The day of the driving test. A lump in my throat, sweating hands and a carousel of horrible thoughts going round my head. Dozens of driving lessons and courses later, the day had come on which I could earn my ticket to driving on my own.
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Sophie’s driving test
I walked to the meeting point and my Fahrlehrer (driving instructor) greeted me. He gave me a friendly, encouraging look. Then, a short while later, the examiner arrived. The man who was going to decide whether I had my driving skills under control. He greeted me with a poker face and asked me the most inappropriate question imaginable, which I need not go into here because anyone can picture it for themselves.
Oh God, right, pull away, whatever you do don’t stall. Good, that bit is done. Keep both hands on the wheel at all times. Glance to the side, glance behind, and again from the top. Then my worst nightmare. I saw more than 4 roundabouts lying ahead of me. All right, I can manage this. At the second roundabout came his first comment: «We are not in a racing car here». Right, that was that, he is not going to pass me.
Then a set of lights, green, still green, don’t hit the brake, then amber! Damn, now it really was over. First the roundabouts at that speed and then straight through an amber light. «Please pull into the car park on the right», he told me. Fine, now my parking skills are definitely going to be tested. Parking I can do. Nose first. We got out and inspected my handiwork. Nailed it!
Next space, parallel parking. Work out the angle, don’t forget the checks. Time was racing; I thought only 5 minutes had passed since we left the car park. Instead he told me to take the motorway back to the meeting point. Driving on the motorway is not hard, only merging gave me a little trouble.
At last! The engine was off and I climbed out of the car drenched in sweat. He looked at me sceptically and asked: «What do you think, have you passed the test?». Of course not, what a stupid question. But before I could answer, he pressed a stamp onto my Lernfahrausweis (learner’s permit) and said: «Congratulations, you have passed. But in future please don’t race round roundabouts like that, and only go when the light is the colour of a lime».
You will find more information in the blog article «Driving licence Switzerland».