Did they change rules of the road?

Jason E. Hill lives in Ridge.

Each time I drive past the Department of Motor Vehicles in Riverhead, I fondly recall my 16th birthday and my written examination for a learner's permit.

I couldn't wait to take that exam. I studied every word of the state driver's manual. It became an obsession. I memorized the rules, regulations and a vast assortment of automobile trivia. When I walked into that examination room on that early autumn morning in 1974, I was prepared. Nothing was going to stop me from getting that permit and taking the wheel of my father's shiny red Ford 1973 F-250 truck.

The first question displayed a stop sign and asked what it meant. With little hesitation, I circled the correct answer: Come to a complete stop and proceed slowly. The remaining 19 questions were not nearly as simple, but neither were they too difficult. If you studied the manual there would be little chance of failing. I passed with flying colors.

Although years have passed since that memorable day, I still remember that concise little manual and its wealth of information. I continue to follow the rules of the road set forth between its covers.

Unfortunately, like the dinosaurs, I feel destined to become extinct. I may not be obliterated by a wayward asteroid like T. rex, but I know that my driving habits are becoming a thing of the past.

My custom of stopping at stop signs and red lights is no longer appreciated by my fellow motorists on many Long Island roads. Call me old-fashioned, but I only pass on the left, never on the shoulder, which is against the law. And I get tired of other drivers giving me dirty looks, as if I were breaking the law, when I drive the speed limit.

I truly believe that vehicles delivered to Long Island dealerships should include a unique warning label: "Caution: Driving on Long Island roads may be hazardous to your health.''

I am preoccupied with the thought that quite possibly today's driver's manual is missing some very important pages. The next time I pass by the Department of Motor Vehicles, I'll pick up a new manual and review the material. Maybe all of the rules have changed.

For me, driving has become a religious experience. Each time I strap myself in behind the wheel, I glance heavenward and say a prayer. My earnest request to reach my destination unscathed is a bid to ward off offensive drivers who test my mortality daily.

I try to navigate the roadways cautiously and with common sense. I hope my prayers continue to be answered.