Most new drivers find the licensing process to be a challenge, whether they live in the London suburbs or the outskirts of Sydney. Who really does have it tougher? If you were choosing another place to start your journey to a driver’s licence, where might you find it easier to get your hands on one? In the English-speaking world, you may have to travel to South Dakota, U.S.A., and you probably don’t want to head to Australia. Can you handle a different language? Well, even so, easier alternatives to the UK are limited.
France
For Brits, the closest alternative is France. This probably will not be your first choice when you learn what they require. French provisional licence holders face a long road before they can get their permanent licence. First, they must complete two years of training under parental supervision. They must log 3000km in driving time, and they are subject to tougher speed limits. Can you imagine anything more frustrating than keeping it slow on a motorway?
Greece
With all that Mediterranean sunshine, surely the Greeks aren’t tough on young drivers, are they? Actually, their process is much more rigorous than the UK’s. First, the age for a learner’s permit is 18. Also, the Greeks require 21 hours in lessons before you are allowed to take the theoretical test. To pass the test, you must get 29 out of 30 questions correct. That’s about as tough as it gets anywhere in the world! During the driving portion, if you fail one manoeuvre, the instructor can refuse your application. After that, it’s back to class for ten more hours of instruction.
India
India may be the easiest place on this list. Believe it or not, until late 2013, inspectors could simply observe a driving skills test. Now though, the inspectors actually ride with the driver. According to The Times of India, that change cut in half the number of new drivers per month. The age limit is 18, but that’s the only tough part compared to UK requirements. The written exam features only 20 questions, and these relate to road signs. The learner is only required to wait 30 days before taking the driving skills test. Can you imagine completing the licensing process that quickly?
China
With billions of citizens on buses, in cars, on mopeds, on bikes and on foot, the roads in China are crowded in a way that might shock even the most seasoned London cabbie. The Chinese make it tough for you to join the traffic flow. To get your licence, you’ll need a passing grade of 90 on a 100-question quiz. There are a possible 1,500 questions just to make it even harder. You must be 18 to apply.
Australia
While you may be hoping that things lighten up when you are Down Under, the truth is that Australia’s driving requirements are tough. You can get your learner’s at 16, but the next step is a probationary licence which may last two years. Driving requirements include a set number of hours for daytime and night time driving before license eligibility. Even so, among first-time driving skills test-takers, the failure rate is greater than 50/50. If you want worse odds, try taking the UK exam without driving instruction.
United States
While driving in the United States is fairly uniform, each state has its own licensing requirements. The luckiest would-be drivers live in a rural state, preferably South Dakota where the age for a learner’s permit is a mere 14! Most states require you to be 15, but some states, such as New York, have upped the age limit to 16. Most states have two knowledge tests. The first is the signs and symbols test. The second is an applied knowledge test. It covers driving manoeuvres, crash avoidance, impaired driving, and basic road rules. A typical test, such as the New York licensing exam, requires that you get 20 out of 25 questions correct. Generally the student driver must hold the learner’s permit for six months or more before applying for the driving skills test. In some urban areas, a driving skills test may be conducted on a driving course, but rural testing centres tend to utilize regular roads. Even after passing, a student may not receive a full licence. In many states, a graduated licensing system applies until you turn 18. This places a curfew on night driving and a restriction on the passenger count.
South America
At the end of this around-the-world survey, we’ll stop by South America. Mexico is the least strict. You simply pay the fee, and you can get a licence at 18. There’s no waiting and no instruction requirement. Brazil, where the licensing age is also 18, is quite unusual because it requires specialized defensive driving due to the high rate of carjacking. Columbia is the strictest. Although you take the theory test at 16 and the driving skills test at 17, you aren’t fully legal until you are 21. At that point, you must pass another driving skills test.
UK officials actually study these licensing systems, looking for ideas that work. For instance, there’s a chance that the UK may switch to a graduated licensing system more like the one in the United States. This would place a curfew on young drivers, requiring them to hang up their keys by 10 p.m. This is aimed at reducing fatalities among drivers between the ages of 17 and 24. If you look at it as a matter of life-or-death, perhaps licensing laws and driving instruction are a small inconvenience for a major responsibility. One thing’s for sure, wherever they may live, would-be drivers are eager for the chance to hold a real driver’s licence in their hand.
“Research compiled by 4 Wheelz Driving School“
