BHPian anjan_c2007 recently shared this with other enthusiasts.
Most of us have an experience or two and/or anecdotes associated with either our first learning or driving licence or with both. Most of these, almost all associated with the RTO office and its personnel are memorable ones. I have two experiences of mine to share with you all and one related to my brother.
I jumped since the day I attained adulthood and the age of 18 for a two-wheeler "L" licence. It was very easy to get one. A birth certificate and address proof would suffice. No tests, no photos of the applicant or anything of that sort. The first "L" licence was valid for 6 months and could be extended by another three months by paying a nominal fee. So after getting the "L" licence, post the mandatory six-month validity to learn, I went to the RTO office with my Dad for my permanent driving licence. Mr Chitre, the PRO at the local RTO office, was a neighbour and a family friend. As our only two-wheeler, a Lambretta, was not in running condition that day, Chitre uncle offered his very old Lambretta - MHX 3333 - yes, RTO officials had such fancy numbers during those days. As I had learnt to drive on this scooter brand, I kick-started MHX 3333 and was about to ride. I found that the clutch wire was so loose that only the last two to three cms or so of the lever would activate the scooter to move. The clutch lever was a dud for at least 4-5 cms of its travel. After three or four times with the engine abruptly getting switched off due to the faulty clutch wire, I drove and gave the trial, circled as told and then did the figure of "eight" successfully and there the MVI and Chitre uncle with my Dad were all happy and the permanent driving licence was okayed.
Next, came the time for the four-wheeler licence at the age of 24. I had joined service and was posted in a remote area in Adilabad dist (then in A.P., now in Telangana). I was into driving jeeps at the time and felt that a licence was very necessary. The dist headquarters Adilabad was 180 kms away (now Mancherial has also become a dist after bifurcation of Adilabad) and Karimnagar, the other dist HQ was 120 kms away from my place of stay. Hence, the agents in my place of stay had connections with the Karimnagar RTO office. Firstly, I got an "L" four-wheeler licence from this RTO. I requested the agent to charge his fee and get the 4-wheeler endorsement by the RTO office in my 2-wheeler licence. He surprised me by telling that till about a week ago a fee payment would be OK with no trial etc for the licence. But the MVI was trapped as someone with a physical disability (not recorded with RTO) was given a permanent licence through some agent. The MVI was trapped and suspended. Since then, as was told by the agent, the licence issuing inspector insists on physically seeing every applicant. I took a drive to Karimnagar, gave the trial and got my licence. The agent helped deliver the licence to me.
The issue of a permanent licence to my brother has a funny side. He was then an Army Captain and was on a short leave at home. Coincidentally, at home, the Lambretta was again not in a working condition. The alternative was our Luna TFR Plus moped. I, on my bicycle and my brother on the Luna, reached the RTO office. The MVI was a fat, tall, moustached personality. In his office room, he saw the "L" licence, birth certificate and so on. Those days there was no distinction between "geared" and "non geared" two-wheeler licences. The rank "Captain" was mentioned in my brother's application form. The MVI now walked out of his office for trials by applicants. My brother's turn came who was seen pedal starting the Luna moped and soon did his circle and the figure of "eight". I was beside the MVI who said, "What's this? He is a Captain and I thought he will at least give a trial on an RE Bullet." I had a good laugh!
Here's what GTO had to say about the matter:
Great thread, Anjan!
I have never shared this with anyone before, but I failed my first USA driving test. I went in overconfident of my driving skills. The strict inspector (USA cops are very big & intimidating) sat in. He barely fit in the Accord's front seat. I yawned and thought "Well, this is going to be a breeze". Drove around confidently with perfectly timed gearshifts etc. He told me "Son, you have a heavy right foot". I slowed down a bit. He asked me to park in a relatively tight spot. I did it without a fuss. Then, he asked me about a hand signal. Damn, I hadn't even studied or read up on it. It was some strange hand signal.
Flunked! Went back a second time after reading all the material and passed.
Here's what BHPian gkveda had to say about the matter:
We neither had a 2-wheeler nor a 4-wheeler till I was 30 years. My father had a Suvega but it was scrapped and sold to a metal scrap yard when I was 17 years. However, all I had was a strong desire to hold a license in my pocket and show it off to friends.
