From Japan to Brazil, uncover some of the surprising differences in learner training and driving-test standards across the world.
While the Coalition considers whether to introduce tough new laws for learner drivers, how do other countries deal with the issue of driving training and testing?
Training
Students in Finland face a tough regime – as well as enduring night driving courses and skid-pan sessions, they must amass over 18 hours of lessons across two years before undertaking a two-part test to qualify for a full license.
Meanwhile in France, students are expected to complete two years of training that must include over 3,000km of driving at reduced speed limits, while in Japan, students aren’t even allowed near public roads – they are trained on mock city streets instead.
Other countries go even further; carjacking is so predominant in Brazil that pupils are taught defensive driving techniques. Perhaps they should also take a leaf out of Switzerland and Hungary’s training manuals where students are required to undertake a first aid course before they can even apply for a provisional license.
Tests
From the Super Tough If you believe the UK’s driving test is difficult then spare a thought for South African learners. The country’s K53 Driving Test is the stuff of nightmares for the nation’s young people. For instance, pupils can have test points deducted for not pulling up their handbrake silently when they come to a halt, and be failed on the spot if they roll back at all during their test.
While some of us might think that making tests so tough is a good idea, it has led to an outbreak of bribing in the country with three in five young South Africans claiming to know somebody who simply paid for their driving license, no questions asked. Worse still, some drivers are simply not bothering with a licence at all, and could in part explain why South Africa’s traffic-related death rate is 20 times higher than in the UK.
To the Worryingly Simple Perhaps pupils who think Britain’s driving test is too difficult should consider moving to another country. For instance, Pakistan only requires students to read a number plate from 20.5 meters and steer through a short course of cones before reversing backwards to achieve an easy pass.
And up until recently, learner drivers in Egypt only needed to drive forwards and backwards six metres to qualify while in New Delhi, drivers are simply required to drive round the block with an examiner in the passenger seat to receive their license. For the ultimate in easy passes though, Honduras drivers don’t even need to take a test before being handed a license.
Restrictions Round-Up
– Learners in the Australian Northern Territories are only allowed to drive up to 50mph.
– Russia expect all its learners to have a ‘certificate of mental fitness’ to be able to drive.
– There are certain US states that issue driver permits to teenagers as young as 14 and a half.
– All genders are equal when behind the wheel, unless you live in Saudi Arabia where women are banned from driving.
Are we getting it right in the UK? How do you feel our driving tests fare in the face of such global differences? Are we getting the balance right – or is there room for improvement? Let us know in the Comments section below.
Picture credits: Middle East © Boulanger.IE, Snow road © Timo Newton-Syms, Traffic jam © Joisey Showaa, Northern Territories © Tony Bowden.