I first learnt how to drive in 1989. Before that, I used to be afraid to even cross a street. It was no wonder that most of the people that I knew so well could not belive their eyes when I showed them my driving license. To be honest, I had to pick up much courage to actually do it because there was a sudden turn of events in my life and I had to be independent. The funny thing was that as soon as I got a’license’ to drive the fear came all over again. At that time, I did not own a car but I was still staying with my parents and my father offered me to drive his car. I was afraid to drive my father’s car because it was not mine. I did not have the confidence and was afraid that I would get his car hit. I think it was all psychological. Finally, I saved enough money to buy a second hand’Charade’ thinking that I would dare to drive, now that I have my own car. However, it took me actually 6 months to drive the car to work. It lay parked in the garage and for 6 months my good friend chided me suggesting that I should actually’frame’ my license on the wall just for show.
At my place, having a car was a necessity because the public transport was unreliable at that time. What happened was that one fine morning, I plucked enough courage to drive to work and my feet was trembling all the time. It was worse when I had to stop at traffic lights especially when the traffic lights happened to be on a hilly road.I finally reached my work place and was glad that I did it. From that day onwards, there was no turning back. I have even travelled alone between the different states in my country. In my opinion, if you fear anything, you just have to overcome it once and then it would be fine. Thanks to my’Charade’. It served me for 6 years. I am now driving an automatic brand new car and I think I prefer automatic cars because it is more convenient. This is more so if you are always caught up in a traffic jam. My advise to the ladies especially is to learn how to drive because you have a long road ahead of you! Highly recommendable.