Feeling Brave?

The technician leaned in and asked, "Been in the wars then?" What is it with these doctors, nurses and technicians? Are their days filled with war casualty victims and soldiers passing through their hospital? No, I have simply been in a car accident, I thought. I have not been in a war, and I doubt you have either. There are some who may have been. Seriously faced life and received injuries in a real theatre of war. I was not one of those. I was simply injured in an accident. A moment of low concentration, and since the vehicle didn't stop, perhaps a moment of low concentration from both the driver and cyclist. The driver thinking they were in error obviously did not want to stay around to find out. How can anyone actually do that? Leaving a child on the ground after hitting them with their car? It is of course an offence to leave the scene of any accident, without checking on the welfare of all involved. There is also some requirement to exchange details should anything happen in the near future. But in the 'real world', fear can be a strange motivator. Fear that something more serious has occurred, or that something unexpected may happen. Then again there is a person's personal history. Some driver's may have issues with driving, some may have issues with the road rules, others simply lack the necessary skills. 

I completed a specialised driver training program some years ago, during which the instructor ripped apart my driving faults, trying to undo in two weeks the poor driving skills I had acquired in over twenty years of actual driving. One of the things he had mentioned at the start of the course was a simple statement. "You were taught how to drive, so you could pass a driving test, I will teach you differently. I will teach you how to drive a car" He looked at those of us gathered before him, "Trust me, by the end of the first day, you will start to understand the difference". I have to admit, by the end of the first day he was right. The difference between the two is most pronounced. To drive to pass the test is actually quite simple. The combined information in the basic driving test, is, to say the least, shallow. The rules required and the knowledge are strictly about reading signage, knowing the basic principals of the internal combustion engine and how to make it start, go, speed up, slow down and stop. To know a few of the laws and rules makes you better at the vehicle control parts. But, there is no challenge in the basic rules (apart from overcoming your own personal nervousness). The entire process is brief, and purely based on conjecture and recognition. The instructor cannot see into your head. So if there is any reason why you make a decision to take a particular action, if it works safely, within the rules, and effectively, why would you not be passed?  The entire process to pass your licence is based on learning a sequence. To drive a car however is a totally different set of skills and understanding.
(Continued tomorrow)