Thursday, April 18, 2013

Ego Schumachers in the Road!!


There are many stories and funny posts on Ladies' Driving. So, here is what I have to share.

It is one year now after I got my UAE Driving License. 
Prior to that, when my husband\father\brother drives, I sit next to them and watch what is happening in the road. 

When I was young itself, I used to love driving, took my brother's scooty to Main Road (ChandraNagar Highway in Palakkad, my Home town) for the first time when all at home were busy with something else. My mom was scared and asked my cousins to follow me in their bikes but with that incident, she removed the restrictions imposed on me related to the routes I have to take while driving the 2-wheeler. But, I never got a chance to drive a car though I took the Indian driving license (both 2 and 4 wheel) once I reached 18.

In 2010, when I started working in Dubai, one of my aim was to get the UAE driving license and buy a car with own money. Due to the busy schedules of MBA classes and work, it got delayed till 2012. And in 2012, I got both - Driving License and a car.

But 2009 till 2012, when I sit next to my husband, brother, father or any other friend (All male species), if any lady-driven car changes the lane without proper signals, or move slowly, I hear the same comments - like - 
"Oh Its a Lady. This is what we can expect", 
"See.. this is the problem when ladies start driving", 
"Why can't the ladies sit at home itsef?",
 
"Think this grandma started driving at old age?", 

"How could she overtake me?.. She thinks she is Schumacher..!.. Grr."
 

The whole blame was on "female species".

But when the same things were done my men, the same male species said, "Oh... He is blind I think!", "Why can't people drive properly?", "What? The Engine is not moving?", "Don't you know the rules?", “Who gave him the driving license?” etc.
But no blame on the "Male species” as such...

After hearing it for 5-6 times, I started reacting. Whenever a male-driven car takes a wrong round-about turn or put no or improper signals while taking a turn or changing the lane, even I started telling
"Huh! The male species are bad at driving though they think otherwise", 
"Ego cannot drive a car man.. ha ha ha!!"
etc. 
And the best part is, there are more men drivers on the road and therefore, more mistakes were done by men.

In a 10 km drive, male species may get 2-3 chances whereas I got 6-7 chances. And thus, they stopped the generalised comments on females. When your enemy is weak, we never take the weapon. So, even I stopped my comments on men. :) 

Here, In Dubai most of the Indian ladies take their driving license after their marriage or mostly when their children start going to school. And while going out for a party or a long-trip, their husbands(+Ego) or fathers(+Ego) or brothers(+Ego) never gave ladies the driving seat. And ladies mostly get a chance to drive the car to drop their kids to tuitions and go to their own Offices which are mostly near-by. Then, how do you expect them to drive a car smartly? How can you make fun of ladies' driving?

Even my family is not different. I literally have to fight for the driving seat while going for a family picnic or to a shopping destination. And then, I'm labelled as "rebel".

Now, while going from office in the evenings or on Saturdays, when nobody is at home, I take my car on a different route and go for a drive without telling anyone. I'm forced to do so..... (Now, you all know why..) 

And guys, if you think driving is a tough job and not meant for ladies, then try sitting with your kids in the back seat.. It is tougher!!! We like teddy bears and shopping but that doesn't mean that all of us dislike driving..

My dear male friends, uncles, brothers, & my dear Female Friends, aunties, sisters... Driving skills are not in-born. It improves only if we drive !!!! You learn the routes better only if you drive to that place... Mistakes happen for everyone.. Don't think it is just for ladies.... 
Do not let ego drive the car...