The way I got a learning license for 2-wheelers was uneventful. I just went to the RTO with documentary evidence of age and address proof and got the LL. (There was no test for a LL during those days). However, when I wanted to go for a DL for 2 wheeler, I did not have a vehicle to drive. With the LL for 12 months (1st six months new LL and next six months renewal), I had learnt bike riding theoretically from my friends. I started asking for a bike from my friends but could not get one. None of my relatives had faith in my driving and hence could not get a vehicle from them as well. I struggled for almost a month but in vain.
I had observed my engineering drawing lecturer riding an old bajaj 150 scooter(3 gears). He liked me because of my sincerity and honesty in his class. I never used to bunk his classes, used to complete all assessments very regularly. One day, when I was in an engineering drawing class in college, I just went and whispered in my lecturer's ear, that I wanted to talk to him personally. He asked me to meet him after the class. I met him and expressed my struggle. He looked at me for 2mins and just asked me when was my test. I had no appointment for the test but with some blind confidence, I said the date after 12 days. He said he will give me the scooter with a condition that, if I fail, I have to fill the tank. If I pass, it's a free ride for me. I know for sure, he would not have asked me to fill the tank in any case.
I agreed and then went to RTO with confidence that I will get an appointment for the date agreed with the lecturer. But, to my bad luck, I did not get the appointment for that date but for a later date.
Now, I was not sure, if my lecturer would agree to give the scooter on a revised date. But still, I went ahead and fixed the appointment. The next day, I went to the lecturer and told him about the revised date of the test. Luckily, he just smiled at me and said ok. I was the happiest person in the world at that moment.
On the day of the test, the risks that I had to face were:
- I had only theoretical knowledge of riding a geared scooter.
- I had never ever touched the lecturer's old Bajaj 150 in my life. It was like an unknown beast for me.
- I was told that RTO never passes the candidates the first time. If the candidate is going for a test without bribes, he is a sure shot failure.
With all the above risks, I took the keys at 8 AM near the college and started riding - NO, actually started learning the scooter by taking multiple rounds, different routes from Bangalore Institute of Technology (near KR Market) till Jayanagar RTO. I should definitely remember his help, he had filled the full tank and handed over the key to me.
After 2-3 hours of continuous ride, I got the confidence to take the test. At 11 AM, I went to RTO and took the test. The theory test was a cakewalk since I had mastered all the sections, laws, mandatory and cautionary signs.
In the practical test, an inspector came and sat behind in the pillion seat and asked me to drive. I took him for a ride on the specified path. He suddenly asked me to stop at a place. I stopped confidently with all hand signs. He got down and asked me to get down. I started sensing some fishy situations. I did not get down but just looked around the place. There was no parking board. I caught the issue. I said that I cannot get down and I insisted he get on the seat and drove back to the endpoint.
Now the argument started.
Inspector: I can not pass you since you stopped at no parking.
Me: I did not get down from the scooter. The sign was NO PARKING and not NO STOPPING. Hence I did not do any mistake.
Inspector: I still can't pass you. You need some more practice.
Me: I have already taken 1 year to complete my learning with one renewal. Have been riding this scooter for complete 1 year every day for 45 mins (big lie). I really think I don't need any more training.
Finally, he got fed up and came to business. "How much will you pay".
I did not budge. I said I am a rank student in 10th (I had got 82nd rank for the state), I got a merit engineering seat without donation (this was also true). I don't have money to pay (this was true as well).
He just thought for a minute and said, "Come and collect your DL on Monday evening at 3 PM".
I could not believe that he is passing me on the first attempt without a bribe. Just thanked him and left the place.
This is my story in 1989, an 18 years engineering student, who had not driven the geared scooter even once, did not have any vehicle to take the test, did not have money to fill the fuel or pay for a bribe, passing the DL test in the first attempt.
I cherish these memories and say to myself Poverty teaches life. Money buys things.
Here's what BHPian dailydriver had to say about the matter:
Circa 2002
I had to get my two-wheeler licence and my father had to convert his non geared one to geared one. Both of us went for the test the same day. I was a noob and a newbie, he, a veteran of two decades.
Our ride was a humble Vespa scooter. I had read up the rules and gone over the signs and signals the previous night. Rode on the potholed road as instructed by the MVI, took a U-turn, came back to him, stopped and grinned ear to ear.
My father did the same (of course, without grinning).
When he was about to compliment me, the MVI threw a spanner saying you didn't use the proper hand signal while stopping, I am failing you. Come back next time.
He was addressing my father!
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