You Passed!

Isn't that a great phrase to hear?

I took the written test to get my Hawaii drivers license yesterday.
I took the approach that I have taken so many other times in test-taking. I read the summary at the end of the book and decided that since I am fairly bright and drive reasonably well I should be fine. I drove down to Hilo full of confidence.

Of course, there's that special DMV factor (not that it's called the DMV in Hawaii, but you get the picture). There is a lot of standing in line. The differentiator in Hawaii seems to be that when you reach a person they are actually nice and friendly. A contrast to many of the Oakland DMV employees.

They need a social security card. Mine disappeared about 15 years ago when someone decided that they should own all my possessions being stored in my car. A trip to the social security office earns me a "verification letter" that the DMV folks accept. The "man" knows I exist.

After some vision checking its time for the written test. My confidence evaporates as I look at the questions on the page. You need to get 24 of the 30 right to pass. Seems like a reasonable standard. Even a bit low. But...what is the name of the signs indicating some action required by the driver? Okay, now I think they are getting picky. Why do they care if I know the name of the sign grouping as long as I do what the signs say? Sigh. Now I can get only five more wrong...

Like some sort of sick joke, after you complete the test you have to go stand in line again. Anxiety heightens as I watch other people completing the test with seemingly no effort. The guy in front of me in line gets his test results and goes over to have his picture taken. I wonder if he knew the name of the signs indicating some action required by the driver.

Finally, I get to the window. The nice lady grades the test right there in front of me. I cross my fingers.....

Two wrong. Big relief. I may not know what that damn sign grouping is called, but generally I am not a public hazard.

I get my photo taken and leave with the prize: one genuine Hawaii drivers license.


By the way...they are called regulatory signs. ;)