A driving compulsion
Before I got my driving licence, I was the ultimate passenger, uncaring of my surroundings and blissfully unaware of anything that was relevant to the person in the driving seat.
Then I got my licence... and now, when I'm the passenger instead of the driver, I find it utterly impossible to be my former careless, unheeding self. For instance, at T-junctions when we're waiting to turn right, I simply can NOT stop myself from looking left to see if there are any approaching vehicles, and then to the right again - in textbook fashion, exactly as stipulated in the Highway Code. Except, of course, I'm not driving, so it doesn't matter a jot what I do.
I've tried to deliberately not bother to see what's coming, to leave it to my chauffeur (usually Pete) to watch out for traffic - but no, my head turns automatically to the left. It's like synchronised swimming, only in my case I guess you can call it synchronised looking! That instinct is just too strong to ignore, and I guess I have my driving instructor to thank for it. So, nearly 10 years on, here's to you, Mr John Thornton. You were the best.
2 comments:
Remember that infamous phrase "back seat driving"? I guess this happens to a good many people. What irks me the most though is when drivers expect you to drive exactly like the way they do interspersed with screeches of, "Brake NOWWW!!" when the red light or other vehicle is about a million miles ahead of you.
You know i didn' tknow about this blog from you :-)
Ok till now I haven't learned to drive as when i started learning 23 yrs ago I drove into a ditch together with Hans and after tha ti haven't dared to drive. SO i am happy to sit in the passenger seat :-)
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