[ajprice]

Nobody knew, not even my own mum and dad. I had it booked 6 weeks ago, booked the day off work, went off this morning and took my test, and I passed . So I'm officially looking around for my first car now. I've got a pretty good idea what I'm looking for, a Skoda Fabia, it's based on a VW, but cheaper and bigger on the inside (I'm 6'6" so space is important). So I am very happy right now .

[Goldfinger]

Yay!

I like Skodas, the only product that VAG makes that interests me. The rest they make is overpriced uglyness. Skoda's give you good value for money.

Oh and also consider a Renault or Peugeot if you wan't a comfortable car at a low price.

[SSharon]

What is the driving age in the UK? Is it the same everywhere? I guess I am lucky in that in Illinois you get a license at 16 and don't have to get an appointment or anything.

Congrats btw.

[Link]

Here you have to get an appointment. Heh, I shall be taking mine soon though

[Mastrap]

Skoda is making good cars. I like the new estate that's just come out over here.

[bubblewrap]

At first I thought it read Sokoda.

[macroy]

What's involved in this driving test? I'm actually curious to see how the tests differ from place to place. I remember my mother (who learned to drive in Taiwan) saying that a manual transmission was mandatory for the test. Here in Maryland the test goes like the following (I took it over 15 years ago, so it may have changed - at least I hope so):

You drive for about 50 yds @ no more than 15MPH, then make a turn.
Then you make another turn at a STOP sign.
Then you turn into a dead end, and make a 3 point turn to come back out.
Then you perform a parallel parking job
You're done. And all this is done in a "test" environment where you are the ONLY car.
Again, its been a long time, but that's what I remember.

No wonder many folks here can't drive to save their lives.

[Link]

Here in CA the driving test goes out of the DMV parking lot, down a set of streets, you park on one of a few random streets alongside the curb, back up about 300 feet (I think), not hitting the curb at any time. Then, you pull out, might be asked to park again, make a 3 point turn on a random dead end street, then go back to the main street which stops in front of a railroad crossing that you have to stop before in order to NOT fail. You then make a left, go back to the DMV, etc.

[phantomdragonz]

when I took my driving test in colorado 4 years ago it was

go out of DMV lot (you supply the car, they check to make sure the lights work turn stope etc.) and take some turns, go to a stop sign, merge into traffic... and return to the lot...

the test was literally 5 minutes...

Oh, and the written test to get your learners permit is easy too, you just have to pick the longest answer everytime and you will ace it..

Zach

[Athens]

I got this info from ICBC, first in BC getting a license is a 3 step process. You have a written test which if passed you get to drive around with some one 25 or older with a full valid class 5 license, and you get a L license. After 12 months you are allowed to take the N license test which is a road test. These are the highlights of the test...

intersection maneuvers (driving straight through, turning right, turning left)
backing up
entering traffic
pulling over and stopping at the side of the road
changing lanes
parking on a hill
starting on a hill
angle parking
parallel parking
stall parking (driving forward and backing up into a stall)
two- and three-point turns
merging on and off a highway
general driving (e.g., driving straight, driving on hills and curves)

Observation
Hazard perception
Space margins
Speed control
Steering
Communication

Details for Hazard Perception ...

Hazard perception

A hazard is anything in the driving environment that could result in harm to you or other road users. Hazard perception is noticing these hazards.

Alert drivers see potential hazards and take extra care before they become a problem. Hazards to watch for include:

anything that could move into your space
unpredictable elements that make you react quickly
things that obstruct your vision
surfaces that can affect your traction and steering
To share the road safely, train yourself to look for other road users and all objects or road surfaces that might cause problems for you or for others in the driving environment.

When you pass that you get a N license which allows you to drive on your own but limits you to a single passenger unless its family or some one has a full license in the car.

After a year and a half you can take your full class 5 road test.

[Athens]

LOL while updating on todays news i found this interesting article related to this topic.

http://www.cnn.com/2005/AUTOS/05/26/...udy/index.html

[Albert Pujols]

I'm 18 and I still don't have my license. My friends drove me around every where so I really didn't need one. So i'm in drivers ed. right now and I have to say I've never realized how easy it is to get a license. The test is so simple, both the writing and the driving test. Basically any idiot can get a license in the US. No wonder there are so many bad drivers around.

[Nivag]

in the UK you have a theory test then a practical one.

The theory test is in two parts

1st - multiple choice questions, you need to answer at least 30 out of 35.

2nd - hazard perception, This part is delivered on a computer but you respond by clicking a button on the mouse. You will be presented with a series of 14 video clips which feature every day road scenes. In each clip there will be at least one developing hazard, but one of the clips will feature two developing hazards. you need to get 44 out of 75 on this part.


Once you've passed you then go on to the practical test, this is the basic part of it..
The test will include an eyesight test (if you fail this, your test will not continue).

After the eyesight test you will be examined on your general driving and on two reversing exercises. The reversing exercises will be chosen from:
reversing around a corner
turning in the road
reverse parking

You may also be asked to carry out an emergency stop exercise.

