Some countries drive on the left side of the road while some drive on the right. I always wondered why there are two driving system. In HK for example, the driving system is similar to that of the UK and most Asian countries. But once you go to Mainland China, the system is similar to The US and most of Europe.

This may sound impossible but are you in favour of a universal driving system where all countries drive either on the left or right side of the road?

Do you have a list of countries where people drive on the right and a list of countries where people drive on the left?

I was quite shocked with your statement that most Asian countries drive on the left??? May be I'm just ignorant but I always thought only a minority of countries drive on the left and I consider that to be driving on the wrong side of the road. :D

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/7/74/Ilove_rechtsrijden.jpg
Dutch advertising from the department of transportation about driving on the right. The sticker says; "I love driving on the right". But that's more a nod to left-stickers as to driving on the right system.

http://www.brianlucas.ca/roadside/drivemap.gif

it would be nice, but i'm not sure that it's neccessary because left siders are mostly kinda isolated and they are not mixing with right siders

The majority of countries still drive on the right. Anyway, the reason why I created this thread is despite being from HK where our road system is left, I'm more used to driving on the right since I mostly drove in China, The Philippines and US. I don't see HK drivers having a hard time especially when they drive in China. I have driven in China especially in the Guangdong province but I don't risk driving in HK since I'm not familiar with our system.

I can imagine, that Hong Kong will change in the future when it becomes fully integrated into China.

They could do it during a holiday period and restrict driving for a couple of days to change all the signs and markings.

I don't think it really matters, driving on the left or on the right. However, I'm curious about how the change is on the border line between driving on the left and the right. :)

But how do you change from one system to another anyway? The Swedes did it in the 60's, I'm curious how? Just overnight? What about the position of the steering wheel?

Nigeria and Ghana also changed it in the 70's.

I can imagine, that Hong Kong will change in the future when it becomes fully integrated into China.

They could do it during a holiday period and restrict driving for a couple of days to change all the signs and markings.

Impossible.

It's not just signing and pavement markings. It is about the entire roadway network. For example, highway interchanges are designed to suit the left-side driving and rebuilding is the only way to fix them, which is not possible.
Numerous one-way side streets and driveway are built in with the cities.

It is basically talking about rebuilding the whole city.

I don't think it really matters, driving on the left or on the right. However, I'm curious about how the change is on the border line between driving on the left and the right. :)

In a particular country or state, it wouldn't be a matter which way you drive if there is no interaction between the left and right side driving. But if say city A is right side driving and city B is left side driving, and two cities' drivers are free to drive in either city, the problem is there will be a lot of drivers driving on the wrong side of the road and making wrong turn causing a lot of head-on collision.

To answer the second part of your question, the switching is done by putting the road in one-way only and leads the road to the correct side of the network at the either end.

To answer the second part of your question, the switching is done by putting the road in one-way only and leads the road to the correct side of the network at the either end.

I don't understand, are you talking about some sort of roundabout-like thing? Because that's one way only...

don't forget that people need to get use to it. people who drived all their life on the left side can't sudenly drive on the right side becouse the goverment decided. it will cause many accidents.

there is absolutely no point in this, so my answer would be no.

I don't understand, are you talking about some sort of roundabout-like thing? Because that's one way only...

Check out this aerial of one of the board between HK and Shenzhen:
http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&hl=en&geocode=&q=Hong+Kong,+China&ie=UTF8&ll=22.539959,114.128305&spn=0.007174,0.017853&t=k&z=17&om=1
South of the river is Hong Kong where drives on the left, and north of the river is Shenzhen where drives on the right.
The bridge crossing the river is built in HK's style driving on the right.
Travelling from south to north, the bridge is splitted into two roads, one going
to the west, and one coming from the east (traveling west). Both roads
leaving and feeding the bridge are one-way from/to the broader facilities
before connecting to the city network. With a one way street, it doesn't have
the conflict to drive on the right or left side of the road for the correction
driving direction.

