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Driving Profile: Adrian
(sneak peek)
ADIRAN: I’ve experienced being a contortionist. I’ve been standing like literally for 30 minutes. I remember standing with my arm over my head, but then my one hand behind my back in like a weird way.
(intro music)
BHAVNEET: Welcome back to Drive With Us, a podcast where we bring on a new guest each episode to talk about the crazy things they’ve experienced on the road, who they are as drivers, and how they became the driver they are today. I’m Bhavneet.
TARANJIT: And I’m Taranjit. And today’s driver is Adrian, the host of The Unknown Games podcast. And he is a 31 year old African American who dreams of making comics in Japan where he has lived for nine years. So we talked about the differences of driving in America versus driving in Japan. And his craziest story he shared with us of accidentally backing down the hill without turning the car on.
(transition music)
BHAVNEET: Welcome Adrian. Thanks so much for joining us today.
ADRIAN: Thank you so much. I’m very glad to be here. It’s an honor to be on another podcast.
TARANJIT: We’re glad to have you, too. Let’s jump right in. One of the questions we love asking all our guests is what is one of the craziest or funniest or most interesting things that you have experienced while on the road?
ADRIAN: Oh man. I know we were kind of talking about this before the show and I was asking myself what is the craziest? Which one should I tell because they’re all kind of crazy. I had to choose between wreck one, wreck 2, or wreck 3.
TARANJIT: We want to hear them all.
ADRIAN: Oh all of them. Really?
TARANJIT: Yes.
ADRIAN: Okay. Well wreck one wreck one is probably the craziest one where I honestly it was it right after I got my drivers license in high school and my mom told me, you know, I was driving home from band practice and she always would tell me come straight home. Do not go anywhere else. If you do, I will know. And I’m like, mom how would you know, if I go anywhere else if I’m home before you get home, right? I you know there was a girl I liked in band and I drove her back to her place, and she happened to live on this mountain. Huntsville, Alabama is we’ve got mountains and hills. Big ones. And this one like literally if you coast down her driveway, you’re going to hit at least 25 to 30 miles an hour, maybe 40.
BHAVNEET: Wow.
ADRIAN: It’s horrible. And I had the smart idea of going up there. And on both sides of the driveway, there’s no railing. There’s no fencing. It’s just kind of a drop off into I guess like a forest. It’s weird. There was nothing there to protect you from if you went off the side. So they’re used to backing down this driveway or do a three-point turn down it. And here I am. I was like nervous cuz I’m like wait, how do I how do I how do I get down from this hill? I pulled in, but how do I? So I turned my car on or so I thought or my truck at the time and I’m slowly kind of like coasting down and I’m like, wait, the brakes are on like what what’s happening? I’m turning the steering wheel because I’m thinking that I can kind of go straight down the hill. That wasn’t smart. And the steering wheel, it turns out like essentially I didn’t fully start the car. So the steering wheel starting to lock up and I’m starting to turn all the way towards that drop off. And I’m just like, what what what am I going to do? What am I going to do? I forgot to mention, I also had another friend in the car. So he was like, pump the brakes. Pump the brakes. And I’m like, I am. I’m pumping them. And he was just like, do something. And like the steering when the steering wheel actually locked into place. I was like, oh God. We’re going to die. That was my thought at the time. And luckily, I guess you if you want to call this luck. It definitely is. The steering wheel locked into where there was this there was only one tree. One tree that was tall enough that when I hit it like you you wouldn’t go off that drop off. You wouldn’t fall off of it. So I hit the one tree in the very most luckiest time to not go off the edge of a cliff
and I called my mom. My mom said, see I told you.
TARANJIT: Did she know?
ADRIAN: I’d find out.
TARANJIT: Did she know that you weren’t…
ADRIAN: And she knew. Yeah. She knew. And then she had to come and pick me up. She was like, hmm. So the only damage I had from that was just a my bumper. My bumper was just bent. Was like a beat. That was it. It was nice.
TARANJIT: Oh wow. You really lucked out in this.
ADRIAN: I lucked out in this. The second one not so much. So the second one was when I was in college, I believe and I was still driving the same truck. It actually had just gotten out of the shop from the second accident. Second accident because I live in the countryside is related to internet. I don’t have internet at home. Like literally, there’s no phone signal at home. There’s almost nothing. You go home, there’s no cable. It’s like you go back in time. The only thing on TV are 60s and 70s TV shows like reruns. And yeah, I’m like 30 minutes outside of civilization. So anytime I have to use the internet, I need to go to Barnes & Noble or like a bookstore to get like Wi-Fi. So I’m going to Barnes & Noble on this kind of narrow road, and this one wasn’t my fault. This was just I was stopping and somebody behind me actually just they just didn’t stop for some reason. I don’t know why. They just didn’t stop. They were from out of town. They’re from New York. And they just hit me in the back. And I remember watching from my rearview mirror as it happened
and it traumatized me cuz like for the next 4 or 5 years anytime I looked in the rearview mirror, I always thought someone was going to hit me. A 100% of the time, I just thought I tensed up like, please don’t hit. Please don’t hit me.
TARANJIT: Just traumatized you.
ADRIAN: So it it it traumatized me. I’m like, I’m going to relive it again every time
but essentially, you know that wore off. But I think it was, you know, after the my truck got out of the shop, a couple weeks after that, you know, I’m driving home from church. My mom’s like, hey. Go go get go get something from Walmart. And I’m like, okay. Sure. And it’s this road that’s two lanes and then there is a ditch like a V ditch and then there’s two more lanes and then there’s another ditch and then there is like a fence. And it’s right next to the airport. So I’m driving along that road. It’s this really long turn and this is back when people had CDs in their car and they would change them. So I was changing a CD, trying to change a CD and not keeping my eyes on the road, and I ran off the side of the road where the you kind of have that kind of gravel feel like you’re supposed to pull off if something happens to your car. And yeah. So I never had actually felt that side of the road before and it freaked me out so much that I turned and overcompensated so much that I went into the ditch. Ditch one. And I popped out of that ditch then I went across the other two lanes
and then I went into another ditch.
TARANJIT: Oh my gosh.
