22th July 2002 Mon 10.20pm

Went to Novena Square for breakfast cum lunch. Just returned from booking studio at Yamaha at Plaza Singapura. Remind me to buy a pair of dancing shoes for next driving lesson. Going to be on road soon.

I was wishing hard that I won’t meet the lousy instructor again but somehow my request went unheard. I’m going to learn slope driving today (thinking that it is quite challenging) and better let Imam or Rahmad to teach. Oh boy, how disappointing it was. However, after the lesson, it doesn’t sound that bad because I was able to clear this subject. Saw one female instructor today. I was told there are about 4 female instructors of which one of them teaches motorbike.

1. Moving on a slope. (Situation according to the circuit) Change to gear and signal left (with usual procedures, mirror etc.) before turning to the slope. If there is no car on the slope, proceed on: Accelerate up and straighten the wheel when moving uphill. When moving downhill, apply engine brake (let go of accelerator pedal suddenly without depressing clutch & brake. As of when to apply, no particular point but maybe the moment the car starts to move downward. Use instinct.). When halfway down the slope, do clutching then braking and stop behind the stop line.

2. Stopping on a slope. Accelerate uphill and then clutch in and brake. Apply handbrake. Remember press the button and pull the handbrake to the highest or else can’t completely lock the rear wheel. Release the button then the handbrake. Slowly release the brake pedal.

3. Moving off from the slope. (Continued from “stopping on slope). While depressing clutch pedal, depress accelerator pedal so to have between 2-2.5k rps. Hold it there. (It can deflect a little between this range, need not be exact point. Release the clutch pedal to a biting point. (The point whereby the car surges a bit and it comes down to around 1k rps) Hold it in this position. Check rear view mirror. Signal right. Check right side mirror and right blind spot. Once clear, release handbrake. The car will move forward. (If the car didn’t move / move backward, that mean it is not a biting point. Release the clutch further but not completely.

Next lesson, which is 4 weeks later from now, is going to be my stage assessment which is supposed to be a test. If I pass it, I can go on to the road training. If not, I have to be tested again. Heard that tester is going to be a senior instructor. And my instructor said that I will be right turning to the slope. Kinda pressurized as my right turning is not quite mastered. It will mess up my nerve and concentration especially with so much cars often jammed up there. How am I going to cope with so many weeks without practice? I can’t imagine!

19th July 2002 Fri 5.40pm – slightly darker during training

To think that just now I actually can light-skip back home via MRT is amazing. Subject 11 finally cleared. Guess what? Imam today taught me. From our conversation he told me that he is the youngest instructor in SSDC, age22, older than me by 2 years. Studied in NAFA after O’ Level for nine months as interior designer, spending about S$10 000. But he quitted school after realising that he can’t go for exam because of 3 MC. So strict. Then he went for car and motorcycles licences at one sitting each. Wow. Out of 10 students, only he passed. Amazing rite? Then he sent resume to apply for driving instructors post. Out of 200 resumes, 100 are called for interviews and only 6 get the job. They need to have passes in O’ Level and have 3 years driving experience. The money is good because there are really lot of trainees. For 1 session, there will be 100 students each paying S$57.89. Today he works from 7am to 9pm. Long hours but really good pay.

He’s friendly, patient, always reassuring his students that they’re doing good. He makes people calm and enjoy the lesson and I realise I didn’t make so much mistake like last lesson. That’s why I am in a light mood right now. J But Imam has a little fault that is that he is quite chatty and can stray away from instructing me. That how I end up circulating the circuit several times. I got to make a mental note that I’m going to book him as my instructor for the revision. It worth’s it even if he’s new instructor.

First of all, he make me feel relax and keep telling me if I maintain that, I sure can make perfect skills. Exam won’t be a problem if I do not tense up during the process. The same stuff that my mum keeps telling me. (she also passed her exam at one sitting.) Then he realised that I have problem dealing with clutch because the engine motor starts to vibrate. He corrects me and I request him to start subject 11 all over again to make sure I do not miss any thing.