--------------------------------------
This is another boarder facility between HK and Shenzhen:
http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&hl=en&geocode=&q=Hong+Kong,+China&ie=UTF8&ll=22.518682,114.072933&spn=0.014351,0.035706&t=k&z=16&om=1
Operationally, this one is a little more complicated because it separates
passenger and freight traffic. But the idea is the same as the first, only allow
one way traffic in the main road and leads it to the right direction on the
crossing bridge.

don't forget that people need to get use to it. people who drived all their life on the left side can't sudenly drive on the right side becouse the goverment decided. it will cause many accidents.

Then how come english dont die in massive amounts in continental Europe and versa?

You can't just ask a country to suddenly change like that...

But how do you change from one system to another anyway? The Swedes did it in the 60's, I'm curious how? Just overnight?

Basically just overnight (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dagen_H). Of course, signs, intersections, bus stops, bus doors, etc., were prepared before that.

Stockholm on the changing day:
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/5/5f/Sweden1967.jpg

Okinawa also had a same event, or rather an opposite event, in 1978. In their case, they changed from right hand drive to left hand drive ("the wrong side" :) ), in accordance with mainland Japan.

So place like Hong Kong can change the system if they wanted to. Whether it's cost-effective or not, I don't really know.

I think that a convertion from miles to kilometers worldwide has more priority than this left/right hand driving.

It's really a non-issue, except for bordering countries that have opposite systems.

I think that a convertion from miles to kilometers worldwide has more priority than this left/right hand driving.

Same here! Driving on different sides of the road is not very problematic, however, different measurement systems are more troublesome/inconvenient. And at least with a conversion to metric, countries using imperial can use both during a transition phase.

don't forget that people need to get use to it. people who drived all their life on the left side can't sudenly drive on the right side becouse the goverment decided. it will cause many accidents.

Not neccesarily true. In september of 1967 Sweden switched from driving on the left to the right and in september and october of 1967 the amount of people killed in accidents dropped by 50% compared to the same months of 1966.

^^ I think it's all about paying more attention. Denmark recently raised the speed limit from 110 to 130, and less traffic deaths were the result. When people don't pay attention, accidents happen. So low speed limits aren't necessarily safer.

I think when they switched from left to right driving, people were paying more attention as before.

All you need to know:

http://users.pandora.be/worldstandards/driving%20on%20the%20left.htm

It doesn't look like it was answered, so I will answer the question of why certin countries drive on either side.

England started driving on the left because they rode horses and carriages on the left, so that people could duel as they crossed paths if need be. (Something like this)

When the U.S. started to not like the English and were getting ready to fight for independence, Americans started riding their horses on the right side to spite the British.

Both countries continued using the same side of the road when cars were introduced.

For the most part, for other countries, nations that generally have not like the British are on the right side of the road (United States and France for example). Countries that have been a part of the British Empire drive on the left (Britain and Australia for example). There are exceptions to this, but for the most part, this is how it goes.

Just a fun fact.

Portugal is one of the right-side driving nations; but in Macao, the former Portuguese colony located at the southeast coast of China, is driving on the left in oppose to the other Portuguese colonies and the mother-country.

Why? Because Macao couldn't import automobile from China back in the very communist day and the market was too small to afford importing automobile for the city own use from overseas. So the city has to adopt the British way and import automobile from Hong Kong instead.

nations that generally have not like the British

Wow..then they had more "haters" than the US nowadays:):lol:

Wow..then they had more "haters" than the US nowadays:):lol:

Well the Brits did manage to colonize half the world....The Americans cant even properly colonize Iraq (not like the British are of any help). :nuts: :lol: :lol:

In all seriousness though, there is no need to change, as most countries that drive on the left are on islands. Switching is easy, just remember that as the driver, you always stay in the center of the road.

It doesn't look like it was answered, so I will answer the question of why certin countries drive on either side.