ADRIAN: And then I went into the fence. And that was luckily I mean the fence was broken. My car was a complete V shape. I mean like it was totaled. They said like, that truck, you’re not driving that ever again. And…
TARANJIT: Were you okay?
ADRIAN: Yeah. I was perfectly fine. I was fine. I was screaming as I went across with my eyes closed.
BHAVNEET: Oh my God.
ADRIAN: And I was like, how how is this happening? What unlucky day is this for me to like there’s no one even on the road and I have a wreck. Like, what. So anyways, that was those are mine wrecks.
TARANJIT: Did these accidents happen in like a shorter span of time or were they more like spaced out?
ADRIAN: So the first accident was around in high school like when I first started. So I would say like 2006 I would say. And then the other ones were literally like two like a month apart around like maybe 2011 or something. Sounds about right.
TARANJIT: I would definitely say you are very lucky.
ADRIAN: Yeah.
TARANJIT: Well not that you are lucky you got in an accident, but lucky that you are able to get out of them safely.
ADRIAN: I agree. I agree. I am very thankful that in all of those cases that no one else was hurt. I wasn’t hurt. And you know, I was able to walk out without any injuries that I know of
TARANJIT: Yeah. The most important part is like it doesn’t really matter about the car because a car could be bought again, but your life is precious. Like once that’s gone, like what else are you going to do?
ADRIAN: Buy another car. No. No. You’re right. You’re right. Once once you are gone, like you can’t, you know, you can’t replace your life or someone else’s life. So it’s always the best of to drive drive safe. Your PSA for the day.
TARANJIT: Did you learn anything from these accidents after they happened?
ADRIAN: Yes. I honestly I think with each accident I learned to drive more cautious. That was yeah.
That’s about it. That’s probably the best thing. Like I learned to drive more cautiously. Like now, I drive like I wouldnt say I’m an elderly driver, but I do drive speed limit. Like I drive speed limit. I don’t ever go over speed limit. Not even like 5 miles like, you know, like normally you’re like, yeah. I can go 5 miles over. It’s fine. Whatever. I now go either speed limit or 5 miles below speed limit no matter what. And yeah. I’m just generally very cautious as a driver.
So when I’m turning out, I make sure that I have 100% like I don’t have to like pull out really fast, but I can just go smooth and there’s no worries. That’s it might take longer and you know, sometimes I worry about the other cars behind me like getting upset or even someone in my passenger side, but at the overall end of the day, I’m more cautious and a safer driver.
TARANJIT: Maybe you needed these moments to happen to help prepare you and become a better driver for the future. Maybe it was meant to be to teach you something.
ADRIAN: I would like to think so. I’m like, all those life experiences were were always meant to teach me a lesson. And they did. They did that. And I think if if they didn’t happen then I would definitely I’d be a different driver. And I wouldn’t honestly I probably wouldn’t be able to drive in Japan 100%.
BHAVNEET: Speaking of Japan, there are typically stereotypes that are associated with drivers of different areas. And since you have been in both the U.S. and Japan. Would you say that there are stereotypes of drivers in those areas?
ADRIAN: I think so because I’ve driven in both the city area of Japan like in Tokyo like the intersection not intersection but the interstate. And then I’ve also been you know out in the rural Japan up near Fukushima and where there’s like very little like very few cars on the road. And it’s definitely different. Like in the city, everyone is driving so fast. You even have like just sports cars just straight-up just right next to you. And I mean, they’re not even they don’t care about the speed limit because police don’t really I mean police are a joke in Japan. I’m sorry Japan. Japanese police. I mean like they really are. They they don’t really have the same threatening presence as like American police in terms of like you see the police car, you want to slow down. Like in Japan, if you have a fast car, you see a police, just keep driving cuz you know, they’re not going to catch you. They’re not even going to try to. They’re not really going to care that much. So people kind of drive faster in the city, especially if you have a faster car. But in the countryside, it’s really slow. I mean, it’s like your grandma slow and no one is really in front of them. And you’re like, why are you can you drive a little bit faster? There’s no one in front of you. Literally. There’s no one in front of you. So there’s definitely those two I guess stereotypes in terms of like different geographical regions in Japan.
BHAVNEET: That’s really interesting. Cuz it seems kind of backwards like when you think of a city, you would think that people will be driving slower cuz it be like more people on the road.
ADRIAN: Right.
BHAVNEET: And then out in the rural country, I feel like it would be faster.
ADRIAN: Right. Right. But in Japan and I think this is something that was a culture shock to me was that in the city and this is why I don’t actually like driving in the city., it’s very much a kind of I got I think I might be like this in California where you know bikes are still on the road with you. Like people who are motorbikes or if they’re on like a bicycle. They’re both there on the side like your left side so they can come up on you at any time. Even when your turning, you’re like, okay, I need to make sure that you know, this direction is clear. But because the roads are so narrow here in Japan, they’ll be like delivery trucks on the side of the highway, right? Not the highway, but just I guess it is the highway in the city right. But they’re kind of pulled over, but they’re taking up most of the lane you’re driving in and you know, in America we’ll you might just you know stop a little bit like stop and then ease on over to the right. In Japan, it’s so normal that people just go around. Like there’s no slow down time and then recognizing. Hey, there’s a car in front of me. It’s stopped. I’m going to go over. I don’t even think they look. It’s crazy cuz it’s it scares me. But like cars are just going in and out of lanes so fast, and I’m just like, heck no. Save me.
BHAVNEET: That seems like just like when we went to India, I feel like I don’t know. Is it just an American thing to be like, oh, yeah, be cautious about driving. But yeah. When we were in India, everyone be like whooping around and like no care for whether there is oncoming traffic.
ADRIAN: It’s just like, hey.
you get used to it. I guess is the thing
and I’m just like after three wrecks. I don’t think I can get used to it.
BHAVNEET: Exactly.
TARANJIT: Are there any like unique driving laws that are different in comparison to the U.S. vs. Japan?