1. Remember that I need to step on accelerator first then slowly release the clutch 1-2 seconds later.

2. When turning round the bend, if at high speed, then I got to turn fast. And at low speed, turn slower. Other instructor told me when the kerb goes under the side mirror / following the centre white line, then start turning. But imam think when the kerb appear at bottom end of front view window, start turning. I think this method is better. Also need not steer so much as long as the car is turning according. And one big reminder is that need to look for blind spots!!!!!!

3. Use hand – over – hand method when turning right or left. Same to be used for turning the steering wheel to straighten the wheels.

4. The width of the car is 1.4 metres and length is about 4.4 metres. The height is about 1.4 metres. We did the poles to feel again the size of the car so next time I can estimate whether my car can go through narrow space. At the left & right poles styles, Imam can go through them at high speed without knocking them down. Bravo!

5. Stopping at uneven road, must pull up the handbrake. It’s safer. When moving off, depress accelerator slightly and release clutch to a biting point. Release the handbrake at this point. The car will go forward with rolling back.

6. When making a turn from major road to minor road, drive close to the centre line and stop with steering wheel straight leaving a lane length to the lane where I’m going. When coast is cleared, half clutching and turning slowly, not vigorous. When at traffic junction, you only see yellow box with no much reference. What you can do is to look at the lane you turning into.

Next lesson will be on slope. Imam told me that it’s not tough at all, just that I need to depress accelerator harder and apply handbrake. Believe him or my instinct?

17th July 2002 Wed 11.05pm

I met the worst car instructor again. How come I always end up like this. His English is REALLY very hard to understand and I don’t think I learn much from him. Waste my dad’s money!!!!!!!!!

Finally force myself to go to the theory lesson today. Before, I keep reminding myself to revise them once more because after so much months, I most probably forget the details. The teacher is an Indian man who has no Indian accent at all. Overall I think it’s an enlightening experience because I basically learn more today than what I learnt when preparing for the theory tests. And it adds to my advantage being a future driver rather than just to pass the tests. What’s a pity that I can only attend one such lesson. What he taught basically are the device controls and expressway etiquette. Notes are taken down onto the textbook.

1. There are 6 basic control devices. Steering wheel, gear controls, handbrake, accelerator, brake pedal, clutch pedal.

2. Legal road limit is 50km/h. Near school compound has no specified road limit but just to slow down depending on situation. At expressway, it will be 80km/h and 90km/h though many drivers will be going at 100km/h.

3. The speed of the car on expressway is so fast that it is not advisable to stop at road shoulder. There have been incidents that drivers RIP when stopping at shoulders to change tyres etc. the triangle should put at least 20m away (60m maybe) from the car to warn the other cars but this is proven not enough. 90m is recommended but seem not feasible.

4. To apply handbrake, press the button and pull it to the highest and release the button then the handbrake. This is to maximise the brakes so that on steep slope, the car will not move.

5. When moving/reversing at a very slow speed, need not depress accelerator. Just do biting point clutching and apply brake intermittently.

6. Right turning into minor road is enacted on textbook. Always turn to the nearest lane and not make wide turn.

The instructor kept complaining that I turned too much (2 rounds, should be only 1) and the car ended up on another way lane. Also got poor perception and missed many chances to turn. What crap! Just that I’m not confident especially at the angle of turning. He’s not making constructive criticisms. He should guide me along like what the previous instructor did, not letting me sit down there fending for myself. When am I going to have my Malay instructors back? If I am going to have him as my instructor for many times, I going to book a fixed instructor. Needless to say, I’m now stuck at subject 11. L Rotten mood the whole day!

15th July 2002 Mon 9.10pm – When am I going to Winter Countries again?

First time taking MRT to Yio Chu Kang. Walk all the way to my driving centre under the hot! hot! hot! Sun. By the time I was nearly late for the lesson. How come my estimation of time that bad? Often late for lectures, tutorials and exam! My instructor is the same guy who taught me last Friday. He always carries a palm-top so to illustrate some concepts that include diagrams. Traffic rules for today.

1. Stop line. Other than the ones on the zebra crossing (When no one is crossing) and Junctions (when green signal on), always stop (normally at side roads) or else at exam it will be immediate failure.

2. Need not stop at filter lane if there is no car on the right. Always look out for the right blind spot. Give way to the cars.

