Driving School

Having brought the readers between the ages of 8 and 88 into the world of aircraft, this book takes them into the world of motoring, which is within everyone’s experience. The introduction takes the form of a personal letter, illustrated by various photographs, about how the writer’s life changed when he acquired his first car at seventeen. On the facing page, he tells the reader: “Before you start…get a Bible”, setting the tone for what follows!

Cars and aircraft developed more or less hand in hand; and it is about the early days of motoring with which the book begins. On page eight, one learnt with surprise that Gottlieb Daimler built the world’s first four-wheeled car in the mid-1880s. An accompanying picture from 1896, such as this reviewer had not seen before, shows why cars were once called “horseless carriages”. The “learning point” is particularly potent. It reminds readers that although car designs have improved, we cannot, by our own efforts, improve our human nature, because “no matter how hard we try, we cannot stop being sinners in the sight of a holy God”.

Learning to drive is not easy; and one has to be ready for criticism, in the form of correction (p.10). This is as necessary as being put right spiritually; and the requisite response is illustrated by reference to Proverbs 3:11.

From thence, the book conveys one through matters such as “Night Driving”, “Road Signs”, “The Knowledge”, “Speeding”, “Freeways” and “Extreme Roads”, with much useful information and spiritual advice along the way. “Road Signs” (p.12) contains an ingenious Bible quiz, whereby ten road signs are given, each bearing three Biblical references, of which just one contains a clue to the road sign’s meaning.

“A New Car” (p.30), draws a comparison between the time limited warranty that new cars bear, and God’s promises that continue from age to age the same. It is on this page that there are three promises to be matched with the correct text. This is followed by “Buyer Beware” (p.32) with its cautionary tale.

With living in the Isle of Man, one was less keen on the later section on rallying, partly because it intrudes upon the sanctity of Sunday and because of the personal risks involved; though the information on pp.54-55 “Spotlight: Way-sport” was interesting.

Thus, taken as a whole, this book contains much that is both challenging and informative.