ADRIAN: Unique driving laws… And this is this is actually probably one of my weaker areas in Japanese driving in Japan, and you’ll probably once you listen to some more stories or ask me some more questions, you’ll find out. But in terms of laws, I think the biggest difference and that I had to get used to was of course driving on the opposite side of the road. That’s one thing. But there’s also no no turning on red. I’m not sure if no turning right on red if that’s something that’s across the U.S. that you can do.
TARANJIT: I think some states say no and then other states say it’s okay.
ADRIAN: Okay. Okay. Alabama is like, hey. It’s okay. And then I came here and it’s like, no. You don’t do it. And then I guess other travel like other laws is that of course pedestrians have the right away. There’s a lot of traffic here in terms of like people walking across the street. And yeah, that’s about it. Bicycles don’t turn into one-way streets. There are so many one-way streets. And yeah, I think that’s the craziest traffic law. That’s not really that crazy.
BHAVNEET: How hard was it for you to like get used to switching from driving on the right to be driving on the left?
ADRIAN: It was difficult
It was actually very difficult because I first came here for teaching English and I I was in that job for 3 years and I didn’t drive at all.
So there was actually a 3-year gap in between me driving in the U.S. and driving in Japan. And for my next job, they’re like, hey. We need you to go work out in the countryside. You need a drivers license. I’m like, this wasn’t anywhere on the job interview. So I’m like, okay, what do I do? I need to go get my drivers license. And driving in Japan is in terms of getting your license, it’s very much different than the U.S. You still have driver’s school
and luckily for me like they’re like, okay you have an international license you’ve driven for x amount of years and you’ve shown proof of this, so we’ll just let you take the paper test and then you can take the physical the actual driving a test.
Because Driving School here costs 300 to $400.
TARANJIT: Oh. That’s how much…
ADRIAN: For like a month.
BHAVNEET: Oh a month.
ADRIAN: Yeah. Yeah. A month. A month
TARANJIT: I was going to say that’s how much we paid. But I’m like, wait. Nevermind.
ADRIAN: And what’s crazy is cuz they dont have a driver’s ed for like high school either. So what and this is the most annoying thing and if you talk to a lot of foreigners here who have taken the driver’s test, it’s different per state or per prefecture. My prefecture is in the top 5 for most accidents, so ours is very strict. And I mean, I was in a test with people who have failed 8 times.
BHAVNEET: Wow.
ADRIAN: The worst part and it’s I failed 3. So I can’t I cant talk. The worst part is that you have to pay $25 I think. Around $25 every time you take the test and you can only take the test once it’s either once a month or once every two weeks. It’s really annoying.
TARANJIT: Oh. So they have some strict rules there.
ADRIAN: It’s really strict and I’m like, why? Because so the first time I took a test, I had no prior experience driving on the opposite side of the road that the first thing the driver instructor said was like, you’re drifting to your wait which side? I’m drifting to the opposite side. So the left side I believe. It was the left side. This is why I don’t do it anymore. Because yeah, you’re sitting on the in the passenger’s side. That’s where you are now. So I was drifting to the side I’m not usually used to driving on.And I got to a stop sign and I think my car like, what did I do? I in Japan they have a line that’s before the stop sign. I stopped like, you know before the stop sign. But I crossed the line and this line is I guess essentially to represent like where people could walk. And it’s and it I understand it now but soon as I crossed the line, the driver’s ed instructor’s like, you failed the test. I’m like, but I’ve only driven a minute. You failed. Turn the car around. I’m like, okay. The second time it was this maze. There’s this it’s terrible. It’s horrible. It’s (beep). It is it is literally like not the funniest thing you can ever do. But I think I talked too much, I forgot the question.
TARANJIT: So they don’t have like a point system like in the U.S., they give you an x number of points you can get before you fail. Is it just like immediate fail no matter what you do wrong?
ADRIAN: There is a point system, but I think it’s a weighted to the fact that some things are just automatic Xs. The or they just have it to where they want to make sure that you’re a good driver. Because I’ve seen people fail at the very start of the test and we have a similar part in America where you know, you need to check your driver’s the mirrors, adjust everything and make sure before you start the car, right? There’s that part of the test. And in Japan it’s same. But there’s actually a part of the test that if you don’t either go to driver’s school or look on the internet or ask somebody you will not you’re not you’re not going to get it. Because you need to look underneath your car before you start it. Look underneath your car for any cats.
BHAVNEET: That’s interesting. I think I heard another country that it is like a law that every time before you start your car, you must look underneath and I think it was like for children. And I was like, why would children be under you car?
ADRIAN: Wait. Wait. Children? Why children? Why would they be hiding underneath the well I guess children and cats. It’s so weird. Children are like wild animals sometimes, they go as they please.
TARANJIT: It must have happened for them to make it a rule.
ADRIAN: There’s actually a lot of stray cats here in Japan. So I wouldn’t put it past me to have a stray cat underneath your car. But yeah, I mean I I made sure I did all those things and each time I got further in the test, it was almost like a game. It was very strange, but they’re like, okay finally. Your your your you succeeded and I’m just like, thank thank you. I can now go drive. And then that’s the whole other thing in terms of me driving in Japan is I dont I still to this day do not really understand miles per hour versus kilometers per hour. So I’m just gauging it. I’m gauging it. Just go slow.
TARANJIT: Go slow.
ADRIAN: Just go slow. Go slow. Don’t test anything.
TARANJIT: Before you started driving, I guess you took public transit. How is that? Is there a difference in public transit experience in the U.S. vs. Japan?
ADRIAN: I’d have to say that there definitely is a difference. I’ve actually never really I never taken a lot of public transit in the U.S. Alabama just doesn’t really have that system built in. Whether it be the bus or the trains, but here in Japan, I think if you talk to anyone any foreigners we’ll all just say like it’s amazing that the train system is built so complicated and so complex that you can really go anywhere. You can go from like the south of the southern tip of Japan all the way up till like Hokkaido the northern tip of Japan just by train and you know, they have four different types. There’s like a commuter train, of course that skips certain stops or skips like the, you know, every stop every other stop or something and then they have like one that just goes straight to a certain place and they have the train that stops everywhere. But what’s amazing is that you can literally they run on schedule buses here to they run on the clock. So if you just need to make a plan to do something just look on your phone look up where you need to go. Look up the route and that train or bus will be there exactly that time if not within the next minute. it’s crazy. So you can uh it’s convenient.
