Yes, I did.
Full stop.
END OF STORY
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Pardon me, I’m still recovering from the heartbreak of failing the test. Me, a very qualified and cautious driver in all of Nigeria? One who went to a driving school in Lagos? I’m the only person I know who actually performed a driving test at FRSC (Federal Road Safety Corps) before my Nigerian Driver’s license was issued? How can I now arrive here and fail a G2 drive test (Intermediate stage)? Can you imagine that my driving experience in gridlock Third Mainland bridge didn’t count?
Even me sef, I don’t know how it happened, but I’ll try and relay how the day played out.
It was a hot and sunny day on that fateful day. The weather was at least 32 degrees Celsius. My Drive-Instructor had advised against me taking my road test in Brampton because the area is jam-packed with people, cars, and unsmiling driving examiners. He then advised I register at Kitchener, a town about an hour and a half ride from Mississauga. We got to Kitchener on the day of my road test and shockingly, the crowd we were running away from in Brampton was waiting for us there. My road test was scheduled for 1.30pm, but it didn’t happen until 3pm because of the backlog. People started complaining, the driving examiners were neck deep in work and everyone was generally cranky.
At 1.30pm (the scheduled time for my test) I was already in the car waiting for our turn. After about 45 minutes, when it didn’t look like anyone was paying us any attention, I had to quickly dash to the washroom to pee and dash back to my car. Apparently, once you have collected a tag, and you walk away from your car at any point, you may miss your turn, and also say goodbye to your road test fee. When it finally came to my turn, I was tired and hungry. Do you know that entire road test didn’t even take up to 10 minutes? Afterward, the driving examiner said I failed because I was driving too slow on the fast lane. Brethren, I didn’t know driving 40km on a road with a maximum of 50km was a problem. What a wawu!!. I couldn’t even cry when I received the news. I was too hungry to think.
We solemnly returned to Mississauga and I had to shell out $260 to this instructor of mine as payment for transporting me to the drive test centre in Kitchener, for the use of his car, and for 2 previous driving classes (at 30 dollars an hour). Note this is a separate cost from the actual road test. In order to kick off the driver’s license process from Nigeria, you will need the following: Your original driver’s license from Nigeria showing a minimum of 2 years driving history, an introduction letter from FRSC Abuja, and payment of $158.25. The $158.25 sum is made up of your knowledge test, license fee, and Road test fee.
Now, I have to make a fresh payment of $52.50 and schedule a new date for the road test. As it is summer time, the calendar is packed full of people registering for the test. Fingers crossed though that I can secure a date as soon as next month before Fall officially kicks in. From now, I’ll begin to practice using online resources so I am ready for that date. Please pray for success for me the second time around ?