England started driving on the left because they rode horses and carriages on the left, so that people could duel as they crossed paths if need be. (Something like this)

When the U.S. started to not like the English and were getting ready to fight for independence, Americans started riding their horses on the right side to spite the British.

Both countries continued using the same side of the road when cars were introduced.

For the most part, for other countries, nations that generally have not like the British are on the right side of the road (United States and France for example). Countries that have been a part of the British Empire drive on the left (Britain and Australia for example). There are exceptions to this, but for the most part, this is how it goes.

Asian countries such as Japan and Thailand are not commonwealth countries or don't have strong British influence but prefer driving on the left side of the road. Same with Indonesia.

http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&hl=en&geocode=&q=Hong+Kong,+China&ie=UTF8&t=k&om=1&ll=22.520238,114.070498&spn=0.007284,0.010042&z=17

switching interchange

I would like to see interchanges in other countries as well such as the ones between UK and France, etc.

There is no road connection between France and United Kingdom.

There is no road connection between France and United Kingdom.

They have a tunnel right?

They have a tunnel right?

Yeah, but it's a rail tunnel only. The cars are loaded on the train if you want to cross to the other country.

They have a tunnel right?

Yes, but it's a train tunnel, which turned out very unprofitable. As usual with these train connections, they always think it's better than reality. They'd better builded a road tunnel, or a combined rail/road tunnel.

Yes, but it's a train tunnel, which turned out very unprofitable. As usual with these train connections, they always think it's better than reality. They'd better builded a road tunnel, or a combined rail/road tunnel.

But cars can't travel as fast as the trains which saves people more time.
And ventilation is also a problem with cars running in such a long stretch of undersea and underground tunnel.

But cars can't travel as fast as the trains which saves people more time.
And ventilation is also a problem with cars running in such a long stretch of undersea and underground tunnel.

Yeah but fewer people take the train, especially for holidays, so overall, a road tunnel would be more usefull.

Ventilation is not such a problem anymore in the 21st century.

But cars can't travel as fast as the trains which saves people more time.

Can't imagine the train is allowed to drive very fast in the tunnel too... And more in general: PT takes more time than just from station A to station B. Overtaking your car in the shuttle is extremely expensive. You won't do that unless you have a lot of money or very little time. There are excellent (cheaper) ferries from France, Belgium and even the Netherlands. Those are much more popular.

Train prices differs between € 70 cheap and € 279 expensive.

One way. I think a ferry might be cheaper, and only a little slower.

Trucks are paying € 400.

I find it funny that even some people from left-driving countries think they are driving on the "wrong" side..
The drive of the shuttle bus between my Christchurch NZ hotel and the airport asked us how we liked driving on the "wrong side".. :lol:

Fortunately traffic in NZ is so rare that we could even drive on the right side for about ten km on the Southern Isle before actually noticing our mistake...

After all, the right side is the right side.

Train prices differs between € 70 cheap and € 279 expensive.

Trucks are paying € 400.

My, that's a lot of money! The most we had to pay to cross a tunnel was €30 at the Mont Blanc tunnel (in a regular car, of course). And that is already very expensive for me. But 70... Still I understand that those tunnels require a lot of maintenance, I'd rather pay then die in a fire inside the tunnel.

How many fo you drive ?

How looks preparation of people to art of driving ? Are exams too hard etc.

Let's discuss ! :banana:

Theory exams were very easy for me, but some had great difficulties.
I had 25 hours of practice driving. Final exam drive was pretty difficult for me, but luckily exam-person was in good mood.

I got my license pretty quick, only 2 mistakes (out of 5 allowed) on the theory exam, and 24 hours of practice driving, got it all in one try. My ex-girlfriend required 90 lessons :D

Women and driving...

(sexism:D)

Here in Hungary the system is the following:

First you have to take part on 28 theory lessons, then you can take the theory exam. There are 55 questions, and you have 55 minutes. When I did it (in 2004) it was paper based, but a few years ago a computer system was introduced. You can have 10 wrong answers here.