TARANJIT: I know you mentioned earlier about train pushers. Have you ever experienced that or have you ever seen that happen?
ADRIAN: Yes. Yes, I’ve had some so I think we all have for the morning train. There’s two trains, right? For the morning train and the the the evening train. So imagine that you are having, you know, morning rush-hour traffic and evening rush-hour traffic but it’s human bodies inside of a tight car. That’s what that is and what exactly have I experienced. I have experienced being a contortionist. I’ve been standing like literally for 30 minutes. I remember standing with like my arm over my head, but then like my one hand behind my back and like a weird way and turned like not like in a 90 degree angle. It was I’ve experienced that, where all you’re hoping for is someone to get off of the train.
TARANJIT: How long were you in that position?
ADRIAN: No, no joke, like 20-30 minutes.
TARANJIT: Oh my gosh.
ADRIAN: 20-30 minutes. I’ve had moments where like it and I try to be very conscious of other people because I know it’s uncomfortable for me, but I don’t want other people to be uncomfortable especially women on the train because women on the train in Japan already have problems in terms of unfortunately males kind of groping them or someone touching them and I number one. I don’t want to be accused. I I keep my hands to myself but overall like I just want everyone to have a safe commuting experience as much as possible even though I’m in a contorted position. So I try to keep my hands in front of me as much as possible or use as minimum as minimum space. I’ve seen a guy and you’ll see this often even though like, I guess documentaries or something or on Japan and train systems. When the train is full, it’s normal in America or any other country you would think no one can get on it’s fine. Don’t get on. In Japan people are like I got to get to work and they’ll continue to shove themselves in. There’s actually a part above the door where you can actually hold onto. You’re not it’s not meant for you to hold on to. it’s just you know, like a little latch above the door kind of thing. People will actually hold on to it and then like shove themselves in and then just kind of push themselves in using that as leverage and until the door closes. I’ve seen the door closed on peoples bags. There there a Blazers. I’ve seen like just like clothes hanging out like your clothes are hanging out right now. Like they are caught outside of the train. But the station managers or the station guards, they they push them in.
They don’t say like no you need to get off the train wait for the next one. it’s like no push them in push them in. Now close the door. Okay. It’s okay. Let the train go. That’s that’s what happened.
TARANJIT: Hopefully no one had like a body part close in the door.
ADRIAN: Someone’s got to have their their fingers squished in the I mean like the trains are very protective of not protective but safety measures in place for that. This just a good amount of cushion, but it doesn’t mean that someone hasn’t exactly stuck their arm outside or something. Just like…
TARANJIT: Yeah. I am sure it must have happened.
ADRIAN: To somebody.
TARANJIT: It must have been very painful.
ADRIAN: It had to be really painful if someone did. I don’t think it’ll start hopefully hopefully not. But typically there the train experience outside of those times or is it pretty like pretty nice. I end up going to sleep on the train or watching TV really going to sleep. I got to sleep a lot on the train when I can sit down. That’s my hobby.
TARANJIT: Now that we’ve heard all these crazier stories. Let’s get to know what type of driver you are. I know you touched on this briefly and I feel like I know the answer to this question, but would you rather be the driver or the passenger if you had the choice?
ADRIAN: Passenger, I’d be the sleeping passenger. Definitely be the passenger.
TARANJIT: So have you ever gotten in a car as a passenger and wish you never got in? Whether it was here in the U.S. or in Japan?
ADRIAN: No, no. No, I don’t believe I have. Only only to the fact that like at any given time as a passenger. I’ve always gone to sleep at a point in time. So it’s just like my time to relax. Yeah. I don’t think Ive ever just not like being in the passenger side. I never been with any crazy driver, so.
BHAVNEET: Well that’s good.
ADRIAN: I’m the crazy driver.
TARANJIT: So you can come true with others?
ADRIAN: I feel I feel I feel comfortable. I’m a very trusting person. So I’ll probably hop in the car and just be like, okay just take me to the take me take me there.
TARANJIT: Wake me up. I’ll fall asleep.
BHAVNEET: Yeah.
ADRIAN: I’ll fall asleep. That is literally like sometimes I get self-conscious of it. Here in Japan, I used to play baseball on a team and you know, we have to drive to the games and anytime I get a ride, you know, we’re all in there and I’m fine. There’s nothing wrong. I’m very trusting that they’re going to get us to the field and along the way I’m just like I don’t want to fall asleep. They’re going to think I am like I don’t know like a baby or something. So yeah.
BHAVNEET: I mean I feel like I feel like here it’s very normal. People are like, alright. You drive. Wake me up when I’m there.
ADRIAN: Just knockout. Just knockout.
BHAVNEET: Yeah.
ADRIAN: Yeah, that’s my one I guess like fault as a driver is because I like sleeping. I’m unfortunately I get really bad road hypnosis. Really bad road hypnosis.
BHAVNEET: How would you describe just overall the kind of driver that you are and would you say that like your family and friends would describe your driving in the same way?
ADRIAN: For me I’d describe myself as a cautious driver, but one who cannot drive more than an hour and 30 minutes. Exactly that number. Around that time, I start to fall asleep and it’s mainly on the interstate mainly on the interstate. Like if it’s like in the city, it’s fine. Then I don’t know then again, I don’t know why you be driving an hour and a half in the city. But yeah, I get really bad road hypnosis to the point where even here in Japan, you know, I blare music or I’ll like even pinch myself. Or I’ll like talk out loud. Anything if there’s no passenger with me to try to stay awake and it just doesn’t work. I’ve had so many moment. Unfortunately, where I will wake up like, okay, it’s time to stop. Wake up. Okay, it’s time to stop. Wake up. I really should pull over. Wake up. Oh man, just let me get home. Please let me get home in one piece. I just have really bad road hypnosis. In terms of like how people would to say as a like how I am as a driver. I think they say I’m actually fine because they never witnessed that horrible story that I just told you. Yeah.
TARANJIT: But now they heard it.
