I passed my driving test in 1987.
NINETEEN EIGHTY SEVEN.
And while there were 25 years where I basically didn’t drive – except when I popped back to England to see Mum from living in Asia – the reality is that while I got the odd parking ticket and got stopped by the odd breathalyser check, I only got 1 speeding ticket in all that time.
In 1991.
And while I bought cars in America and the UK, that single speeding ticket was maintained.
Then I moved to New Zealand.
Despite being here 6 months, I’ve managed to ‘achieve’ the following.
2 x parking tickets.
2 x breathalyser checks.
2 x speeding tickets.
1 x road tax sticker error.
And – last week – I received the ticket for the icing on the cake of my fucked-up, stupid day … where I was caught holding my mobile at a red traffic light while a Police Car was next to me with the police officer staring right at me while I was doing it. [See above]
And while I am guilty of ALL these things, the thing that surprises me is that I’m a much safer … much more conservative and considerate driver than I ever was as a teen.
Which highlights 3 things.
1. I obviously have my mothers Italian genes in my driving style.
2. I am even more amazed I passed my US driving test first time.
3. I now understand why there’s so many episodes of NZ Traffic Police show, Highway Cops.