Roving Reporter Dana relives her less-than-spectacular early days on the road after getting her P-plates with less than 120 hours' driving practice under her belt.
"Shut up! I can do this," I remember screaming at my mum and brother as I struggled to reverse out of the driveway, half an hour after receiving my P-plates. Yes, that's right - I passed the test and couldn't reverse! Not my finest hour, but I'm stubborn and I was determined to get my Ps on my 18th birthday.
The irony of getting my Ps and not being able to drive is not something I am particularly proud of.
What went wrong?
I remember getting my learner's permit and a nice shiny pamphlet from the TAC promoting something along the lines of 120 hours practice. Looking back now, I must have lost that pamphlet because the whole concept seems foreign to me.
I'm never one to break the rules or ignore recommendations on purpose, but my nine hours of driving experience just didn't cut it.
Driving lucky
You might be wondering how on earth I managed to pass the test (well, I did have nine hours experience...), but I swear luck was riding in that car with me that day. I live near my local VicRoads office and my test involved driving past my house, school and local streets, which was sure to have helped and is not something most new drivers can boast about.
The bit of the test I dreaded the most was the low speed manoeuvre (LSM). I couldn't belive the generosity of the examiner when they asked for the three-point turn. I calmed down then, because I knew how to do a three-point turn. But there was no way I could do the other LSMs. Point-to-point reverse, reverse parking, angle parking... was I kidding myself? Why was I doing my driving test?
Learning on your Ps
Now this is the scary part. I feel sorry for the other drivers out there that had to suffer my erratic driving. Not only did I have to gain the confidence that all new drivers must gain with experience, I also had to learn how to drive.
I couldn't park my own car. The very back of shopping centre carparks became my friend. Changing lanes was a nightmare - I was too nervous to branch out. Don't even ask about reversing. That took a lot of time to learn.
120 Hours
After my experiences, I now support the TAC's recommendations 100 per cent. I cannot help but cringe when I see those 120 hours experience ads on TV and in print. I was a failure as a P-plater, but I hope that future drivers won't be.
So take my advice as an inexperienced P-plater: you need to make sure that the hours of practise do build up.
Beg your parents to take you out. Save up and pay for professional driving lessons. Do what you have to. Just don't be like me, the P-plater who still can't parallel park.
But hey, I'm learning, and no accidents as of yet. Touch wood.
TAC here to help
Make sure you check out the TAC's road safety learning website where you can register for an online logbook (external link) to record your practice as you head towards 120 hours.
With all this practice you'll be getting, the TAC will reward you with free ring tones for your mobile phone when you reach certain targets along the way.
So get driving and logging now.
For more on P and L plates, visit our Learning to drive section.
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