ADRIAN: Now that if they heard it. Well, please always ride with me and stay awake to keep me awake.
TARANJIT: You just need that accountability partner. It’s like, yes I need you in my car.
ADRIAN: Exactly. I need I need someone. Please help me.
BHAVNEET: So road trips are a no go for you?
ADRIAN: Yeah. It’s a no go. It’s a 100% don’t even try.
TARANJIT: Have you ever been in a situation where you’ve had to honk or like are you would you say youre a person who honks at people?
ADRIAN: No. I’ve never honked except for on accident once. I’ve really never used it. I’m a very patient and calm driver. And I actually get like really add not agitated, but I get a little bit annoyed if someone behind me is like riding my bumper or something or like fly by me or they make a you know, did they just make you just do something thats like why did you do that? But I never I never honked my horn.
TARANJIT: Yeah. I am the same way.
ADRIAN: Have you ever honked your horn?
TARANJIT: No. I feel like there have been so many situations where I should have as a warning to the other person, but both of our reactions are to get out of the way and save ourselves as opposed to honking that horn.
ADRIAN: Understandable.
BHAVNEET: But I can say I finally crossed off my bucket list. Why is it on my bucket list? I don’t know.
ADRIAN: Yeah. Why is this on the bucket list. Another story. Why?
BHAVNEET: Because there has been so many there has been so many people that just like I should have honked at you. Like you deserved it and then I’m like I’m going to do it one time and then I did and I was like, yeah, you deserved it.
ADRIAN: It felt like a like a relief. Like a cathartic relief of finally.
BHAVNEET: Yeah
ADRIAN: They deserve it, too.
BHAVNEET: And I have never did it again.
ADRIAN: Oh. Hopefully hopefully you won’t have to but chances are you may have to once again in your lifetime. One more time maybe. One more. Look forward to it.
BHAVNEET: Every time I get behind the wheel. It’s like I feel like I need to. But is honking like a big part of the Japanese driving culture? Cuz I know in like certain areas like especially New York City, for example, honking is like a big thing. Everyone does it. Is it kind of like that in Japan or does like no one really honk?
ADRIAN: I’ve never like I’ve heard honking a few times in the in the city area like it’s not as often in my experience of driving. But like I remember last year and it became a thing on the news like the news picks up on weird stories, but for about a whole month or two, the news was reporting on road rage like this is the first time in Japanese history road rage has existed. People were like filming other people driving by flipping other people off like honking like crazy riding bumpers just to ride them. I was like Japan are you okay? Like what’s happening right now? This doesn’t happen usually. But apparently this time of the month for Japan they’re just like we’re going to focus on road rage. So it does happen.
TARANJIT: They are probably like, I just want to try it once.
ADRIAN: We just want to we just want to see when someone sees because the thing is like once someone sees something, I think people try to imitate it and I felt like that’s what was happening. Because they just kept on coming up with more and more stories. I’m like why? How?
TARANJIT: So speaking of road rage, have you ever had it yourself or experienced it yourself?
ADRIAN: No I’ve never experienced road rage. My dad used to have like really bad road rage sometimes and I guess like for me when I like here, I’m just going off into the car I guess for me. I just was like, I don’t want to do that. Instead like I will if I’m on the interstate, I like to drive behind people or stay around other cars, especially on the interstate where you can kind of do this, that are in my kind of judgment. Like they are reliable. They’re like Road Buddies. I literally call them. This is my road buddy for the trip. Like they’re driving like a consistent speed limit. They don’t really move or make any kind of crazy adjustment, but they’re like, you know, they like a really reliable friend. They’re like there and you can like you can trail them and then once you pass them you can feel like I feel like, you know, thanks you helped me out. I really appreciate it. But then there’s that one car that’s just speeding and then they get past you or ride your bumper and I’m like you know, what you drive safe. Don’t hurt nobody. That’s literally what I do. I speak to cars in that manner. That’s my road rage.
TARANJIT: I feel like whenever we ask people this they always mentioned their dads having road rage. I don’t know if maybe it’s just something with age or the more you drive. You just start to get less patient with other drivers.
ADRIAN: That’s the case like you just honestly and I mean I can understand this in terms of just like what I do for work now. Sometimes you kind of wonder like how do people like how do they do the things that they do right. And that’s I think that’s more annoying than the fact that they actually did it or maybe both. It’s probably both. But yeah, then maybe that goes through your mind and it’s just like, how can you turn like this? How can you do that? And that you just verbally comes out and then just get you upset. So probably when you get older, it could be a thing. I’m going to check that.
TARANJIT: Yeah. We will probably check in with you and see you later down the line.
ADRIAN: 20 years from now. Let’s do another interview. Let’s check this out and see what type of drivers did we become.
TARANJIT: Yeah, have you gotten more road rage.
ADRIAN: Hey. That’s a good future podcast idea right there. 20 years do a follow-up interview with everybody.
TARANJIT: Have you improved or have you gotten worse.
ADRIAN: Exactly.
BHAVNEET: You say that you are more of a patient driver. So what would you say is the thing that annoys you the most about other drivers? Like what’s you’re driving pet peeve?
ADRIAN: People who ride your bumper. That’s the number that’s the number one. That’s definitely the number one. People who ride your bumper. I can I can like tolerate anything but that because I get really self-conscious about my not my driving but just like me being safe on the road and then like I don’t want to make a mistake I guess cuz all those accidents right? I don’t want to make a mistake. I don’t want to mess up and you know, the car behind me when they are riding my bumper. I feel pressure. Like I feel like it puts pressure on me and I get really like tense. And it’s like okay I need to get over and I meant to let them pass. So I try to put myself in that position on the highway, but if it’s like in the city and it’s like oh my goodness just it’s nerve-wracking for me. So that’s definitely number one for me. That’s my pet peeve.
BHAVNEET: I feel the same way. I feel like if someone is like driving really close behind me, I feel like I have to like compensate for them and drive further back from the person in front of me so that I can react in time for them to react. It’s like why do I drive for both of us?
ADRIAN: Right. Right. That’s exactly it. That’s exactly it. And it’s like we’re taking the time to be safe drivers and trying to you know protect not only ourselves but the people in front of us and hopefully the person behind us who’s been inconsiderate. But yeah, that’s exactly the feeling.
