Girl Journalist

Yes, I flunked it. This is why I don’t (and obviously shouldn’t) drive a car.

I probably should have studied the California Driver Handbook. But really, who over the age of fifteen studies for a driver’s exam?

Besides, I hate standard tests. HATE them! In fact, here’s a dirty little secret my mom is really going to love… when I took the GRE, I got kinda bored, so I just started randomly picking answers. Yeah. I did that. Hmmm “A” “B” “C” “D” “E” “F” “A”… it made the test go by a lot faster. It also made my GRE scores embarrassingly low. (Big thanks to Professor John Broholm for believing in me enough to let me in the j-school grad program on probation.) But seriously, how is that test supposed to measure my creativity, my energy and my ability to multi-task? Lame.

So, yes I flunked the California driver’s exam… but the good news is, I still got my license!

I anxiously watched the DMV clerk hovering over my test with a red pen. As a new applicant, I was allowed to miss six or FEWER questions. I had to stand on my tip-toes and lean over the counter so I could count the red X’s… X (that’s one). X (that’s two). X (that’s three). X (that’s four). X (that’s five). Oh oh. X (that’s six). Oh oh. X (that’s seven!). FAIL!

I just knew I wasn’t going to pass. I nervously told the clerk that I don’t drive much, if at all, anymore. “I’m a mass transit girl,” I proudly proclaimed. I also pointed out that the “rules” are a bit different in Tennessee, where I just moved from. So the kind lady asked me a couple questions over again until I got one right. When she handed me my temporary ID, she said, “Just for the record, no one in California drives like their supposed to.” That was encouraging, I think. Was she saying I’ll fit right in?

I know you’re dying to know, so here are the questions I missed:
1.Is it illegal for a person 21 years of age or older to drive with a blood alcohol concentration (BAC) that is ___ or higher.

• .10% - One tenth of one percent
• .08% - Eight hundredths of one percent
• .05% - Five hundredths of one percent

My first guess was .05%. WRONG!
My second guess was .10%. WRONG again!
The correct answer is .08%.

5. This yellow sign means:

• Medical services ahead
• There is a “T” intersection ahead
• Another road crosses yours ahead

Now this is just downright embarassing. I said “There is a “T” intersection ahead.”
The correct answer is “Another road crosses yours ahead.”

9. When driving a vehicle with air bags, you are safest when seated;

• At least 10 inches away from the steering wheel
• Within 6 1/2 inches of the steering wheel
• With your head positioned directly above the steering wheel

I guessed “Within 6 1/2 inches.”
The correct answer is “At least 10 inches.”

19. If you park along the right-hand curb facing uphill you should:

• Keep your wheels facing straight ahead
• Turn your front wheels to the right
• Turn your front wheels to the left

I said “Turn your front wheels to the right.”
The correct answer is “Turn your front wheels to the left.” Duh! I knew that.

22. If it starts to rain on a hot day, the road is the most slippery:

• For the first few minutes
• After it has been raining for a few hours
• After it has stopped raining

I said “After it has been raining for a few hours.”
The correct answer is “For the first few minutes.”

29. You are entering a freeway. You should check traffic by:

• Looking over your shoulder
• Using inside and outside mirrors only
• Checking all mirrors and turning your head

I said “Using inside and outside mirrors only” because I turn my head and I figured that was probably not the right thing to do.
Correct answer is “Checking all mirrors and turning your head.”

30. Merging onto a road is safest if you:

• Slowly move into the nearest lane so other drivers will make room for you
• Drive on the shoulder of the road until there is an opening
• Wait for a large enough gap in traffic to enter the road

I said “Slowly move into the nearest lane so other drivers will make room for you.”
The correct answer is “Wait for a large enough gap in traffic to enter the road.”

If you’re looking for some fun, you should try taking one of the five sample Regular Driver Class C Written Exams available on the California DMV website. Test Number 5 is my personal favorite.