Reversal of Roles

One of the consequences of moving here has been a reversal of roles. Back in Australia I was the householder and my daughter came and lived with me for a while. She borrowed my car, having been taught to drive primarily by me (as was my son who also lived with me from time to time).

However, I am now staying with my daughter as she is the householder. I have managed that part relatively easily (although we sometimes have little disagreements about who is paying for things, as in, she often will not let me!!!!).

The really strange situation has occurred due to the driving restrictions here. I had to take her along with me in order to be able to get a driving license. She had to sign for me (a bit like a parent sometimes has to if you are under 18….) and then I had another eye test followed by the computer questions. You get 20 and must get 15 right at which point it stops. I then was given a printed learners permit (no photo).

What came next was surreal. She said, do you want to drive? I eventually did, realizing I was driving her car under her supervision as I am not yet allowed to drive on my own (i.e. until I pass my full test). I must admit it felt weird and a real reversal of roles to put it mildly.

Still I do have to get used to lots of different situations on the road. For example, T junctions. Everywhere else I have driven (in Europe and Australia) in a T junction, the road going across the bar at the top of the T has right of way. Here, in many instances it is the road coming up the stem that has right of way. The road going across the top usually has stop signs.

Just to make it more confusing, at some T junctions, every direction has a stop sign.

The other thing that seems very weird is that I am used to white lines across the road at junctions, i.e. a solid line across the road at a Stop sign, and a dotted one at a Give Way. Here, there may or may not be solid lines at stop junctions or with Yield (Give Way) signs. Just a little off putting.

Also, there are often Stop signs (and road markings) in car parks. Many of the shopping car parks here are open areas, (i.e. a large parking lot) but with these Stop signs dotted around which of course you have to obey.

Mind you, after reversing out of the spot in the car park, I then had to really think about what side of the lane I was to drive on….. Could be interesting.

Finally, car doors tend to lock automatically when you reach 15 mph here. So just after you have started driving there is a sudden clunk as all the doors lock themselves.

I actually think that is a very good idea.