TARANJIT: So now that we know what kind of driver you are, which it sounds like you’re safe, but then at the same time, it’s like do I want to get it cuz you fall asleep.
ADRIAN: I’m going to tell you now. Don’t get in. In fact, just drive and I will sit on the passenger side.
TARANJIT: So let’s go back to how it all first started. How would you describe your very first driving experience and who was it with?
ADRIAN: My very first driving experience would be with my mother and this is actually I was thinking about this. I have really good experiences with my mom because she used to let me not drive not at the wheel, but like drive the car itself, but she drove a stick shift and when I was going to school instead of just sitting on the side on the passenger side, she would make me shift the gears. I don’t know why. I actually need to ask her like why did you make me shift gears for like literally all of middle school and like why? So I knew when to shift the gear like when to go from 1st to 2nd 3rd 4th back to neutral and everything. Essentially, she was just driving and didn’t have to worry about it.
BHAVNEET: It was a win-win.
ADRIAN: It was a win-win right? Maybe she thought she was teaching me something and she was. I can drive a stick in quotes. Because when I got my permit she was like, okay, I’m going to teach you how to drive how to drive my car. You’ve been driving stick you been practicing you should know how to do it. It’s easy. Just learn the timing on you know, when you have to push the gas and get them take off the accelerator. I forgot the brakes whatever that thing is the clutch. And I’ll never forget it because it was like 30 minutes and I just couldn’t get from zero like out of neutral to start. Like out of first gear. And my mom just goes you’re tearing up my car. You’re never doing this again. I’m going to get you an automatic, And that was that. After that, you know, my dad actually took me out driving and parking lots and I just drove around. That was then that was nice. I didn’t have to tear up a car. It was good. It was good.
TARANJIT: So, in Japan do you drive an automatic or stick shift?
ADRIAN: Automatic. Automatic. I’ll probably always drive an automatic until one day I get a nice practice car that is a stick. And I don’t have to feel like that if it breaks it’s not my fault. But you know, it’s okay. But yeah, I always get an automatic.
BHAVNEET: That’s that’s really interesting driving experienced was you know with your mom and it was really good. I feel like a lot of the times we hear it’s with dad and they’re like it was not fun. I never want to drive with him again.
ADRIAN: Just giving orders. Like what were what were your first driving experiences or who were they with?
TARANJIT: Our dad. And he is not the best teacher. He was very impatient. He was…
BHAVNEET: Oh not. When I was first driving, I was like because he taught Taranjit first and I saw how he taught her. I was like, nope you’re not getting the car with me.
ADRIAN: It’s just like no. I have learned from experience. I have seen I;ve seen the predecessor and what you’ve done.
BHAVNEET: Yeah. So she taught me. He taught her and she taught me.
ADRIAN: It’s kinda like maybe because like like like we were talking about earlier the older you get the more you have your I guess you’re certain ways or patterns and things just agitate you like. Oh, you’re not doing it this way. You need to do it this way. This is the way that keeps you the safest. But you like but you can do it this way. No. It must be that way.
BHAVNEET: Exactly.
TARANJIT: Especially when you’re learning, you’re going to make mistakes. And you’re like trying to figure it out and get the hang of it. And like how to hit the gas and like how to how much pressure to put on the brakes and all that. And just he just like he just wanted to know it.
ADRIAN: Right.
TARANJIT: It’s just like, give me time.
ADRIAN: I I it definitely happened to me. Especially with the gas. I remember one time and I just drove by on long side country roads, but no ones on the way, but I just remember like pressing the gas and my dad was like just press it lightly, press it lightly and I thought I pressed it lightly. But I was like, oh, this is 30. Whoa. Whoa. This is fun. And my dad was like stop. Stop. And so I stopped, but I didn’t like gradually stop. I just stopped and he’s like…
TARANJIT: Like slammed on the brakes?
ADRIAN: Yeah. I slammed on the brakes. And he was like, alright, we are going to do this again. Slowly. And I was just like, okay.
TARANJIT: So how would you describe the…I know we talked about the drivers test earlier in Japan. But like what kind of stuff do they make you do on the drivers test? And is it different than the drivers test here in the US?
ADRIAN: Wait. Let me recall that map in my mind. I get yeah they definitely give you a map in the U.S., too I think. Right? Of the course?
BHAVNEET: We did not get a map.
TARANJIT: Yeah. We didn’t get any.
ADRIAN: Oh. Wel…
BHAVNEET: Lucky you.
ADRIAN: Well we get a map because you need the map. The test goes exactly as that map goes. The first part if if I remember, you know, of course after you got your checks. You do the turn. There is a turn then there’s a stop sign then there’s a point where you need to speed up to like 45 miles an hour and then take a turn. Slow down and take a turn. There’s a point where there’s that car. Like I was saying a big truck on the side of the road where you need to put your blinkers on and then, you know, gradually get over. Check the directions or your rear-view mirrors and everything. Get over I will say and I just remembered this biggest hardest thing about driving in Japan and in the states going back and forth the windshield wipers. They’re on the opposite side.
BHAVNEET: Are you serious?
TARANJIT: Well that makes sense.
ADRIAN: Those handles those handles are on the opposite side. So anytime you think you’re turning the lights on you’re actually turning the windshield wipers on. It happens to me so many times. And in America, I am like, wait I’m gonna. Wait. Ah. Come on. And in Japan, I’m like why?
TARANJIT: Just hit both of them.
ADRIAN: If you hit both of them, you can’t lose, right?
TARANJIT: Yeah.
ADRIAN: You’re safe. So that’s on the test. There are no parallel parking. There’s no parallel parking on the test if I remember. But you will have to do a three-point turn and a what is this? I called it a Labyrinth before. Japan has a lot of narrow highways or narrow roads. Like it’s only enough for one car. Yet, you’ll see two cars come into that place. So they want you to be able to drive on a very narrow road. So they simulate that by making an S curve and then they make a zig zag like hook thing. I don’t know. It’s like it’s literally like you have you cannot hit the sides but there’s literally no room to to kind of maneuver. If you don’t take the turn the right way, you have to go really slow like 5 miles per hour slow. If you don’t do it right, then you have no choice but to backup in a curve. That’s how narrow it is. And that’s where most people like that’s the final like you got to pass this part or else. That’s everything on the test that I can remember.