A standard driving test takes about 40 minutes.

more info here clicky

[macroy]

Originally Posted by Athens

LOL while updating on todays news i found this interesting article related to this topic.

http://www.cnn.com/2005/AUTOS/05/26/...udy/index.html

classic -

More reason to mandate that everyone retake these tests periodically (like 5 years?).
Oh, and make them harder too....

[Oisín]

I don't have a driver's license (I'm 22), but by Nivag's post, the rules in Denmark seem very similar to, albeit a bit more restrictive than, the English rules.

A few points of difference (this is all second-hand information for me, of course; it's based on what friends have told me about their driving tests):

· You have to take the eyesight test at the very beginning; if you fail, you will not be permitted to take even the theory classes.
· The numbers of questions in both parts of the theory test are different, and I think the second part of the test is slightly different as well, but I'm not sure exactly how it is here.
· The practical driving test has to be at least one hour, though they don't always enforce this.
· There seem to be more 'scenarios' that you have to be tested in in the driving test: driving on a motorway, roundabouts, parallel parking, three-point-turns, manoeuvring through dense city traffic as well as narrow country roads (depending on the area, one of these is likely to be neglected somewhat), and I think it's very common that they also test you in entering/exiting parking houses.

It can be very hard to get a driver's license here, but it can also be fairly easy. Unfortunately, the driving instructors have far too much autonomy over whether or not to pass a learner. If you get an unreasonable instructor, you might find yourself flunked with no chance of appeal, because of one minor detail such as neglecting to turn off your turn signal between entering and exiting a roundabout, even if everything else was absolutely perfect. Then again, if you get an overly accepting instructor, you may pass the test despite fairly grave mistakes. One particular instructor in the small town I come from is famous for categorically failing all girls in their first attempt, even if their driving is absolutely perfect; he simply will not let a girl pass until at least her second try. This sort of thing should obviously be illegal, but for some very strange reason, there doesn't seem to be much about it anywhere, so it just goes on...

[bubblewrap]

I have to have an FAA competency review every year.
And every 6 months I have to have a physical exam.
And to maintain my currency in my 172, I have to fly it at least every 3 months.
And shoot some ILS approaches every 6 months.

Now if driving requirements were only this tough.

This is why you'll never see flying cars for the general public.

[SSharon]

My test was really easy compared to some of these tests. It was only a few minutes and I got lucky with relatively short lines. I wish people were tested more often though. In my world failing to signal a certain amount of times would result in an automatic failure, and I don't mean during the road test, I mean ever. A car can easily keep track of when you signal and when you turn the wheel and store that information, likewise with turning your lights on when your wipers are on (assuming thats the law in your state). Even my test for emergency driving (ambulance) was relatively simple and only involved a class, written test, and driving test.

[DeathToWindows]

I just got mine a month or so ago (look for my old thread)

Very easy road test : your mind is your biggest enemy here.

[kiwibabe]

Here in NZ the driving tests are quite hard:

1 Learners licence: Theory test
Must get 37 out of 40 questions correct. If you pass you are allowed to learn how to drive on the road
with an instructor who has had their full licence for more than 2 years. Minimum time for learners
licence before you can go for your restricted licence is 12 months. NZ$80 to get licence

2 Restricted licence:
20 minute practical test, 3 point turns, hill starts, parallel parking, stopping, giving way, high speed
driving, must get 90% correct to pass. NZ$80 for test. If you get your restricted you are only allowed to
drive from 5 am - 10 pm, only people allowed in the car with you are those who have their full licence
for more than 2 years who have to sit in the front seat and act as responsible person if there are other
people in the car. Must stay at restricted for 12 months.

3 Full licence:
30 minute practical test involving all those in restricted test but main part of test is on finding,
analysing and finding answers to dangers on the roads as soon as you see them. NZ$80. If you pass
you can do what you like except for teaching someone else to drive for 2 years.

I'm only on #2 but I just bought a car this weekend yay!

[Oisín]

So... is it only NZD 240 to get your driver's license in New Zealand? That's... very cheap!

The prices are coming down here in Denmark too now, thank heavens. I saw an ad the other day where you could take your license for only DKK 5,000 (NZD 1,182/USD 844), which is extremely cheap. A few years ago, you'd be hard pressed to get one for twice that amount.

[wdlove]

Congratulations on passing your driving test. ajprice. I know that is a great feeling of pride. I'm 6' 8" so I have trouble with cars also. A VW Bug was that first car that I drove.

[DeathToWindows]

Well, here in MA its only $100 or so all told

[kiwibabe]

You know I didn't think of it as being cheap, oh well. If you fail any of the tests and want to resit the test you have to pay another NZ$80, so it depends on how many times you fail.

Only six months to go on my restricted licence ...

Originally Posted by Oisín

So... is it only NZD 240 to get your driver's license in New Zealand? That's... very cheap!

The prices are coming down here in Denmark too now, thank heavens. I saw an ad the other day where you could take your license for only DKK 5,000 (NZD 1,182/USD 844), which is extremely cheap. A few years ago, you'd be hard pressed to get one for twice that amount.