So, in what must have been an incredible stroke of luck, I managed today to pass my driving test! After an astonishingly long wait I finally got the chance to prove that I can actually drive vaguely competently around the roads of Milwaukee where I live.

In Wisconsin, our practical driving test always starts with an eyesight check and some vehicle safety questions.

The driving part of the test lasted about 40 minutes. Throughout the practical test my examiner (who was really, really cool)kept reminding me that I can make up to 15 driving faults and still pass the test (16 or more results in failure). However, if you commit one serious or dangerous fault you will fail the practical test. The eyesight test required me to read a number plate that was a certain distance away. After the eyesight test I was then asked two vehicle safety check questions. Then I was examined on my general driving and on two reversing exercises. I'm so glad that I studied the driver's ed book before my road test or I would have totally missed these questions.

The reversing exercises were:

* Reversing around a corner
* Turning in the road
* Reverse parking

During the road test itself, I had to make left and right turns, do hill starts, reverse around a corner, do a 3-point-turn (Y turn), all the while demonstrating observation, knowledge of the rules of the road, reading traffic conditions and the actions of other road users, position on the road, making progress (but not excessive speed), using signals, and being careful of right of way and clearance/overtaking. Whew!

I'm not sure what the driving test is like in many other parts of the world, but doing all that with only 6 faults is something to be proud of ! From talking to my friend Peter, tests in the UK are a lot more difficult. (And they drive on the other side of the road there!)

Tonight my parents are planning on laying out the "rules" for driving. Should be entertaining. I sort of already know what to expect but I'm hopeful my dad won't be too strict on me.