THIS IS NOT A TEST

I have just read In My Humble Opinion in the May 2019 issue and I think I live in a parallel universe to Mike. I also took my driving test back in 1988 in a new Austin Metro. While returning to the test centre, the car cut out while stationary at a set of traffic lights. I was in neutral with the handbrake on when it just died, so I quickly activated the hazard warning lights and attempted to turn the engine over, but the Metro was having none of it. I said to the examiner that we had fuel, so I offered to look under the bonnet. Not seeing anything amiss, I tried starting again and the engine fired up. I hopped back out, closed the bonnet and was ready to go when the lights eventually went green. I passed my test and the examiner told me he had passed me for my quick thinking.

On the subject of driving when younger, I lived in the west of Ireland and used to take my Father’s Ford Cortina around the block while he was at work, I was once stopped by the Garda and gave my father’s details to the officer. He said OK and advised me to take the car home. I was about 14 at the time, pretending to be nearly 45, so the Garda must have known. I eventually went on to join the UK Police and now serve as a traffic officer.