I took my driving test at Ubi Driving Centre because it was nearer to my office at the time, but BBDC (Bukit Batok Driving Centre) was nearer to my home. Most importantly, I passed the Class 3 driving test on my first attempt.
I obtained my Class 3 driving licence on 17 June 1993.
Thankfully, I passed the driving test on my first attempt, in a Nissan Pulsar with 5-speed manual gearbox, power steering and a private instructor who did a good job with this particular 19-year-old provisional driver 25 years ago.
The very first car I drove as a newly qualified driver was a late-80s Mitsubishi Lancer. My drive in that borrowed saloon, without a driving instructor on board and with actual highways ahead instead of just the Highway Code in my head, was a memorable mix of glee and uncertainty.
Tips to help you pass your driving test at Ubi Driving Centre
Losing my virginity and finding the lady I wanted to marry (not necessarily related to the aforementioned loss of innocence) came close in terms of life-changing experiences.
In the quarter-century after I was licensed to drive motor cars=<3000kg with =<7 passengers and other motor vehicles=<2500kg, I drove so many cars and clocked countless kilometres as a motoring journo, not only in Singapore but also in other countries which were so far away from Kampong Ubi Driving Test Centre circa 1993.
I didn’t dream of getting so much mileage out of a piece of paper (upgraded to plastic since 2002) issued by the Traffic Police. I just wanted to drive, and drive, and drive some more. Which I did – in the 25 years since I passed my driving test, I’ve driven over one thousand different cars in the course of my career as a motoring writer/editor/photographer.