3. At pedestrians/zebra crossing. Slow down. Need not stop if there is no pedestrian even there is a stop line. Apply one lane rule. Whenever the pedestrians are within 1 lane away from the car, do not move. Until they walk 1 lane away from car, you can drive slowly. The Zigzag line at the roadside mean not to overtake, change lanes and parking at all time.

4. Yellow box. When the traffic before the box is congested, you are not allowed to enter yellow box whereas turning vehicle (from side road) are allowed.

5. Slow down whenever at junctions, side roads, zebra crossings. The speed reduction varies.

6. How to keep a safe distance at stop line. When bonnet covers partially the stop line, the car is actually about 3 metres away from the stop line. Too far, people may laugh. In order to have a safe distance away from the stop line, stop completely when the stop line appears partially covered by the side mirror (at the point whereby the mirror is joined to the car. This will leave 1m clearance to the stop line. As long as the vehicle bumper is behind it (less than 1m). To be even more secure, stop when the line reaches behind the mirror.

7. Safe distance between cars within a lane. One car for each 10km/h, i.e. 40km/h needs 4 cars in between. Another way is 2 seconds rule. Choose a stationary point and when the front vehicle pass it, start count “One thousand one, one thousand two”. If my car haven’t reach that point yet, it is considered a safe distance.

8. At minor road going to the major, always stop at the stop line first and look out for cars on the right then left. If the view is obstructed, inch out (go and brake and go) slowly. At the same time, prepare or even start to steer slightly.

9. Whenever turning left whether it is changing lanes or going to another road, always check left mirror and blind spot to ensure no motorcycle is between the kerb and me.

10.Merging signs: two lanes are merging, always give way to the vehicle right in front on the other lane. There is no priority that the vehicles on the right lane should have the right of way.

11.Sometime the examiner may be a bit tricky. For example, if there is a road sign indicating no turning right and the examiner wants you to turn right, you must warn him about the sign or else will get penalized. If he keeps insisting, it is him who bears the responsibility.

12.Priority of lanes arrows:
Straight – left – right | Straight – left, no right | Straight – right, no left | Left – right, no straight

13.The distance maintained between

­ The cars on 2 side-by-side lane should be about 1.5 metres.

­ Road work at the front side: 1m

­ People facing me: 1m

­ People back facing me: 1.5m

14.Never hog the road. Keep left other than changing lanes/ overtaking / turning right.

15.When turning out from minor to major road, look out for the oncoming car on the right. Some cars may signal right i.e. turning right into the minor road and not crossing my path, must wait till when the car starts to turn then I can move out. This is because sometime the drivers may forget to turn off signals/ turn on the wrong signal.

There will be a one month slacked before on road training…Hai can’t imagine how I am going to manage on the real road. Should have booked earlier.

12th July 2002 Fri 10.30pm

Finally unstuck myself from subject 8: sharp turnings. Very boring because I was doing what previous 2 sessions been doing. Instructor remarked that I’m quite inconsistent, sometime makes fantastic turns while other times, not too perfect. Different instructors taught different things. This one taught me to follow the centre white line (when you don’t see it, turn the steering wheel fast, never too late or else end with the rear wheel mounting kerb and never too early or else end with front wheel mounting kerb) while making a sharp turn on inner lane. I prefer this way.

1. When making a left turn as above situation shown,

­ At high speed, turn once when the front bumper meet the horizontal axis.

­ At moderate speed, turn once when half bonnet meet the horizontal axis.

­ At low speed, turn once when the side mirror meet the horizontal axis.

­ Straighten the wheels when they are parallel to the kerbs.

2. When moving off, always start with the lowest gear (1/2) as it has the greatest power. Starting with gear 3 and gear 4, the engine stalls very easily, can’t even move off.

3. When changing lanes, remember to check rear view mirror, signal, then check side mirror and blind spot before turning. Slow down. When turning, steer the wheel GRAUDUALLY. Very important!

I have removed the illustrations.

10th July 2002 Wed 9.20pm – Just realise I have forgotten some friends’ birthdays this week.

