It is not in my nature to boast. But safety always comes first to me.
For instance, when I decided to take driving classes, from that very instant when I sat behind the wheel beside the old lady instructor, I knew I would walk out of the driving institute with a driving license and a pledge to ensure a safe driving environment.
You know, reliable.
On my first day on the road, the instructor, who had boasted of her years of experience and expertise, choked, wheezed and mumbled under her breathe with her hands folded through the hour. There was just the incident of driving up onto the pavement, reversing onto dustbins and creating a small line of school buses and cars honking and hooting unnecessarily when I braked in the middle of a busy road. But every one of my actions were intended on saving a human life – strange humans who appeared unexpectedly into my line of vision.
At the end of the class, my instructor took my hands in hers and thanked me profusely with tears in her eyes. She even mentioned having children at home.
The lady must have been depressed.
That was the last I saw of her.
In the classes that ensued, I was assigned a male instructor. All through the first class, he just sat rigid, staring. However, he warmed up in the classes that followed for I often heard him say, between deep breaths, that I was a ‘rare’ sort of student. He even told me that I was talented enough to do things with the car that even the manufacturer had failed to think of.
Nevertheless, after 40 plus classes and having picked up a thing or two, I passed my test.
When I went to thank him with the news, wonder why he seemed shocked.
He must have had some hair-raising experiences, as I reckon that not all students could have been as safe as me, for he said that he was planning on a career change.
Dear Friends, wishing you all a lovely weekend!
It is no news that there is every kind of driver on the road – the over-confident newbies, the adrenaline junkies who view the road as a Formula 1 racing track and test their driving skills with the likes Vettel and Hamilton, the jugglers who believe that driving can be multi tasked with adding the final touches to makeup, texting and taking a peek into social media and then there are the others who take caution and safe driving so seriously that walking the way would be a better option.
So the choice becomes yours on what you value more – saving a life or saving time.
Happy Driving!
Great words of encouragement and inspiration for others to follow.
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Thank you, Kamal! Wishing you a happy Sunday!
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Welcome and a great Sunday to you too stay blessed
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forget your driving classes. Those classes definitely has added to the incidence of heart attacks(among those innumerable driving instructors). what is important is that you drive well now, respecting lives. safe driving!
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Kudos to those instructors, mine was an epitome of patience in itself.
On a more serious note, you must definitely be witness to many accident cases that have ended tragically. Absolutely, Doctor, respecting lives and driving safe.
Wishing you a happy Sunday, Doctor!
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Such an important message presented so well Pranitha, which only you can do! I am very poor at multitasking while driving. Would rather concentrate on the road, as in India, anybody can turn from anywhere, and the red signal need not necessarily mean stop in the absence of a policeman 😉
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I can totally understand, Radhika. As if the cows, dogs, cyclists, speeding motobikes and truck drivers are not a distraction enough. 🙄
Thank you so very much , Radhika. Wishing to a relaxed and happy Sunday😍
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While in Dubai, i went to learn at EDI, and took some 15 classes or so, but failed to appear at the tests because of my job’s nature. But those lessons helps me even today to drive safely in Kerala. Nice post, Pradita.
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I myself took my lessons at EDI, Sunith, an interesting as well as a challenging time it was, having started with no idea of driving or the physiology of cars. Safety is one that is constantly emphasized. Glad it came to use when you drive on Kerala roads that are rampant with buses that fly over the place. At least that happens in Palakkad.
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Kochi is also notorious esp. the private buses.
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don’t forget those two-wheelers, who have a set of rules laid out for and by themselves!
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Thank you Sunith🙏🏻
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to add, to drive in Kerala, we need to take a few flying lessons too 🙂
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Oh yes, I totally and completely agree. How many little school- going children have lost their lives due to these flying buses, which only till date have appeared in Superhero cartoons other than the roads of Kerala.
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very true.
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Great post ..Continue safe driving practice God bless
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Thank you Feree! Hope you had a good Sunday
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NO mention ji …
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😁
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I failed my driving test 6 times. I’m just putting that out there!
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Where driving is concerned, every failure is a stepping stone to better driving and better safety on the road. It’s just that you must have bags of money for the expensive classes!
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I just kept moving about and taking the test without the lessons!
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😂😂
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I don’t drive as I live in a walkable city with fairly good transit options but I could certainly relate to your post as our news is filled with devastating pieces on the many lives lost due to distracted driving or ignoring red lights – on a lighter note, I often drive in my dreams and quite well if I say so myself!
