Having confidence is good, but having too much of it is catastrophic. I knew that, and knew that very well. But I learnt it the hard way, though this time it wasn’t catastrophic.

I came to Tucson, Arizona on an official visit for 4 months. Being this guy that I am, crazy about driving, I wanted to get my driving license as soon as possible so that I can hit the road ASAP. My colleague advised me that the written test for the instruction permit is easy and anyone can clear the test. At this point I’d like to say that I have driven car in India and that too in my dad’s absence. He doesn’t really appreciate that we (my brother and me) drive the car as he will loose his authority on the car and will not be able to drive as frequently as he is now. He started driving at the age of 12 and is too good at it, having driven a Premier Padmini from Rajkot to Guahati.

So I took my colleague’s advice and just flipped the pages of the manual provided by the DMV(Motor Vehicle Division) . That was easy: red light, green light, signal and turn all that I already knew. I thanked my colleague for his insight into the test and went ahead with my zeal to get the license. I went to the DMV paid the fee and sat for the test.

While I was waiting I overheard a mom asking question to her kid “What’s the speed limit in Residential areas?” 25 mph, that’s too easy. I thought why is the mother so worried about the test? Anyways I was confident I would pass this test with flying colors. The guy gave his exam and told his mother the news she dreaded and didn’t want to hear. She yelled “You flunked again!” Poor guy I thought, only if the parents could be a little more understanding. This is not the end of life, she shouldn’t shout at the kid like that.

There were 30 Q’s in all. First 20 questions were easy; I had already read the manual. My score was looking good 20 out of 20. Then the downhill journey started.

Q: What’s the alcohol percentage in blood allowed if you are under 21 years of age.
My answer: 0.08% (0.04 % for commercial license)

Wrong! What? The manual said these figures and I knew it. But unfortunately I didn’t know that legally under 21 years of age one is not allowed to drink! How am I supposed to know that? Later I found that this was given in the manual but in last few pages which I did not read.

Q: If the school bus has extended stopped sign then which traffic must stopped.
My answer only the traffic in the same direction should stop.
Wrong. Again! Well actually the traffic in both directions must stop if the roadway is undivided; else if there is physical separation like a median then only the traffic traveling in the same direction must stop.
The question was ambiguous.

Few more silly blunders and I failed the exam. All that I had to do was get 24 correct out of 30. I got only 23 correct. I was surprised and angry at the colleague’s advice.

After a few more days of preparation I went back again to give the test (one is allowed to take the test 3 times for 1 time payment of the fee). This time the line the manual “What is the correct thing to do depends on the situation” and DUI screwed me up.

Q: If there is a car on the on-ramp of the freeway what should you do?
My answer: I thought. Well you must move left one lane, but if it full of traffic and you can’t get in, then slow down. Speeding up might not be always possible and is risky. I got my answer.

Wrong. Move left one lane.

Q: On a freeway what should you do if an emergency vehicle is behind you?
My Answer: Give right of way, stopping might not always be possible. What if you are on the leftmost lane of the freeway, it is possible that you cannot stop and you don’t cut across all the lanes to get off the road on the right.


Wrong. Stop on the side of the road immediately. Aargh! Why do I have to think and give all the reasoning? Why can’t I give just straight simple answers?

Q: What are penalties for excessive DUI?
I don’t know, I just didn’t read that section.

Q: What are the penalties for refusing a DUI test?
I know it is my bad day. Next Question please.

Q: What are the alcohol limits for DUI?
I clicked next! What an idiot I am, I skipped that question. I knew the answer.

I am royally screwed by my reasoning and DUI.

This was the second time that I had failed and that there was only one more chance or else I’ll have to pay the fee once again. This was enough. I was so much pissed off and feeling so low that I can’t explain. I had cleared all my semester exams in my engineering in first attempt. I had cleared all the exams all the way form class 1 to class 12 in first attempt. I had scored well in all the exams in my PG. And where I failed is this stupid written test.

I made my resolve to beat it this time.
I geared myself up with a notepad, a marker, a pen and all the other stationary.
I prepared as I would had prepared for my end-semester in my undergrad. Making notes, revising notes. Drawing pictures to illustrate the concept and what not.

This third time was the last time and I was desperate to get my license and to see the tires hit the road.

30 Questions. Min required: 24 correct.

First 20 questions, all correct. This was a relief. I had to get only 4 more correct to the get the things going.

21st correct
22nd correct
23rd correct
24th correct

The stupid screen then showed the result that I had passed the exam. I so much wanted to break that monitor. I wanted to score 30 out of 30. What if I incorrectly answered the 30th question? I wanted to show that I can get 30 correct. But his was just a machine oblivious of any human emotions it was condemned to do the same this again and again, a monotonic boring ritual.

It was a good feeling to get the license. The very next day I and my group of colleagues planned a trip to Grand Canyon, 688.8 miles round trip. And I drove for approximately 350 miles. It was so much fun.

But I realized it too late that I was too confident of clearing the exam that I flunked it twice. And the brighter side of the experience is that even 2 months after taking the test I still know all the rules and penalties!

BTW, one person who had the most fun out of my experience was my elder brother. He laughed and laughed when I told him the first time that I failed. He just couldn’t believe me. And when I told him that I had failed for the second time, it was too much of a hilarious thing for him. So every now and then he’d taunt me “So how much time do you need to understand this? After all you failed the exam 2 times!”. “Did you get his? I know it is difficult for you, you had to take 3 attempts to understand the DMV manual.” I know this thing between us will remain for a long time.

Grand Canyon snaps