered the S course fast and proceeded at that speed but had to stop halfway cuz the driver in front had stopped. The examiner and I sat in there for like 20 seconds or so, staring at the car in front since there's nothing to do. Then for some reason, he decided to look out of his side window and said, 'I think you strike kerb already.' I told him that I didn't feel anything just now and asked if he's sure. He simply took a glance outside and repeated,'Strike kerb already.'

Wow. I can't believe it. I striked the kerb for the first time in my 3 months of driving. And in a test too. I always thought it was impossible to strike the kerb since I've never experienced it before.

But I didn't give up hope. I calculated that at most I would have 14 points so far. I still have 4 points to buffer a failure to check blind spot. But I would have to perfect the rest of my circuit. And I did. (Or at least I thought so. When I checked afterwards, I saw that he penalised me for stationary steering during parking)

I was a bit shaky on the road at first, same as during my warm up. But I got a little better after a while. I thought I have probably few mistakes here and there unknowingly but I was still holding on to the possibility that maybe I haven't failed yet.

And then came the incident where my failure was ascertained.

It happened when I was on my way back to BBDC. I stopped at the T-junction between Bukit Batok Road and Bukit Batok West Ave 7 cuz of the red light. During the red light, a cyclist overtook me. When it was green, I signalled right, checked my rear view mirror, saw a car approaching from very far away. I decided it was safe and proceeded with the checking of my side mirror and blind spot before moving off. This took about 5 seconds. When I moved off, the car was much nearer already and I wasn't aware of that. When I was on the 2nd lane, I hadn't picked up the speed fast enough and the car behind had already signalled right to avoid my car.

The examiner said I caused the car behind to take evasive action because I had switched lanes dangerously. What's more, there's nobody behind me to rush me and I could even possibly stayed on the left most lane and tailed the bicycle without obstructing traffic.

Mistakes:
10 pt-Strike kerb (S-Course)
8 pt-Cause other vehicles to slow down or take evasive action
4 pt-Abrupt lane changing
2 pt-Fail to use appropriate gear
2 pt-Steering when vehicle is stationary

Total: 26 pt (Fail)

_________

To spur myself to achieve perfection, I had told everyone that I'm aiming for a perfect score. Needless to say, I felt more embarrassment than disappointment by the result.

My dad commented about how I talked of getting 0 demerit points and yet couldn't even pass. 'Not so easy right?'

But I didn't let failure get to me.

I'm pretty sure things could have turned out any other way. Striking the kerb? Deep down, I was unconvinced. And any other time, I probably wouldn't have a problem overtaking a cyclist safely (But this one's undeniably my fault la). Without either of these, I would have passed. Zzz..

Little did I know then that this was not going to be my only 'unfortunate' incident. I was to get used to failures in the TPs to come.

To be continued...


From my Past,
To my Future