Twenty years ago, a woman at the wheel was an extraordinary exotic, and I learned to drive when a wave of female driving was already originating and began to grow with the speed of a collapse. Our group of twelve people was decorated with only three men, one of whom fell ill, and the other two disappeared for unknown reasons at the stage of the theoretical course, and never once got behind the wheel.
So, our group was exclusively female. Representatives of the beautiful half of humanity from eighteen to fifty -three patiently crammed the rules, sorted out tickets and mastered the basics of communication with the sixth model of the Volga Automobile Plant. After many years, dating with many cars and even more drivers, I realized how much we were lucky with a mentor — a man and a teacher with a capital letter. If he were different, perhaps, my life would flow differently. And then, for the first time sitting behind the wheel, I realized that the car for me is love for life.
Driving was training for a difficult period of the year — this is late autumn and the beginning of winter. For the Amur Region, November is already winter, when the snow tightly falls on the frostbitten land, leaving only main routes clean. All other roads, large and small, are covered with a solid snow crust, which the locals dubbed «Amur asphalt». At that time, at first, it was generally difficult to hold the car in the permissible framework: the head, arms and legs did not yet know how to act together, and the eyes were able to see only three meters in front of the hood. Under the wheels, instead of solid asphalt, there was a surface, not much different from ice. The spikes could not help on it, but only neat operation of the engine speed, clutch and gas pedals, and the handle of speed switching. Our mentor led us with endless patience, overcoming inattention, inability, fear and recklessness of his little female detachment. Remembering his driving lessons, you can formulate a small but rather harmonious theory for novice drivers who are only about to enter their main road. First and most important. If you have something to choose from, choose the right driving school, and best of all, an instructor who will teach you driving. It is usually not difficult to get such information. If, again, there is a choice, take training in the autumn — the winter season, when the conditions of driving the car are most difficult. Second. Try to devote as much time as possible to drive the car, because only practice will teach your head, eyes and hands. Gradually, the sector covered by your attention will expand, and you can evaluate the entire traffic situation surrounding you. Without this condition, safe driving is not possible. Third. In the process of teaching a car, try to achieve the smoothness of all your actions. Any sharp movements entail dangerous situations, both outside the car and inside it. On the other hand, any technique (and not only technology) does not like rude treatment. There are three more rules that are understood by themselves, and yet, it is necessary to say about them:-a car is a means of increased danger, so treat training in the most serious way; — carefully study and follow the rules of the road; — be sure to follow the serviceability of your car. Guided by these rules, you can protect yourself as much as possible and your vehicle. Marina Solina