Then you have to learn to handle the car, in 9 lessons (it can be more of course). This is followed by an exam. If you have passed, you can go out to the streets. There are 20 lessons (at least), out of witch 14 in the city, 4 outside the city and 2 at night. Then you can go to the final traffic exam. Meanwhile you also have to pass a First Aid exam. If you have all of this, you can get your driving licence.

Unfortunately bribe is popular, and many unable people can get a driving licence :ohno:

I've passed the theory for the 2nd time, and for the first time the rest, and I've learnt to drive on an Opel Omega Caravan 2.5 TD, a pretty big car to practice parking :D

It's a bit different in the Netherlands, when I signed up for drivers ed, you could immediatly take driving lessons when you turn 18. However, before the practice exam, you need to get the theory exam. I believe there were 50 questions, and at least 44 need to be answered right. Then, you can sign up for practice exam, which costs about € 180. The practice exam is usually taken after at least 20 lessons, but 40 is the average (lessons of 45 or 60 minutes). They're pretty expensive at € 35 - 40 per lesson, which means the total for lessons is easily € 1.000 - € 1.500, add some other stuff to that (theory + exam, practice exam + adminstrative cost to get the actual license etc.), and you're usually out € 1.500 - 2.000 when you get your drivers license.

So it's rather expensive, and many students opt to get their license after their college ended (when the free public transport ends too)

I've passed the theory for the 2nd time, and for the first time the rest, and I've learnt to drive on an Opel Omega Caravan 2.5 TD, a pretty big car to practice parking :D

I've passed the theory without error,but failed the first traffic(in a junction,I didnt notice a god damn Suzuki,and almost killed all 3 of us).The second time,after 10 more hours of driving,it went smoothly. Learned driving on a Nissan Micra.I choose it because I had access to an Almera at home(which I drive since then).

Learned driving on a Nissan Micra

Hmm, they're usually a bit bigger in the Netherlands. I learned to drive in a Peugeot 307 SW.

Hmm, they're usually a bit bigger in the Netherlands. I learned to drive in a Peugeot 307 SW.

Well,there were a lot of cars to choose from,but I choose because of the type.

In the US, it depends on the state but its very easy to get one. For MD:
http://baltimore.about.com/od/transportation/ht/howtolicense.htm

I think its safe to say that nobody can _drive_ after having their license issued.

That comes probably 10.000 kms later

I learned on a Citroen C3 diesel, white. WHITE! :(

I've heard you're fully experienced after 100,000 kilometers in all conditions, in various countries. I have clinched that within 2.5 years :D

100.000 kms huh?

now we know why lil' old ladies and f@rts who drive 3000 kms / year TOPS cant drive :haw haw:

I've heard you're fully experienced after 100,000 kilometers in all conditions, in various countries.

Imo that's not a honest way to measure driving experience. Someone who drives a lot in cities won't make kms that fast, but he'll definately get more driving experience than someone who makes the same amount of kms but 99% on motorways.

Imo that's not a honest way to measure driving experience. Someone who drives a lot in cities won't make kms that fast, but he'll definately get more driving experience than someone who makes the same amount of kms but 99% on motorways.
Don't agree. Diversity is very important. More is better. Someone, who drives solely in city, is by my experience very bad driver, especially when it drives outside city.

I obtained my driving license in 1999. We had to take 40 driving lessons, and there were no theory lessons. I took a written exam (easy), and the driving exam, which consisted of two parts, driving on the range, and "real" driving. That I failed three times, since one can fail for every single mistake, at the cop's discretion. So, the process of obtaining a DL in Serbia is a bitch. The car I used to learn to drive was Zastava 101, now if someone can learn to drive THAT (no, it's not a car IMHO), everything else is a piece of cake. :nuts:

edit

In Serbia we had this as a part of our elementary school curriculum, plus every semester we had a visit from the local traffic police department. Usually they were showing us some educational movies about general traffic safety rules, things like crossing the street safely, obeying the rules, reporting a drunken driver, etc. I remember we had a textbook on traffic rules, whose title was "A Driver and a Pedestrian in Traffic" (Pešak i Vozač u Saobraćaju), but I don't remember whether it was a separate subject. It was a long time ago. :)