BHAVNEET: Definitely, it sounds like that test is way harder than the U.S. test.
ADRIAN: It’s a it’s a test of all sorts. There might be the parallel parking. I don’t remember. Or it’s backing in. I think it’s backing in. And I don’t know if I mentioned this. I don’t think I did. But in Japan 99% of the time, you’re going to back in. You never pull into a parking space.
TARANJIT: Oh. I think I would like that. I prefer reverse parking over forward parking. I just I don’t know.
ADRIAN: Really?
TARANJIT: Yeah.
ADRIAN: What?
BHAVNEET: I would never pull in park. I would never forward park if I was given the option.
ADRIAN: What?! This is Im like Im like, whoa mind blown. Really? Like that was that’s the one thing in Japan that I it took me the longest time to get used to it. Like every car here has has a camera actually. On the like on the bumper. So you you can back in like you they want you to back in and they even have like a little lines to show you like. Okay, here’s the guiding lines. It’s like a game. Almost like a pulling game.
BHAVNEET: Huh. Thats really interesting. I feel like I have way more visibility backing in. Like I can see my entire car with my mirrors and everything versus the front I just always was never able to judge how long the hood is. And I was like it just feels so much easier. I don;t know.
ADRIAN: You’re definitely on a different spectrum. You’re on the upper class. Like the upper tier. I hmm. Or actually, you know what, where I’m from…I’m from Alabama. Like who knows. I don’t know. Well we probably don’t know how to drive. That’s okay. It’s okay.
BHAVNEET: So do you know how to parallel park?
ADRIAN: I do know how to parallel park. I learned in my driving test back in the States during drivers ed. And after that I probably parallel parked I don’t know maybe 10 or 15 20 times. Okay, maybe more. But not I don’t think it’s like as common, you know, but it’s definitely something that when you learn how to do it. It’s definitely a good skill to have. I don’t know. What do what do you think is a good skill to have or is it just like annoying.
TARANJIT: Yeah. I agree because like our like Maryland has taken it off the test. So when our brother went to go take the drivers test he only had to reverse park and then go on the road. That was it.
ADRIAN: Really? What.
TARANJIT: Yeah.
BHAVNEET: Yeah.
ADRIAN: Do you feel cheated?
TARANJIT: I do.
ADRIAN: You do feel cheated?
TARANJIT: I feel like he had it so simple. Like literally anyone can get their license. It’s just so easy.
BHAVNEET: Which is scary because it I feel like it’s important you need to know how to do it because there’s a lot of big cities and even if you’re not in a big city, there’s a lot of places where you need to be able to parallel park. And if you don’t it’s like what are you going to do? Just keep driving in circles? Like what are you going to do?
ADRIAN: No. That’s definitely true. I mean you have to especially like I’ve noticed it at least every time I’ve had to parallel park it’s been on a hill. I don’t know. I don’t know why maybe it’s just cuz of Alabama. I think even in San Francisco like my friend when we were driving. it’s like, okay. I need to park on the side of the road. And like if you’re in those kind of areas, well, you just get your going to have to parallel park. There’s no no way around it. Right? So it’s it’s really a useful skill, but it’s kind of had that should be on every test. It should be there. Standard.
TARANJIT: I feel like parallel parking in San Francisco would be hard especially because of all the hills.
ADRIAN: Yeah. Yeah. That’s exactly it. The hills issue is it’s like number one you don’t want to like I guess it when you’re parallel parking do you always think about like your your hubcaps are just like the side of your tires not getting too close to the side of the road. But at the same time trying to perfectly parallel park.
TARANJIT: Yeah. At an incline.
ADRIAN: Yeah. At an incline.
BHAVNEET: Yeah. I don’t know if I would be able to do it there. But that’s like a whole another level. Just find me a reverse parking spot.
ADRIAN: Just a reverse one.
BHAVNEET: Yeah.
ADRIAN: It’s next tier. San Francisco is next tier driving for parallel parking and I guess for traffic to or atleast LA. Like Ive Ive been in LA traffic as a passenger. I never want to do it again. Ever.
TARANJIT: Never want to be the driver?
ADRIAN: I never want to be the driver. I really don’t want to be the driver. That’s that might if my limit is an hour and a half but that entire hour and a half is in traffic I don’t know what I would do. What would I do?
TARANJIT: Yeah. Then you probably don’t want to hear how long our commutes are.
ADRIAN: How long are your commutes to work?
BHAVNEET: Hour and a half.
TARANJIT: An hour and a half there and an hour and a half back.
ADRIAN: Oh. Well, then that’s that’s like that’s the amount of time it actually took me to go to like the biggest city or one of the biggest cities in Alabama. But yeah, that’s it. That’s the same amount of time it takes me to commute here in Japan. Just on train. It’s like an hour and a half on the train. Sleeping in peace.
BHAVNEET: Yeah. At least you get the train option. Time for our final bonus question. If you could make one new driving law, what would it be?
ADRIAN: What would it a new law. Wow cuz it can be you know, what? If I could make a law, I would like to make a law that would have all cars and this would be like something that the manufacturers would have to change for all the cars. But you know, there’s like kind of smart cars like they kind of I have been in one actually where it kind of adjusts your let you know, like okay you’re too far to the left or there’s a car coming. It will stop little kind of stopped before you pull out or something like that before you hit something right. Those sensors. And I think that’s really really good and I wish it could be a law that every car was like a had that as like the standard. Like a base feature. Like so all cars could be safe cars. Or safer cars. I don’t know if that’s the kind of law you’re looking for, but that’s the one I want.
BHAVNEET: Hey. That’s a really that’s a really interesting one. I feel like it’s very important and hopefully or maybe we will get there at one point where all cars will have that.
