Passing the Japanese Driving Test (Fuchu, Tokyo)

It’s been exactly one week since I took my driving test and if you still haven’t heard the news yet, well…

I PASSED MY TEST ON THE FIRST TRY!!!

I told just about the whole world (and then some) the moment I got the news and although it sounds like I’m bragging, but truly, I’m just ecstatic and thankful more than anything else.

It’s something of a miracle that a first-timer at the test can pass it. More so if said first-timer did not even practice on the test route, or any route, for that matter, since the last time she was driving was on the opposite side of the road in USA :O

While waiting to take the test, this is an extremely common conversation:

A: So what attempt is this for you? This is my second try.
B: This is my third attempt. I really hope I pass today! *sighs*
C: This is my fifth time. I failed just yesterday *sighs*

14 of the 18 people present for the test were on their 2nd to 5th attempts, and several also quoted friends who still haven’t passed on their 7 / 8th attempt o_O

I hope I’ve sufficiently established that passing this driving test on the first try is no mean feat.

This is not a buildup to exclaim how awesome and how much of a natural genius driver I am, although I wouldn’t mind being known as that either ;D

I think I just had astonishingly good luck. Seems like my 必勝 (certain victory) omamori that I bought on New Year’s Day is working its wonders! :D

My test was at 8.30am and I woke up at 5.30am -_- Usually 5.30am is the time I sleep rather than the time I wake up, so as you can imagine, it was considerable torture for me. I arrived at the test center at 7.45am and to my horror, the test center was closed and people were queuing outside the doors!

It was a bloody cold morning and the winds were whipping relentlessly. One minute into queueing, I decided I might just freeze to death before I even take the test.

Thank the heavens the doors opened at 8am. Enough time for me to resuscitate the frozen lumps connected to the end of my arms. They’re kinda important when handling the steering wheel, you see.

I tell you, I really think I was meant to pass the test! Signs that the stars were aligned for me to pass:

Sign 1: The tester

We were eventually divided into 2 groups and the moment the tester for my group introduced himself as being “the nicest tester in this facility”, I had a good feeling. Humor is always a good sign!

Sign 2: Order of taking the test

This is important because Japan conducts the test in a rather interesting manner.

Person #1 in line will go behind the wheel while person #2 will sit in the backseat, simply to observe the test! During this time, person in backseat can use the opportunity to see the route, obstacles and note the things to do (or not do).

Once person #1 has finished the test, he will immediately be told if he passed or failed. Then person #2 will take the wheel while person #3 gets in the backseat.

So yes. It sucks to be first.

Very luckily for me, he placed me as the very last person! Which means I get to observe all the people driving off before me! :D

Sign 3: The route

There were 2 routes and my group got the easier route!

THE TEST

The test got underway and I had a bit of a shock when I saw the cars the Fuchu driving center was using. I wryly recalled Fu’s words “Don’t worry la! You think they’ll give you new cars to use meh? Surely give you some lao pok car one!” as I looked at the spanking new Toyota hybrid Prius’ before my eyes -_-

Foot brake + engine start button + “P” button instead of gear shift. Ok, no problem. I can do this. I can work this new information into my memorised-to-death routine.

Starting routine:

1. Check front and bottom of car.
2. Check back and bottom of car.
3. Check for traffic before walking to driver door.
4. Check for traffic before opening door.
5. Check foot brake is engaged and car is in “Park”.
6. Adjust seat.
7. Adjust mirrors.
8. Put on seat belt.
9. Ask if can start engine.
10. Step on brake, release foot brake, put to “Drive”.
11. Check over right shoulder, signal right, check again.
12. Drive.

In the days leading up to the test, I image-trained every night while lying in bed waiting to fall asleep. At other random times during the day, I would practice lane-changing routines. For instance, while halfway through a conversation with Fu.

Lane-changing routine:

1. Check rear mirror.
2. Check side mirror.
3. Check blind spot.
4. Signal (at least 3 seconds).
5. Check blind spot again.
6. Look forward.
7. Move. NAO.

Overcoming obstacle routine:

There was a obstacle (left section of the road cordoned off with cones) and there was also a routine to it -_-

1. Check right side mirror.
2. Check right blind spot.
3. Signal right.
4. Check right blind spot again.
5. Move to the right.
6. Turn off signal.
7. Check left side mirror.
8. Check left blind spot.
9. Signal left.
10. Check left blind spot again.
11. Move left.
12. Turn off signal.

SO MANY LITTLE THINGS. Seems like I’m spending more time checking for things than focusing on the road in front of me!!!

But I decided not to look for reason in the rules. I just thought of them as game rules that I had to adhere to in order to pass.

When I was about to turn into the crank course, the tester was all “Ok, be careful, the road is very narrow. Go slowly. Slooooowly.”

Usually in crank and S-courses, I just rely on my gut feeling. I was doing the same that day, but it seemed to freak the tester out.

He started guiding me “No no, don’t turn yet. A bit more, a bit more, yes now.”

In that moment, I was going “NOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!” in my head. Why are you doing this?! Stop it stop it stop it! I can do it myself!!!

Because we all know that testers NEVER say anything apart from giving directions on where to turn. The instant they say anything else, it’s THE END.

But I couldn’t possibly tell him to shut up, so I just continued saying “Hai”.

I mentally sighed at failing the test, but decided to just continue pretending I still haven’t failed yet and take the remainder of the test as practice for the next test.

The tester ended up guiding me for both the crank and S-courses =_=

Towards the end of the test, I had to do a right turn, and I instinctively turned into the rightmost lane, but the tester jumped as if someone just jolted him with an electric shock and said “Keep to the left!”

Another mental sigh, although I just responded with a (what sounds to my ears) calm “Hai”.

As I reached the end point, I gave the barest of peeks sideways at what color slip of paper he was holding. Pink = pass. White = fail.

Could it be…???

YES!!! IT’S PINK!!! I DID IT!!!

With that, my tester officially passed everyone – yes, all 9 in my group. That is nothing short of a miracle in itself. Fu said that he must have struck the lottery the day before and it was his last day of work therefore he decided to pass everyone since he’s in such a good mood lol.

What I learned was: It really boils down to which tester you meet with and his mood for that day. In short, it’s all luck.

You could have done everything in the prescribed rules but the tester could still nitpick.
You could have ran a red light and still pass. True story. It happened for someone on the same test day as me.

I had to wait for 2.5 hours after the test for my driver’s license to be issued, but I’ve never been happier waiting for something! :D

I have to stick this on the car for a year:

I’m just SO SO SO GLAD I’m done with this whole driver’s license conversion thing! Now, to NEVER forget to renew my license or else I’ll have to re-do the entire procedure, right from the documents submission!

Alrightey, time for car shopping, perhaps? ;D