Just wondering, how many of your guys took road safety and driving lessons as part of normal curriculum in grades 5 - 8. I had those in these so called "dirigentie" classes. I will try to explain what that is.
At least here in Romania, in grades 5 - 12 one of the teachers is a so called "diriginte" (form master). He/she also plays some kind of counseling role and is closer to the students in that class (i.e. group of 20-30 students) than the other teachers. Anyways, he or she also holds (besides his normal class - e.g. my form master in grades 5-8 was the geography teacher) one class per week where, besides discussing ongoing class problems, various topics are presented, e.g.:
- civic education (even though we distinctly had one course in the 8th grade about this);
- how to be polite and curteous and stuff;
- career development;
- how to keep the house clean;
- hygiene / sexual education;
- environmental care etc. etc. and
- driving-related stuff.

...Oh man, I remember in the 6th grade a discussion that went like:
Form master: "Awareness while driving is critical. For instance, during my numerous driving years it only once happened to me to be overtaken without noticing."
Me: "Yes, when you were asleep at the wheel."
Form master: "Would you please leave the classroom now."

[Note: In the old days, here in Romania, when a grade school / high school student did something shameful, i.e. make an insulting comment to the teacher, or was too noisy, the teacher told him or her to "leave the classroom". The student was then supposed to wait outside on the corridor until the end of the class and supposedly meditate at his or her behavior. This all changed in '96 - '97, when I think one student that got kicked out of the classroom actually left the school premise for the rest of the class, and was hit by a car. The parents sued the school - since the child was in the school's responsibility - and I they won


Same in Portugal, just that we are still sent outside the classroom, get marked absent, but we can go wherever we want inside the school, or if permtted or last class, leave school.

Here you have to pass the theory test before getting behind thw wheel and I belive lessons are obligatory. All together costs €500!

In Romania you have to attend theory classes, I don't really know if there's a specific number of hours. Then, you have to pass a written theory exam, similar to the one at the Police, so that you can drive on the street with an instructor to your right (well, that's only in theory, because most students pass their so-called "driving school" theory exams after finishing the needed 30 hours of driving practice). Next thing you do is waiting for hours in queues to get settled for the theory exam at the police (that's the most irritating thing I have ever experienced). The theory exam in Romania is pretty hard, I was lucky for only failing it once. I have friends that had that exam for 6 or even 7 times. There are 26 questions (subjects varying from mecanics to driving safety, from traffic signs to first aid in case of accident) from which you have to give 22 correct answers. The exam used to be written, now they use computers. After passing the theory exam there's the traffic exam, which is pretty simple. Even if you fail the first time, I don't know anyone not to pass it the second time.

Because of the difficulty of the theory exam, many people used to use bribery to get their driving licenses. There was a big scandal here in Romania when they caught the ones involved, from who many policemen.

I learned on an Opel Meriva, a rather small and funny car, but a good car nevertheless.:D


[Note: In the old days, here in Romania, when a grade school / high school student did something shameful, i.e. make an insulting comment to the teacher, or was too noisy, the teacher told him or her to "leave the classroom". The student was then supposed to wait outside on the corridor until the end of the class and supposedly meditate at his or her behavior. This all changed in '96 - '97, when I think one student that got kicked out of the classroom actually left the school premise for the rest of the class, and was hit by a car. The parents sued the school - since the child was in the school's responsibility - and I they won.]

Well, even if it's against the law, many romanian teachers still kick students out of class.

Here you have to pass the theory test before getting behind thw wheel and I belive lessons are obligatory. All together costs €500!

Here you also have to pass theory test, but you're allowed to take lessons without it. (untill your exams of course) Theory lessons are not obligatory here, at least not 2 years ago. In fact, I just bought some 2nd books books for €25, test itself costed about €35, and that was it. :) Made only one mistake.