ADRIAN: That and of course eco eco friendly cars. But just having those top-of-the-line features that are really for safety and then also for the environment become standard in the base model cars, like I like one day. I hope that that’s something that that happens for everyone across the board because then it just means that we’re all happy and the planet is also happier As happy as it’s going to get. Make it happy.
TARANJIT: Yeah. As happy as we can make it.
ADRIAN: As happy as we can make it. Recover ozone. So wait, that does recover right?
TARANJIT: Do you have any final thoughts or any tips you would like to give other drivers?
ADRIAN: Tips on driving? Of course, you already know I’m a very safe driver, but I would say like a just be able to understand how you drive as a as a driver. What type of driver you are. Even using some of the questions you heard today. I think that it’s a good way to kind of diagnose what kind of driver you are and then use that knowledge to be a better driver whether it’s become a more cautious driver or as they say like aggressive cautious wait aggressive defensive or uh just improve your driving in whatever way you can. If you’re like me and you fall asleep at the wheel, you should take this advice and pull over. And I don’t know, get yourself an energy drink. I don’t I haven’t figured how to remedy it. But you should definitely pull over. Take a little time. You need to grab a nap? Grab a nap somehow but take the time to drive safely. I think that’s the that’s my parting advice to everyone here.
TARANJIT: Yeah. That’s a good point because I feel like a lot of accidents that do happen are due to sleep deprivation and it’s just if you don’t think you can drive I think you should pull over. Just for your safety and others safety. So where can listeners find you?
ADRIAN: Yeah. You can all find me. Thanks for listening. My name is Adrian and my co-host Alex, we are part of the Unknown Games Podcast. You can find us on anchor.fm/UGPcast. You can follow us on Twitter and also Instagram at UGP_cast and we have new episodes every Friday. We are a video game podcast and we talk about mainly any kind of video game, but also Japanese video games and our life in Japan. So we’ve got some crazy fun culture stories like the train thing that we we were talking about earlier on this podcast and yes you can find us there. Itunes. Google Play podcast. Pretty much podcasting service. We are there.
BHAVNEET: Thank you so much Adrian for coming on. It was really interesting to hear your perspective on Japanese drivers versus drivers in the U.S. and getting to know what kind of driver you are.
ADRIAN: Thank you so much for having me on the podcast. I really enjoyed it. You both have a wonderful podcast and I know I hope the audience enjoys my stories. At least they learn not to fall asleep at the wheel. Safety First.
(transition music)
BHAVNEET: This episode was a really interesting one, especially since we got to see how different driving in Japan is versus in America.
TARANJIT: I was already expecting some of the things I was expecting especially since we’ve been to India. And I feel like a lot of Asian countries are similar in terms of driving in that way.
BHAVNEET: But the one thing that really surprised me was the fact that in the cities people speed, but then in the country out in the rural parts people drive in his words Grandma speed.
TARANJIT: Exactly. Which is I feel like the opposite of what happens here because in the country its open roads.
BHAVNEET: Yeah.
TARANJIT: And like you can just you have that space to just go fast. And the speeds are already faster in the country. In the city it is constant stop and go traffic. I guess it makes sense in like an Asian country, cuz people don’t follow the laws as much and there’s probably more weaving.
BHAVNEET: Yeah. Why? How can you possibly do that in the city versus like why aren’t you doing that in the country?
TARANJIT: Yeah, and he drives an automatic there. So that makes it easier for him. But a lot of other countries the car that’s readily available is a manual.
BHAVNEET: Yeah.
TARANJIT: And his drivers test experience there, I was just like, wow. It’s so difficult in comparison to what it is here because one, you have to look under the car for animals. Like that’s part of the check that you have to do before you even start the test. Here it’s just make sure you buckle your seatbelt. Make sure your mirror are good. Like pretend to wiggle them for the instructor. And then you go. His is like the test itself there’s this complicated S- shaped narrow lane road thing that you have to drive.
BHAVNEET: But it’s like to simulate the actual roads of Japan. So it’s like, that’s scary.
TARANJIT: Yeah, but they don’t have parallel parking. I don’t know which is harder. Do you think that s-shaped turn is harder or the parallel parking would be harder?
BHAVNEET: Yeah. I don’t know. I have seen Japanese roads. But then there’s also like if you’re like, I can’t drive on the road and you want to take public transportation how he mentioned that he has practically been a contortionist.
TARANJIT: Oh my God. I can I mean I can see it because again Asian countries. I feel like are similar in this in the fact that they just like pack everyone in. They’re like, I don’t care. Like I’m getting in. I’m going on this train. Not waiting. So he has to stand in for this awkward position for who knows how long. He’s on in that position in this packed train. Even if 10 people get off, I feel like he’s still in that crammed position.
BHAVNEET: Yeah, what would you do? Would you shove yourself in using that little leverage of a little handle that’s not really for that purpose?
TARANJIT: No.
BHAVNEET: No
TARANJIT: I wouldn’t. No. I couldn’t do it. I would be so scared.
BHAVNEET: Wouldn’t or couldn’t? You’re like I wouldn’t couldn’t.
TARANJIT: I wouldn’t and I couldn’t. I wouldn’t and I couldn’t.
BHAVNEET: You would just bounce back out like, oh. Make room. A thunk. No. Okay.
TARANJIT: I’d be like, naw. I’ll be here all day waiting for a space.
BHAVNEET: I might as well just go buy a car and like
TARANJIT: Exactly. Get in a taxi, right?
BHAVNEET: But we hope you enjoyed Adrian’s stories. And if you or anyone else, you know has crazy driving stories and would love to be a guest on the show, fill out the interest form on our website at drivewithuspodcast.com.
TARANJIT: And stay tuned until the end for a sneak peek of next week’s episode where we are joined by Evan Money and he shares with us his experience of hitchhiking in a trash truck and his crazy directions he got while he was in Mexico. Thanks for driving with us
(outro music)
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(next week’s sneak peek)
EVAN: You know, I was the president of the crappy car club. And I couldn’t afford to have anyone fix them and I was like man, I got to get to work. So I stuck my thumb out trying to hitchhike. I had people honking their horns. Screaming things. I had people telling me I was number one, but with the other finger. And everybody’s like Evan, what are you doing?