My instructor for the day is the one I mentioned on last Wed who I don’t like. But after the practice, I find him okay but a bit soft-spoken…. needed some ”pardon” to get his instructions.

1. When turning around the bend, never step on brake or accelerator. You should have braked (gear 2) /engine-brake and slow down before the turn. Gear 1 needs no braking as when release accelerator pedal, the car will definitely slow down. (Hee hee! I’m good at making Formula One turns.)

2. While entering filter lane, should look out for blind spot whether any car passing by.

3. At any junction when making a left turn, always try to positon the car at the left /centre of the lane so that it will not out of the lane. Wait till when the kerb line go under left side mirror / kerb corner touches the bonnet view, make a fast full-lock left turn. Return the steering wheel at a moderately speed.

4. Never depress accelerator pedal further while releasing the clutch pedal at biting point. This will cause the car to jerk and surge forward.

5. Whenever at a Stop-line, always stop before it (line covered partially by the mirror / bonnet over it). Give way to the major road. When turning left /right, make sure there’s no on coming car on all lanes within a distance.

8th July 2002 Mon 8.10pm – My sis’s birthday!

Listening to Life in Mono while typing.

First time having BBQ outside my house. Of course, all the females just sit back and relax while the males do the work. I have never barbequed any food before. I can’t stand the heat blasting into my face.

If you notice, I skip 2 entries: 9th and 10th July. Well pardon me for that. Saturday, I am looking through the modules and downloading some tutorial answer. And on Sunday, I went to East Coast Park till very late.

Today I’m feeling low. Very “KAYU” I am taught by another new instructor. This time’s a middle age Chinese. A quiet person. I feel he’s not my type of teacher. Too serious. First, he flooded me with many things but give me insufficient practices. There’s no clear-cut process which I afraid I may leave out some of the stuffs I learned. What I be trained for the fourth lesson:

1. When sit for practical exam, there will be 15 min warm-up. After that, when the examiner sit in, the mirrors and seats would have to adjusted. This is for the examiner’s perusal or else, marks will be deducted. Make sure not to leave any fingerprint on the rear view mirror.

2. Check the mirrors and blind spot every 5-10 seconds and also during overtaking, changing lanes and making turns. Also signal intention at least 3 seconds earlier.

3. Comparing rear view mirror and right side mirror. The reflection in rear view mirror is nearer and therefore much accurate than the one in side mirror. When there is a car behind on the right lane, you will notice when it accelerate, the side mirror will show it moving across and disappear. Now it will appear on where it is called blind spot.

4. Blind area is the immediate area around the car which the driver can’t see. It will be around 1 metre on the right side of the car, 4-5 metres on the left, 8-9 metres on the rear.

5. Overtaking. Whenever there is a slow moving / stationary vehicle in front. Look into the rear view mirror. Right signal on. Check right side mirror and then the right blind spot. When situation allows, accelerate gradually to the right lane. Signal left and returns to the left lane after making sure that the vehicle behind does not accelerate.

6. Changing lanes. Let say, changing to the left lane. Check the rear view mirror to see any car close behind. Signal left, check left side mirror and then left blind spot. Accelerate gradually and keep left..

7. Stopping at kerbside. Check rear view mirror. If there’s a car right behind, will have to apply brake intermittently as to warn the driver that I’m stopping. Signal left. Check left side mirror and left blind spot. Keep to left. Make sure the view of the kerb side adjoining the road is at the middle of bonnet. Open the door to check whether it’s a ½ door size to the kerbside. If it is, it a safe distance.

8. Stopping at stop line. Stop the car fully when the stop line is just beneath / covered by the right side mirror. Also apply brake when there is of a car length behind the stop line / stationary vehicle.

9. Turning along inner lane. (Steeper turns) This is difficult because I end up mounting the kerb as a result of too early steering. Make sure to use hand over hand method and bear in mind to return the steering wheel fast enough. Slow speed please.

That’s all. I will add in more if I recall.

3rd July 2002 Wed10pm – Hot day

McDonald breakfast and NTUC grocery shopping.

