markben
Senior Member
- Joined
- Feb 12, 2017
- Messages
- 191
- Reaction score
- 270
- Location
- Bristol UK
- Your Mercedes
- w220 2004 S320L CDI
Greetings all.
[Warning: contains Nostalgia + a touch of Humour].
It was exactly this date in 1974 at age 17 years & 1 month / 12 days when I passed my UK Driving Test in my first car: a terminally rusty 1965 Triumph 2000 in rural SW England. I remember it well: after the Examiner nearly Failed me for being a ‘Cocky Smart Arse’ but quickly issued a ‘Pass’ when I slipped him a Fiver (£5 note). Only joking….
Fortunately, I’d had pre-legal-driving-age experience as a ‘Race Steward’ on my local Go-Kart track + a brief drive in a family friend’s Fiat 500 at age 11 (not on a public road of course). Ohh.. and not forgetting ‘Practice Manoeuvres’ at age 15 in a 1970s Leyland Leopard 52-seater coach. (My parents owned a Hotel in North Devon - I persuaded the visiting regular coach driver to ‘let me have a go’ in the car park outside, and he kindly agreed. Fortunately, no-one was looking or we would both have been Arrested by the Old Bill (Police) for Whaadever Driving Offences(s). Eek!
Back to my Story: Over 50 years, I calculated that I’ve owned 50 cars of various marques (7 Mercedes included) on my Life’s Journey, driven more than half a million miles in varying conditions, and only once been involved in a minor RTC (Road Traffic Collision) but through no fault of my own. Ok, a handful of minor Speeding Tickets, I’d say one every 10 years?
But here’s my point: I was also fortunate to have had an early IAM (UK Institute of Advanced Motorists) training and learned about the Value of Defensive Driving .. even if going (q.) ‘A BIT TOO QUICK!’ as a Road Traffic Police Officer said with a wry smile when he caught-up with me - then let-me-off for exceeding the speed limit (by quite a lot!) on an empty dual carriageway. Phew…!
My Conclusion?
50 years-on, I’ve been & still am fortunate to enjoy Fun & sometimes ‘spirited’ but SAFE driving, nowadays in my treasured Mercedes W220 S Class. And, as a former Police Associated Driver & Speed Awareness / ‘Naughty Speeders’ Instructor, I always reminded my, er, ‘Clients’ that it’s not Speed alone that causes Collisions & the sometimes-tragic aftermath. It’s more about how you use Speed RESPONSIBLY, and drive within & according to the conditions / your abilities etc. Enuff said?
Happy Days, Safe Driving & thanks for reading.
Mark B.
[Warning: contains Nostalgia + a touch of Humour].
It was exactly this date in 1974 at age 17 years & 1 month / 12 days when I passed my UK Driving Test in my first car: a terminally rusty 1965 Triumph 2000 in rural SW England. I remember it well: after the Examiner nearly Failed me for being a ‘Cocky Smart Arse’ but quickly issued a ‘Pass’ when I slipped him a Fiver (£5 note). Only joking….
Fortunately, I’d had pre-legal-driving-age experience as a ‘Race Steward’ on my local Go-Kart track + a brief drive in a family friend’s Fiat 500 at age 11 (not on a public road of course). Ohh.. and not forgetting ‘Practice Manoeuvres’ at age 15 in a 1970s Leyland Leopard 52-seater coach. (My parents owned a Hotel in North Devon - I persuaded the visiting regular coach driver to ‘let me have a go’ in the car park outside, and he kindly agreed. Fortunately, no-one was looking or we would both have been Arrested by the Old Bill (Police) for Whaadever Driving Offences(s). Eek!
Back to my Story: Over 50 years, I calculated that I’ve owned 50 cars of various marques (7 Mercedes included) on my Life’s Journey, driven more than half a million miles in varying conditions, and only once been involved in a minor RTC (Road Traffic Collision) but through no fault of my own. Ok, a handful of minor Speeding Tickets, I’d say one every 10 years?
But here’s my point: I was also fortunate to have had an early IAM (UK Institute of Advanced Motorists) training and learned about the Value of Defensive Driving .. even if going (q.) ‘A BIT TOO QUICK!’ as a Road Traffic Police Officer said with a wry smile when he caught-up with me - then let-me-off for exceeding the speed limit (by quite a lot!
) on an empty dual carriageway. Phew…!My Conclusion?
50 years-on, I’ve been & still am fortunate to enjoy Fun & sometimes ‘spirited’ but SAFE driving, nowadays in my treasured Mercedes W220 S Class. And, as a former Police Associated Driver & Speed Awareness / ‘Naughty Speeders
’ Instructor, I always reminded my, er, ‘Clients’ that it’s not Speed alone that causes Collisions & the sometimes-tragic aftermath. It’s more about how you use Speed RESPONSIBLY, and drive within & according to the conditions / your abilities etc. Enuff said?Happy Days, Safe Driving & thanks for reading.
Mark B.
