Your Learners is IMPORTANT!
Writing your K53 Learner’s Test has GREAT value…exponentially so, when starting to drive.
Remember trying to cram all the signs, road rules, road markings and vehicle controls into your head before your test?
THAT is the worst thing you can do – no, I really mean it!
Why?
Learning like a parrot gets the knowledge into your head, yes, BUT applying the knowledge will be a problem. This is NOT swotting History at school where some arbitrary dude got killed in some arbitrary battle of some ‘Loo way yonder in another country, OK? THIS is IMPORTANT stuff – you’re not some dead dude…you’re trying to keep you and other road users ALIVE!
You know, like doctors have to learn the symptoms of a disease (in theory), BUT you wouldn’t want your doctor to poke and prod you and then get stuck on a diagnosis, right? You’d EXPECT him to KNOW that your high temperature is symptomatic of Glandular Fever, for instance…something that can damn near kill you.
You DON’T want him to say “Dear, you look a little off-colour today”…and when he shakes your hand, you DON’T want him to complain about how cold his hands are when he feels how hot yours are. You SPECIALLY want him to KNOW which diagnostic questions to ask, which instruments to use to test your temperature, and which tests to run, as and when required, don’t you?
EXACTLY!!!!
Now, driving is much the same, yet much easier. You get to diagnose your own driving as you go along, with guidance from your driving instructor.
Just like a doctor, you’d have to APPLY your theoretical knowledge once you get behind the wheel of a car. Yip, you’ll have to know when which rule applies, when to do what, how to compensate and interpret all the rules from a practical point of view, why you need to be in which lane and when, which lines you can cross and which ones are absolute no-no’s, etc.
Between all three sections of your Learner’s Test, I find the Road Rules and Road Markings create the biggest headache for learners that crammed for their test – they get lost completely in what, for them, may seem to be an overwhelming amount of detail, once on the road.
Please take into consideration that my job is to teach you how to drive and to assist and guide you on your mission to apply your theoretical knowledge. My job is NOT to teach you the basics that was covered by your Learner’s Test, but merely to re-cap, as it applies on each driving lesson, as the situations present themselves.
Do yourself a favour, as a passenger – take note of the road signs, the road markings, the road rules and stuff. It will help tremendously when, even as a passenger, you can note when who is doing what right or wrong and you CAN LEARN from that, in view of your driving lessons. Discuss what you’ve noted with your driving instructor and appeal to the law-abiding part of your parents.
Your friends ARE NOT the best wall to bounce stuff off – they may also still be confused on many issues, even if they are licenced drivers, I’d like to add.
Do yourself the biggest favour of all – just learn the stuff like you actually give a damn, OK?
If all else fails, refer back to your learner’s study guide…all on the sly, where you don’t have to feel pressured or embarrassed n’all. Get what I’m saying?
There’s NO HARM in getting it right! 