It was funnier when I had to tell my driving instructor what the green line in the center of a road means in NL. (Vmax=100). She didn't know that back then (2005).

In Poland you have to attend some theory classes and drive minimum 30 hours in a driving school. Then you have to pass the theory test and the practical exam in the city (which includes driving and parking). The course costs about 1000 zł (~240€), the exam itself something around 170 zł (40€) - I don't remember exact figure and the rules and prices were changed recently. Theoretically you can attend the exam as many times as you want, although after every 3rd failure you must take another 5 hours at the driving school.

Currently we have some problem with the waiting times, the queue for the practical exam can be 1-2 months long. Moreover many people don't pass the exam at the first time.

Various examination centres use different cars, although they are always B-class. I believe that Toyota Yarises, Opel Corsas and Fiat Grande Puntos are most common. Driving schools usually uses the same cars as local examination centre. I've learned on a Toyota Yaris and apart from sleazy 1 liter engine it was very pleasant car to drive.

Here in Croatia, when i was getting my license, you had around 10h of theory + 4h of first aid, you had to pass it before you could do practical part. Practical part consisted of 30h of driving for B category or you could do 10h for A and 20h for B to get both A and B license (motors and cars). You can go to school with 17, but you can get license only after you are 18. When i was getting it i immediately got full fledged license, but last few years, they introduced "beginners license", so you cant drive alone while dark, no alcohol and stuff like that (you can have 0.0005% alcohol if you are "adult driver" here).

As for being able to drive after you pass it... Well i guess it all depends on quality of instructor and your confidence. I guess the most important part is just to drive and get as much experience you can, not to be afraid, but be aware of your abilities! I have friend that passed exam on 1st try, no problems, but he never (i think) sit behind driving wheel after that... I am pretty sure he should get at least another 30h of practical lesions before he tries to drive now.

And ofcourse, to be good driver i think you do need both city driving and motorway experience, but i do think if person lives in small town like me and just drives around, he can drive 100 000 km and not be able to drive in crowded city with multiple lanes. I have few friends that never drive to big city because they are either afraid or they just know they dont know to drive well which i also respect because it is better for some drivers to know their limits.


Sooo, if you dont mind, i see lots of good drivers around, one question.
you have sign like this:
http://www.signalsistem.hr/images/dopunske_ploce/e036.gif
http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y26/ToTaL13/e036.gif
You want to go straight, do you use turn signal? which one?
You want to go right, do you use turn signal?


Or you have sign like this:
http://www.signalsistem.hr/images/dopunske_ploce/e035.gif
http://www.signalsistem.hr/images/dopunske_ploce/e035.gif
You want to go straight, do you use turn signal? which one?
You want to go right, do you use turn signal?

Thing is, i had lots of arguments with my friends and i am pretty sure in what my teacher taught me and i asked few more but some people keep using turn signal and going straight?!?

PS: just to rule out weird intersections, the roads are at right angles (90 deg).

http://www.autoskola-signal.hr/slike/z7.jpg
You want to go straight, do you use turn signal? which one?
You want to go right, do you use turn signal?

In this case,if you go left or straight you have to blink left,and right if you go right.

Or you have sign like this:
http://www.autoskola-signal.hr/slike/z10.jpg
You want to go straight, do you use turn signal? which one?
You want to go right, do you use turn signal?

In this case,if you follow the main road to the right you dont have to signal it,but if you go either straight or left,you have to indicate it.


Signalling doesnt depend on geographical location,but on geographical location relative to the road's priority. Meaning,if you in your mind straighten the main road on the sign,in which direction do you have to blink in order to indicate your intentions.

But many drivers cant sort this out,so I can unerstand why many dont indicate going straight in the first case,especially because if you dont indicate your direction,the default will be you want to go straight,which in that case,dont exist.


BTW,I hate the first case,as I not only have to yield to the vehicles going on the main road,but also to the vehicles on my right. If its a frequented place,its almost impossible to turn left there,and going straight also borders impossible.

