Column: driving lessons in Italy

It was time. My son officially became an adult. Finally old enough to learn to drive. Sponsored by his grandmother, who was already looking forward to being picked up from the airport by her grandson on her next visit. Thinking about my own driving test misery, I thought more of a number of visits further in time.

Even then.

Our conversation about driving lessons

“So Mom, get ready for it. If I pass my theory test right away, I will get my foglia rosa. Nice right?'

'A pink sheet? That's not the same as you drivers license, However? Super! What do you use that pink sheet for? As proof that you can start taking driving lessons?'

'Yep. And that I can drive the car.'

'I get that. Taking driving lessons without driving a car seems a bit clumsy to me, doesn't it? Then it all becomes very theoretical, hahahaha.'

'Gosh Mom, it's not just for driving school lessons. So I can already drive your car.'

'...'

"Not alone, but with you or daddy around."

'...'

'And stuck on the car with a big P like that. At least everyone knows right away that I'm taking driving lessons and I'm not very good at it yet.'

'...'

"So when you pick me up from the bus, I'll drive us home."

'...'

'Don't you like that very much? From that moment on you no longer have to drive yourself when I'm around. Luxury isn't it, Mom, your own driver.'

"Uh, yes. Luxury, my own driver. But before you drive my car, you've had a lot of driving lessons, I assume. Do they cross it off on that pink sheet or something?'

'No, I can get in the car right away. But I think I'll take two lessons first and then ride with you.'

“Well, that seems very sensible, dude. First ride twice with an instructor next to you to get used to driving and traffic. Maybe three driving lessons isn't bad either. Do you already have three hours of experience before you…'

'Three o'clock? One and a half mom, the driving lessons are only half an hour. But two lessons should be enough.'

'Oh really? And how many driving lessons do you think you need before taking your driving test? Has the driving instructor said anything about that yet?'

“Well, he said twelve lessons are usually enough. We also go for a drive in the dark. And about the Fi-Pi-Li home from Pisa.'

'12 lessons?'

'Yes.'

"Half an hour?"

"Yeah, didn't I just say that?"

“So you drive a total of six hours with an instructor? Man, you just learned to drive straight while you turn on your turn signal! And I don't want to talk about switching just yet. Twelve lessons? Real? We drove an average of twenty times an hour before they even mentioned an exam.'

“Yes, Mom, really, twelve lessons. That pink sheet is only valid for six months, so I have to get my driver's license within that time. Otherwise I can start again with my theory exam and I don't feel like it.'

It was one of those. That 'aha' moment when you suddenly have a clear picture of why situations are the way they are. The how and why of that famous Italian driving style was immediately clear to me. Because twelve half-hour driving lessons is not much.

Gaining practical experience by driving alongside your parents is also not always advisable. Especially not if they use it to pass on their own chaotic traffic style. And the chance is, nevertheless, extremely high that you pass your driving test in one go, if I may go by the stories of son and his friends.

This is how it ended with the driving lessons

In the end, as predicted, he only needed twelve. He also made a lot of extra hours with his father, my new hero. Who regularly jumped into the shower with a grimace on his face to wash the sweat from his back. And according to my son, the car didn't explode nearly as often as we expected. He taught him how to park flawlessly, drive through the pouring rain and overtake neatly on the main road. With the correct use of the direction indicators of course.

As predicted, I also had my own private driver in no time, although it was a swallow every time to hand over that key. And he will probably hear my voice in his mind forever, telling him to check his mirrors, to look over his shoulder when turning and getting out and to brake sooner, much sooner.

Un-Italian neat

But all that apparently relaxed sitting next to him in the car with his buttocks squeezed did deliver the result we had in mind: he drives in an un-Italian manner and in a controlled manner. And while I secretly liked the idea that everyone can see at a glance that he has just started driving, I don't even think about waiting a year to remove that life-sized P on my car!

Photos: gonews.it