Driving lesson 2 today. Car no. is 99. A plump 20+ Chinese took the driver seat. Not really outspoken. He’s a bit nervous - Hands shaking. Kinda’ uncomfortable with him. And I can feel he isn’t that experienced because he asked me to drive straightaway after the changeover. Haven’t adjusted the seat and mirrors. Can’t even reach the clutch pedal. Well, cheeky to say that I haven’t got used to these procedures.

Fortunately, 2 guys came over when he’s about to give a demonstration on steering. The chief said that there’s a mistake in the new system so the other guy is supposed to be my instructor. This time, also a fat guy but he’s Malay. A jolly, friendly and articulate instructor is what I need. Now I can ask him stuffs that I’m not sure and got a proper answer. Throughout the lesson, he guided me how and when to turn, proper clutching with some basic understanding on how the clutch work. Now I understand that even when you depress the clutch pedal to a biting point, the car will start to move without depressing accelerator which only serve to provide more power to the engine. This helpful little piece of information which my dad and previous instructor missed, help me along circuit with not as much engine stalling as on the first lesson. He also encourages to be braver to join the others on circuit drive after practising a lot of wheelock turns within the block. He even praised on my style how turning the steering wheel – letting it slide through my grasp. Hee hee, I saw daddy doing that on many occasions. I have to admit that I would definitely hands locked when I played arcade driving.

Summary of what I have learned today:

1. Always adjust the seat properly first.

2. Mirrors.

3. Fasten seat belt. Almost forget that once.

4. Fully depress clutch pedal and turn on engine.

5. Gear 1

6. With brake pedal down, release handbrake

7. Brake pedal up. Optional: depress accelerator

8. Release clutch pedal to a biting point. Stop when car begins to move.

9. Apply accelerator to about (1.5 – 2)* 1000. At this speed, the car will not surge suddenly.

10.Can rest left foot on floor board after car proceed smoothly

11.When making a turn, release accelerator. Let the car moves by itself. Brake ONCE to slow the car and turn properly. (I tend to turn too early or oversteer to other lane)

12.*Gear shifting* Release accelerator and depress fully. Change from Gear 1 to 2. Release clutch pedal to a biting point. Step on accelerator. Release clutch pedal when car’s moving smoothly. But never too soon or else the car will jerk a bit. (Car tends to move right while I changing the gear. Also tend to let go of depress pedal too soon.)

13.When stopping, release accelerator and prepare to brake. When car is about to stop depress clutch pedal FULLY. (For a long distance stopping or high speed stopping) It is to prevent car from engine stalling. For a very short distance stopping/low speed stopping, do clutching first then brake. (Clutching lead to free wheeling and car will go faster if it originally has the inertia. For short distance, the car will not have so much speed so it’s safe to do clutching. Actually this process is to help the beginner to prevent engine stall)

14.A safe distance to stop behind a car is up to a point when you can see the rear wheel of it just above the bonnet. This is to keep a safe distance away from the front car if it rolls back.

Actually, today’s lesson is just another practice of what I learned on Monday. Feeling shiok today even though strike down a cone while making turning. Going on to different brakings this Friday. Looking forward to it. But how come I feel I’m slow learner? Are females kayu drivers? I want to prove this wrong.

1st July 2002 Mon10pm - Been raining the whole day

Yesterday was when the World Cup 2002’s (Korea & Japan) final was held. It was predictable that Brazil will definitely bring home the cup. Even excluding the possibility of any conspiracies in the game, I still think that Brazil team should deserve it. Though I watch a few matches, my impression of the team is outstanding. Even my mum praised them for their ‘attack’ strategy. Enough about them. Factors that make this year’s competition a memorable one: First time for China to enter World Cup though they are not as good as the Korea’s who make it to top four. It is also the first time when an Asian country to qualify for semi final. Many people believe the rumour the Korea pay a large sum to FIFA to reach that high. Well, me? None of my business.

Today, I wake up around 9am. Accompanied my parents to Potong Pasir hawker to have a noodle soup as well as pork porridge. I wish I have stayed in bed longer as the gay weather seems so cosy. But then I start to revise my driving theory to prepare for my FIRST practical driving lesson at Singapore Safety Driving Centre. All these weeks, my parents have been feeding me the knowledge that those instructors are very fierce and it doesn’t help when my cousin’s are like what they describe. All along with only theory, I though handling a car wouldn’t be a problem but I am totally wrong.

