Mike and Mary Jane's First Anchorage Driving Test Adventures

by Mike and Mary Jane

1960s photo by Jim Zoller

1960s photo by Jim Zoller

Mary of Anchorage Memories shares her story: Mary’s Anchorage Driving Test Adventure

“Nope. When my sister Betty went to get her Alaska driver’s license, she failed the driving test because she drove over a curb. Later, when she took the test for a second time, she passed.

When I was 16, my stepfather Bob took me to the DMV in our 1968 Camero.

Yep. I passed the written test. Then on to the driving test. I followed all the instructions from the DMV guy who was in the passenger seat, telling me what to do. “Turn left, turn right, cross the railroad tracks.” I was then instructed to head back to the DMV for the parallel parking test. Yep. I passed.

As Bob drove me home, he told me that he knew the guy who gave me the driving test. And if I hadn’t passed, he was going to tell him that I was his step-daughter, and you need to give her a passing test score.

Yep. When we got home my mom was happy that I had gotten my Alaska driver’s license because she didn’t drive, and I could be her chauffeur.”


Mike of Anchorage Memories Shares His Driving Test Adventure

“As a teen, I started with a driver’s permit. My mom and dad took turns teaching me the finer points of driving. Like how to stay on the road and off the sidewalk.

Then came the big day when mom took me to the Anchorage Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) to get my Alaska driver’s license.

After I nervously passed the written portion, I was ready for the scary part… the actual driving test.

Remember, the Driver’s Manual plainly stated that I was not to talk to the person giving me the test.

“Pull out into traffic. Stop here. Turn right, turn left.”

Then I made a mistake. I pulled to a stop after passing the stop sign. Quickly, the man testing me said matter-of-factly, “Stop in front of the stop sign not behind it.” Ok, I was sure I had just failed the test.

Moments later, he said, “Head back to the DMV.” At that moment I really got nervous because I thought the dreaded parallel parking test was coming up, and I hadn’t practiced that one.

However, when we arrived back at the DMV, he said, “Pull up, park and turn off your engine.” Wow, I didn’t have to parallel park. Then, after scribbling a few notes, he got out of the car without saying a word and went back into the DMV.

I wondered if I had failed the test. Moments later, I was inside the DMV and a woman came over, handed me a piece of paper and said, “Go over there to get your picture taken.” I had passed my test!

Later, I stood on the sidewalk, basking in the warm summer day and thinking to myself, “I have my Alaska Driver’s License.” I got in the car and mom drove us home.”

Comments for Mike and Mary Jane's First Anchorage Driving Test Adventures

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Rating
starstarstarstarstar 		Hello Stick Shift
by: Edi

I don't think I had to take a driving test in 1950.

My dad taught me to drive, sometimes with my little brother or sister in the back seat laughing at my jerky attempts in a standard-transmission car.

When he thought I was able to drive, he simply took me to the DMV to buy the license.
Rating
starstarstarstarstar 		It Was Just A Fib
by: Vivien

Took mine at DMV on 5th Avenue.

When we were coming back to the DMV the tester asked me if I knew how to parallel park.

I knew how, but told him I didn’t because I didn’t know what he was going to have me do.
Rating
starstarstarstarstar 		I Had Things Under Control
by: Cindy

Yup.

First day I was allowed to take the test. In my Mom’s big boat of a station wagon.

One trip around a short residential block and parallel parked that puppy like it was nothing.

Passed with flying colors plus a huge compliment from the examiner for my parking.
Rating
starstarstarstarstar 		Took My Test in Something Unique
by: Michael

I was at Anchorage’s 4th Avenue DMV.

Driving a two and a half ton shop truck with a jib-boom.

The person giving me the test was impressed. Lol, farm boys! What can I say."
Rating
starstarstarstarstar 		Driving in Downtown Anchorage
by: Kathy

Nope.

Failed to stop at a red light before I made a right-hand turn in downtown Anchorage. Oops!

The guy was nice though. I re-took the driving portion a week later and passed.
Rating
starstarstarstarstar 		Parallel Park A Station Wagon
by: Grover

Oh yes, in Anchorage... in mom's 1957 Ford station wagon.

Parallel parking was intimidating in that critter, but Dad had his truck at work. I lucked out, and slipped right into the spot.

The rest of the test was a piece of cake.
Rating
starstarstarstarstar 		I Had to Fix a Roadside Problem
by: Karen

I took my test in Eagle River in my VW bug.

As we started up Meadow Creek Drive my automatic choke slipped, as it did from time to time, so I pulled into a cul du sac, got out, opened the hood and put it back the way it should be.

As I got back in the car and turned off the flashers, the tester told me to go ahead and just head back to the DMV.

I thought that meant the test was over, and I'd have to go again, but I was wrong.

She told me she was very impressed with how calm I remained and how I fixed the problem.

She passed me without even parallel parking.
Rating
starstarstarstarstar 		I Didn't Pass the First Time
by: Sherry

During my driving test, my instructor told me to stop.

I slowed down and stopped.

He "failed" me because I didn't slam on the brakes.

He didn't say "STOP!"; he said stop.
Rating
starstarstarstarstar 		I was a Seasoned Driver at 16
by: Mark

I turned 16 in 1971.

By that time I'd been driving my dad's 1962 International Scout for almost two years. (Until just before the driver's test, the Scout had no tail lights; I just lightly rode the brakes whenever I passed a trooper or city cop.)

So I was a confident veteran driver when I arrived at the old DMV location on 5th Avenue. Even parallel parking was not a huge challenge.

I passed easily.
Rating
starstarstarstarstar 		Dad Yelled A Lot
by: Tom

I remember learning to drive from my dad, who meant well but yelled at me a lot, and my mom, who was a bit nervous but less prone to yelling.

I finally took the test in March of 1978, 6 agonizing months after my 16th birthday, at the DMV on Dowling Road.

It was probably the easiest driving test in the history of the automobile: I turned left on Dowling, right on the frontage road along Seward Highway, then right on Tudor, right on Lake Otis, and right again on Dowling, turning left back into the DMV. Two left turns the entire test.

And then there was no parking test!
Rating
starstarstarstarstar 		Once Around the Block
by: Pat

When it came time for me to get my driver's license, Dad decided I should go to a driving school.

The instructor was a fellow by the name of Cox. He was also a music teacher. So the day came for the driving test, and I told the examiner that I was taught by Cox.

The examiner told me to drive around the block. Once around the block and that was it.

I don't think he ever looked up from his paperwork.
Rating
starstarstarstarstar 		My 1953 Drivers License Number
by: Jerry

In 1953, I got a driver's license.

The license numbers were the next in line. My license number was 53467, so the next person would be 53468, regardless of where they were in Alaska.

I was in line in the 1970s to renew when everyone was checking their numbers to see how low their numbers were. When I showed them mine.

They all gasped, I was the winner by quite a margin.

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