On Eagle's Wings

Saturday, October 07, 2006

3:15 PM

A Week of continuous Driving

Life has been a routine. A day of a driver trainee is as follows:

5 am: Wake up
5.20am: Breakfast
5.50am: Answer nature's call and area cleaning (but no one bothers, since it's not our permanent home)
6.30am: Depart to the driving centre.
8am: Theory, Highway code and more highway code and sometimes driving a stimulator
12pm: Lunch
1pm: Circuit driving, reverse parking
5pm: Dinner
6pm: Return to Sembawang

After this week, I got a better understanding of the highway code. I realised that Singaporeans don't abide by the rules of the road.

The Idiot's guide to Highway code:

Are you able to overtake a vehicle on a road with a double parallel white lines in the middle?

Yes, as long as the tyres do not cross the white lines.

2. No stopping within 9m of the bus stop

3. Many vehicles exceed their speed limit.

4. Many vehicles exceed the stop line when approaching a traffic junction which is wrong. Should stop before the line.

5. Vehicles should stop when they see the "STOP" sign, irregardless of whether it is safe to proceed. After stopping and confirming it's safe to proceed, drive on cautiously.

6. In an uncontrolled junction,
a) straight moving vehicles has a right of the way.
b) Always give way to the vehicle on your right. vehicles moving from your right has the right of the way.

Idiot's guide to driving:

1. When moving off from a upslope, change your gear to gear 1, depress the clutch pedal to the biting point and press the accelerator pedal slightly, release handbrake and set off.

2. Do not press the clutch pedal fully when travelling upslope, cause it will result in the vehicle moving backwards.

3. Do not press the clutch pedal with the accelerator pedal.

4. Do not press the clutch pedal when negotiating a turn.

5. Change your gear to gear 2 when negotiating a sharp turn and 3 for a wider turn.

It's quite interesting to see how many beginners like me learn driving. One of my platoon mate (from my unit) actually crashed into the lamp post near the zebra crossing ( the lamp post that looks like a lollipop, with blinking lights to warn drivers to slow down when approaching the pedestrian crossing) during his first lesson. The 'ball' of the lamp post actually 'flew' off. And now my poor friend has a phobia when he sees the lamp post. LoLz.

I, myself nearly met with an accident. I was trying to move up from a gentle gradient in my 2nd lesson and I do not know how to handle it. My vehicle actually move backwards and nearly hit the front of the vehicle behind. And now, I do have a phobia when trying to overcome a slope.

All these are just a learning process. It's going to be fun driving on the public road on Wednesday. But first, I have to pass my highway code test on Monday.

You who dwell in the shelter of the Lord
who abide in his shadow for life
Say to the Lord, "My refuge,
my rock in whom I trust!"

And He will raise you up
On Eagle's wings
bear you on the breath of dawn,
make you to shine like the sun
and hold you in the palm of his hand

The snare of the fowler will never capture you
and famine will bring you no fear
Under his wings your refuge,
His faithfulness your shield

And He will raise you up
On Eagle's wings
bear you on the breath of dawn,
make you to shine like the sun
and hold you in the palm of his hand

You need not fear the terror of the night,
nor the arrow that flies by day,
though thousands fall about you,
Near you it shall not come.
And He will raise you up
On Eagle's wings
bear you on the breath of dawn,
make you to shine like the sun
and hold you in the palm of his hand

For to his angels he's given a command
to guard you in all of your ways;
up on their hands they will bear you up,
lest you dash your foot against a stone
And He will raise you up
On Eagle's wings
bear you on the breath of dawn,
make you to shine like the sun
and hold you in the palm of his hand