Reach the centre around 2pm when my lesson only starts at 2.40pm. From the screen, my allocated car no. is 68. So I wait there shivering (the air-con is so cold), and start to worry whether I can find the car and if my instructor is a “chi koh pak”. Luckily there are some people like me waiting too. So I follow suit. Time’s up. Begin to search for the car. Waited restlessly inside the car. Finally they arrived. Saw the fat one who get into the backseat first. He’s a trainee. Then my instructor in the driver seat. A Chinese man around the age of 40++. I couldn’t help staring at his face. Pimple scars with big pores. I make a mental note to take care of my skin carefully. Off my anxiety goes. He quite a friendly chap. He keeps telling me to relax. Things that he teaches me:

1. Adjust the seat. With right hand on the steering wheel, pull the seat in. Depress the clutch pedal to see whether my left leg is slightly bent. It can’t be straight otherwise I will difficulty holding down the clutch pedal for long. The degree of seat should be a little more then 90 degree and see whether it is in correct position, put right hand on the 12 o’clock of the steering wheel. My hand should be slightly bent, not straight.

2. Adjust the mirrors. Position the rear view mirror so that it can show the whole of the rear windscreen. Next, for the side mirrors, it’s electrically handled. One third of it should show the part of the car. The horizon should be slightly higher then the centre axis.

3. Secure seat belt.

4. Going off. Depress clutch pedal (& hold throughout) &/ brake pedal fully and turn the key in clockwise manner until you hear the idling engine sound and release the key immediately. Shift to Gear 1. Depress brake pedal and release the handbrake. Depress accelerator pedal a tiny bit and hold it there. Slowly release the clutch to a point whereby the car starts to move and hold it there. Until a moment, release the clutch pedal fully.

5. Stopping. Release accelerator pedal. Depress brake pedal on and off slightly. Otherwise the car will jerk. When come to a stop, depress clutch pedal (if not the engine will stall) and brake pedal fully. Shift gear to neutral and apply handbrake. When come to a stopping line, wait until the line disappears beyond the bonnet, apply brake.

6. Cornering. Look to centre white line as reference. When turning left/right, use hand-to-hand steering so to prevent tying up both hands. Lock steering mean turning it to the maximum. Try to make sure that the bonnet follows the curve of the white line. So the two white side lines are parallel, return the steering wheel

7. Windscreen wiper. Found on the left behind the steering wheel. Flip it down (or up, I forget!) and the wipers work itself once. Rotate the end to whatever speed of wiper desired.

8. Light switch. Flip it up, it’s left signal. Flip it down, it’s right signal.

Phew. Hope I get it all down.

I thought the first lesson would be getting to know more about the car. Never did I imagine that I’ll driving round the circuit. Well as typical as any female starter, engine stalls many times!!!! It’s either I forget stepping the clutch or I don’t even know if I depressing it because my sandal’s sole too thick. Even got one time, the car surge to high speed cause I depresses the accelerator too hard unknowingly. I even go straight past zebra-crossing while a lady passenger is crossing. My humorous instructor ask whether the passenger give way to me. Gee.. I know what to expect when come to “On road training” Another close shave is when I am unable to driving leftward on a straight path. A motorcycle trainee, a cute guy, is waiting for me to clear before turning to his right. I admire his reserve when my car is about to swerve to his side. He smiles at me as though telling me I’m a “kayu” driver. Hai….the first lesson is already full of mistakes. Problems lie in coordinating the footwork and also the uncertain degree of turning at corners. Fortunately, my instructor is very calm and patience with me. One time I brake too hard resulting 3 of us being jerked roughly. He say that without the seat belt, he probably knocks his head into windscreen. And then we repeat braking several times until I brake smoothly.

Toward the end of the lesson, I keep thinking whether I should ask him to be my fixed instructor but then on the other hand, I like to try few more instructors to see their teaching skills and then decide. But he says there is a possibility to have him as my instructor. My next lesson would be on Wed. I’m going to have more confidence then. Let see what will happen. Stay tune.