I don't see signs, but I presume, how they look.

So, if you turn left or right, good drivers always use blinkers, no matter if it is priority or non-priority road. Going straight you are not allowed to use any blinker in any case.

Going straight you are not allowed to use any blinker in any case.

I disagree. Changing direction is relative to priority. If the road turns,although your car changes direction,your position relative to the road doesnt change.

Same with entering a higher priority road,you have to indicate you enter it,even if its straight ahead.

BTW,the 2 images:

first:

http://img381.imageshack.us/img381/274/17299739.jpg


second:

http://img530.imageshack.us/img530/4386/z10.jpg

I disagree.
Looks like, traffic rules for blinkers are not equal through EU. For me (and I as remember from driving school) you signal turning only, no matter of a road priority. And if you turn following priority you don't even need to signal this turn, but it is still recommended to do (that could have been changed in years after I've made my license, but I'm not sure).

Anyhow, people don't use blinkers at the right moment, or they don't use them at all. Those two cases are therefore marginal.

^^You use blinkers for changing location,for example,lanes on a multi-lane road. In a junction(2x1, multi-lane junctions obviously have turning lanes,in which blinkers are kind of less important),if you paint the lines,you would see that you change lines,if there are no special circumstances. But in these cases if you enter or leave the main road,you change lanes.


I use blinkers all the time,they can save my life. I dont know why people dont get why they are built into vehicles...

Talking about blinkers: when I see an american car driving here (which is rare) I notice most of them don't have orange blinkers, but just a blinking (red) backlight. What would be the reason behind that?

Because they have orange parking lights ?

As I was recently studying the terrible traffic problems of Cairo, I eventually found this article: http://weekly.ahram.org.eg/2006/779/feature.htm

Although it is difficult to discern any particular rules of the road, many streets are one-way. Not always is this rule adhered to. Red lights do not necessarily mean "stop", or even "slow down", and it is the worst of mistakes to believe that a green "walk" light means it is safe to cross the road. Cars flood through red traffic lights with horns blaring to warn anyone who might consider getting in their way. The overriding rule is to make use of every available space: lane markers are simply ignored. When you drive in Cairo the only time you ever stop is when there is absolutely no way to squeeze around whoever is driving in front of you. Sometimes pavements are not even sacred.
Despite schemes of modernisation in many parts of Cairo, donkey-carts are still a prominent feature in many streets. It is also common that the carts manage their way through traffic with a system of their own, ignoring any and all road signs. Surprisingly to some, many cars do the same; they use the lanes of oncoming traffic when their own lanes are full.
http://www.commuteroutrage.com/wp-content/uploads/2008/04/cairo1.jpghttp://nakhla.files.wordpress.com/2007/10/cairo-traffic4.jpg
"Lane markers on the roads are merely suggestions, and traffic signals are only an opinion," says Abdel-Hamid. Most people drive like madmen: it is quite common for a driver to simply start driving down the middle between two lanes of traffic, honking his horn expecting the cars parallel to his on each side to make room if possible. "This is not considered rude or in any way out of place"

Assuming this is true (which it seems to be, judging by the desperately clogged-up traffic flow), I was wondering how this kind of situation can be coped with, and in broader terms, how can planners deal with driving incivilities of this magnitude. I mean, when nobody drives by the rules.
Any idea ?

Ha ! I can spot Polonez :cheers:

Enforcement, enforcement, encforcement. When you hit people's purse, they eventually start to obey the rules. But then, you need to have uncorrupt law enforcement which could be a big problem, especially in places like Cairo.

Ha ! I can spot Polonez
And I spotted a Fiat 125 :lol:

It's the people that must change. They must know that what they're doing is wrong. Fines won't solve all problems.