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Haha🤣 You are not alone there, Kim. I too, like you, drive in my dreams these days as the husband refuses to part with his car and I am yet to get one of my own.
Such a pleasure having you here, Kim. Have a wonderful day!
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My pleasure!
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“So it is your choice as to what you value more – saving a life or saving time by multitasking.”
That is such a perfect line. Kudos to your dedication to safety!
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Thank you, QG!
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I know it gets difficult these days on the road. Most of the times people do not even realise with what wrong they are doing. I have driving for more than 8 years now and still tend to be cautious when the traffic seems more than I can handle. And I get to see people who are newbies or the rash drivers, I just don’t understand why can’t they care enough for their own lives?
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A little caution can save lives. Unfortunately, only tickets and cameras seem to serve as reminders
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I know, it’s just on the part of humanity.
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Absolutely, Moushmi!
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Nitha.. safety is the prime thing, no doubt at all.. nowadays people drive just to save their time and never bother about the lives in road.. if you are passionate, driving will become of that natural type
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Well said, Akhi!
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Yours truly is not different at all! 😀 😀
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Haha! Glad to have company
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You write so well Pranitha! It’s a pleasure to read your articles. This was my greatest fear before I learnt driving… ” what if I hurt someone?”
I can totally relate … it was nice to read your experiences:)
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Thank you Deepika🙏🏻lovely to have you here too😍
So glad you have overcome your fears. I need to work on that too.
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Ha ha that was witty ! Brings back my memories. My instructor seriously had doubts how I passed my PG,
And when I used to speed past radar he used to say, u want a photo to send to your parents !
Nevertheless glad been driving Dubai roads for more than 10 years. DRIVE SAFE !
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Even though your instructor had his doubts you have proved him wrong and driving the Dubai roads, Chitra 👏👏👏
My license sits in my wallet shiny without use. My safe ways and techniques gives Praveen the jitters and he refuses to part with his car, even for practice😏 until he changes his mind I will stick to writing about it
Glad to read your feedback, Chitra🙏🏻
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That was hilarious! 😂 Ente road testinu I was so tensed that I forgot to put the car in gear and kept wondering why the hell it wasn’t moving! 😂😂😂 Ippo athinekaal better aa but roadil ootikan athra aayittilla. Ini oottichu kai theliyikkanam. Achanum ammayum aduth irunnal sheriyavoola. We end up scaring each other. 😂😂😂😂
But that’s so true. The way some drive.. it’s hard not to wonder whether they want an express ticket to hell! (Heaven’s too good for them) Zig-zag aayitt okke aanu ootikkunnath. Helmet vakkilla, seat belt idoola and to top all that off – can’t stay away from their mobile phones. Wrong sideil koode overtake cheyyoolu. Two-wheelersum autos aanu main. 😁😁😁😁
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Oh you covered it all, Shweta! ( this time even auto correct got it right) appol njan ottikyanathu kandaal I dunno what you will say. My face and expression is enough to scare everyone, no doubt the husband keeps me clear of his precious car🙄
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Yay! Yay! Yayyyy! I’m so happy. 😁 Autocorrect avassanam vazhikk vannu. Don’t worry, dear. Nammal randu perum ore kanakka enna enikk thonunnath. Njan roadil ootikkumbol koode irikkaan Ammakku vaiyya ennu paranju. Appo veetilum ente laneilottum restricted aanu “ente driving”. 😂 Tension adichal pinne enikk ellaam koode pokum. Ippo license strictly Oru ID maathram aayitt irikkuke aanu. 😂😂😂 Ini ennenkilum roadil vandi irakkumbol kand ariyaam 😂😂😂 Dubaiyil license ondo? Btw avide driving side vyathyassam ille?
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Dubai il mathrame license ullu , Indian license illa. Driving side opposite aanu, athanne njan bufhimuttitaanu try chaiyunnathu, side maatiyal kazhizhu. So glad I am not alone😌
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Ohhhh 😂 enikk Indian license maathre ollu. 😂😂😂 Bakki try cheyyaan avassaram kittiyittilla. 😂😂😂 No dear, you’re not alone. I can assure you. 😁😁😁
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Haha… you have a loooong life and lots of opportunities awaiting you my dear. With your ambition, you will go far.
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Haha 😂😂😂😂 thanks for the vote of confidence. Only time will tell 😁
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😎
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This was a great read and reassured me of my driving skills! I’m glad you are a safe driver , we need more of those!
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Thank you so very much, Acire! Wish I had that much confidence on my own skills too😞
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Great read
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Hey, thank you very much
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