Validity of my driving licence expires today. I was alert enough to have gone through the process of applying for renewal a month ago and so now it is valid till December 5. 2020. While normally the validity period is for ten years, for senior citizens we have to get medically examined and certified to be fit enough to drive every five years! I am glad that the system has agreed that I am fit enough for that onerous chore.
This whole renewal process has got me reminiscing about my driving licence. While I was driving around without a driving licence from about sixteen years of age, I got my official driving licence only in 1962, when I was a few months short of 19 years old. Between 1972 and 1975, I was driving around without a valid driving licence and thank God, did not get involved in any accident or mishap. I discovered that my licence had expired three years after the event and had to get a new licence issued after some wire pulling and also paying a hefty fine. Since then however I have been quite prompt in renewing the licence on time and am happy that I did this time too.
When I tell younger people about the tests that I had to take before I got my licence, like sticking my arm out to signal turns, slowing down, stopping etc, they look at me with total disbelief! We did not have turn indicators or if we had, they stuck out of the pillar behind the front door worked on a lever system!
The inspectors were martinets and most of us failed the first time we appeared for the tests as I did too.
It is however nice to be able to tell people that I have a driving licence issued in my name before their parents were born!
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