David’s driving journey

In 2018 I decided I wanted to learn to drive and I wanted to get my learner’s permit. Debby (mum) had heard about a two day driving course for pre learner drivers, so she booked me into that in January 2018. I thought I would need some help understanding the teachers, so my sister Emily went with me to do some Auslan interpreting for me.

I was excited but also very nervous about starting to drive. I sat in a room with the other students and we started to learn some rules about driving. There was a lot to learn! After lunch the fun started and we finally got to have a drive! Each teacher had 2 to 3 students in their car. My teacher’s name was Annmaree and she was very nice. There was only me and one other student in my car. One of us drove and the other one sat in the back. The roads looked the same as real roads. There were stop signs, train crossings, traffic lights and the other drivers. We were safe behind gates but it felt like we were driving on the road.  

Annmaree showed us how to start the car. Emily and I sat in the back seat because I wanted to watch the girl first. Annmaree told the girl to start the car and move out of park. She drove around the roads for half an hour then it was my turn to drive. I started the car and put it in drive. I started to drive but I was a little slow. By the end of the second day, I was loving it!

I loved it so much that I decided to sit for my Learner’s test so I could go out on the real roads. I went and had my eyes checked because I knew I would have to do an eye test. I got new glasses and Mum bought me a learner book to study. It took me some time to work through the book and ask questions. There was a lot to learn. When I felt I was ready I did some practice tests on the computer. I practiced the tests until I got them all right. Mum found me more tests and I practiced those too. Mum thought I knew my rules so she booked me in for my test. I think mum was more nervous than me. I was shown a computer and mum explained the instructions. Then she left and I did the test. I started the test, it was ok. The man at VicRoads told me to get mum. When we were together he told us I had passed. Mum screamed and hugged me and I started to cry because I passed! I passed my eye test, had my photo and was very, very excited. I wanted to drive home but mum said no. She told me I needed lessons first. When I got home, I asked mum to take my photo with my “L” plates. She did and I put it on Facebook. I was so happy. Mum called Annmaree that day and I started having lessons. Mum or Em came with me and they taught Annmaree some Auslan signs that were good for driving. 

In February I decided to buy a car because mum had a big car and she said I needed something smaller to drive. We went to Toyota to look at cars and we found a Rav 4 that I liked. We went for a test drive and we went home to talk about it. I bought it the next day. It was new and safe and I could see well. I was so excited.

My driving lessons were good and sometimes not so good. I had to concentrate hard and sometimes the new roads confused me. I started to get really good on the roads I drove on lots but some of the new roads worried me because they were busy and I couldn’t always understand what Annmaree was telling me. It was great she had her own pedals because at the start she had to use them! I had a lesson every week and slowly started to add new roads. I recorded my hours in a book.

In 2019 I started to drive home from TAFE where I was studying. Every Tuesday Annmaree would meet me and I would drive home. My driving was getting better everyday. In between the lessons Mum let me drive everywhere in my car with her watching me. I learned to drive to my sister’s and brothers’ houses, my medical appointments and to the city to hospital appointments. Most of the time I was a good driver but sometimes I made mum stressed! When she calmed down we drove again!

Sometimes we laugh or cry but then we moved on.

2020 started well but then COVID came. I stayed home lots and didn’t do too much driving. I drove to the paddock to see my horse but that was all. Mum didn’t want me out because she worried about COVID and then in lockdown I wasn’t allowed to practice. Later in the year I started having lessons again. I had done more than 120 hours of driving and I wanted to get my “P’s”. Mum said she wanted me to have more night driving and more driving learning to change lanes on freeways.

Finally, I told mum I’m sick of lockdown and I’m ready to get my license and be independent. I want to drive to the paddock and feed my horse. Mum thought about it and said okay. She thought I was ready. My mum tried to book me in for my license and hazard test but she couldn’t because of lockdown. She told me she would look online some more. She read about going for licenses in lockdown if you have a medical condition or if lockdown is making something hard. We needed to get a letter from our doctor for VicRoads. Mum helped me fill out the form online and upload the doctor’s letter, and only half an hour later I got an email from VicRoads telling me my application was successful. They rang Mum and asked when did I want to book in. Mum was so excited that she booked me in the next day for my hazard perception test. VicRoads sent me some online practice hazard perception tests. I did them all and mum found more. I practised those too. 

Mum was too nervous to take me, so Nellie, who interprets for me, took me. Mum told me to just try my best. She said if I fail I could just try again. I gave mum a hug and Nellie drove me to VicRoads for the test. She explained what I had to do and then sat on a chair away from me. I had 3 practice questions and then the real test. I worked through the questions. I was nervous. I didn’t know if I was getting them right or wrong. I thought it was easy but I really didn’t know. At the end of the test the paper comes out of the printer. I still didn’t know if I passed. Nellie came and got the paper and we gave it to the VicRoads man. His eyes smiled but I couldn’t see his face because he had a mask on and then he said “You passed, congratulations!”

Nellie and I decided to play a trick on mum. When we got home she was standing outside waiting for me. We both got out of the car. I said to her “bad luck mum I not pass”. Then I ran back to the car and got my test. I told her I passed and she cried and hugged me. I told her I had booked in my test for Monday. 

On Friday, Saturday and Sunday I did lots of driving. I practised on the roads and I got a sore neck because mum kept telling me I need to turn my head more for the test when I change lanes. I was going to use my car for the test and Nellie was coming with me to interpret. On Monday one lady from VicRoads called Mum. She said Nellie can’t interpret because she had to be with a different interpreting agency. I felt nervous, worried and sad. Nellie drove me to my test on Monday because mum was too nervous. Mum hugged me and told me not to stress. She said do your best. It doesn’t matter if you don’t pass because you can try again. We left and mum was crying.

When we arrived at VicRoads the other interpreter wasn’t there yet. I did my eye test and passed. Nellie helped me with the paperwork. The other interpreter arrived and Nellie moved away. I had to do a pre drive test. They asked me to turn on lights, toot the horn, show them my demisters, put the windscreen wipers on, use the indicators and the hazard lights. That all went well. Now it was time to go out on the road. I was feeling nervous. I was going out with an interpreter I didn’t know and an assessor that I had never met. Off I went. I started off well. I had practised all weekend. When we went under the bridge he asked me to turn right. I started to stress because we didn’t practise going right, only left. I didn’t have time to worry. I had to concentrate on the roads and listen for instructions. Sometimes we stopped and they told me what to do next. I had to do a reverse park and a three point turn. I went on lots of different roads. I drove for 40 minutes and then we were back at VicRoads. The assessor was adding up my marks. He told me I passed and I couldn’t believe it. I rang Mum. She cried. She was so happy. Everyone was happy.

I now have green ‘P’s’ on my car. I can drive alone. I have ticked off another one of my NDIS goals. I want to tell you all to follow your heart and work on your goals. My mum always says to me that I can try everything. Sometimes it will take me longer to learn a new skill like driving but she always tells me to have a go. Good luck to those of you learning to drive now. I know you will get your license one day too.

Take care, stay safe,

David