^^ Listen to Poles, their driving culture is on a high level. :colgate:

And the Dutch can teach you how to use a bicycle on busy roads, and how to follow all traffic regulations properly :D

...and how to drive a camper car (http://gfx.adzooks.co.uk/upl/A/77164A646BFE1B552EDB7D0C6E05B49E.jpg). :D

The same could be done in India, it's so funny how this stupidity makes driving a lot worse for the drivers.

Jokes aside though, if you were hired by such a city as a traffic consultant to (help) ease the traffic, what would you begin with ?
Fines are obviously not enough as you can't fine everybody.
I guess I would start by expending the public transit network, even though there's already a subway, tram and bus network, so the core problem of the traffic really is incivility.

Any Dutch or Japanese way of solving traffic problems ? ;)

What about putting a police agent (and some helpers for each direction perhaps) on those junctions? By letting them make the traffic flow like the traffic lights would, people may quickly realise it'll all go a lot faster if they clear the road for others to pass?

Won't be easy and will only work if they actually care about what a police officer commands to someone who's in a car. I don't know whether or not this is the case in Cairo.

Greetings,
Glodenox

I've seen videos of such cities with brutal traffic offenses, with police just sitting on the side of the road and doing absolutely nothing.

I think these problems are because of various factors

=> lack of drivers ed
=> lack of traffic lights, and other means to control traffic
=> local driving mentality
=> lack of enforcement
=> pedestrians all over what should be roads for motor traffic only
=> undermotorized and unmotorized traffic on the roads

And then combine these together = traffic chaos.

Just a thread for fun.
I have "B" and "M" but i want to get more. :nuts:

What the hell are you talking about? :dontknow:

Don't you have a driving license,men? :banana::lol:

Oh I didn't know you meant the license.

I have B only. (car)

I have B and B1.

B here. It would be better to do survey I think - not to reply and write own cdriving category ;)

I assume that these are European designations. In the USA it is separated as "endorsements". They likely differ by state. In Florida:

Commercial Driver Licenses (CDL)

CLASS A: Trucks or truck combination weighing with a Gross Vehicle Weight Rating of 26,001 lbs. or more, provided towed vehicle is more than 10,000 lbs.

CLASS B: Straight trucks weighing 26,001 lbs. Gross Vehicle Weight Rating or more.

CLASS C: Vehicles transporting placardable amounts of hazardous materials, or vehicles designed to transport more than 15 persons including the driver with a Gross Vehicle Weight Rating of less than 26,001 lbs.



Non Commercial Driver Licenses - this is what most people would have.

CLASS E: Any non-commercial motor vehicles with Gross Vehicle Weight Rating (GVWR) less than 26,001 pounds, including passenger cars, 15 passenger vans including the driver, trucks or recreational vehicles and two or three wheel motor vehicles 50 cc or less, such as mopeds or small scooters. (see below). Farmers and drivers of authorized emergency vehicles who are exempt from obtaining a commercial driver license must obtain a Class E license.


Motorcycles

For those authorized to operate motorcycle, the following abbreviation will appear on the front of the driver license under the expiration date: MOTORCYCLE ALSO or MOTORCYCLE ONLY


I have a Class E.

Steve

I have BC1.

I assume that these are European designations.

In europe (can be some little difference between countries) it's generally like this:

A = motorcycle
B = car, or any vehicle on 3 or more wheels up to 3,5 tonnes and up to 9 people (driver included), this counts for most people
BE = car + trailer, max 3,5+3,5 tonnes
C = truck out of one piece (anything above 3,5 tonnes, in holland you need a extra drivers certificate above 7,5 tonnes, though)
CE = truck out of 2 or more pieces
D = bus (transportation of more than 8 people)
DE = bus + trailer

I have A and B :)

ehm....I haven't got any :D

Haven't you started yet?

Nope, I'm 17. I can start with theory, but I prefer to do it all in one go. And when I have more time, I'm fairly (very) busy now :nuts:

C = truck out of one piece (anything above 3,5 tonnes, in holland you need a extra drivers certificate above 7,5 tonnes, though)
CE = truck out of 2 or more pieces


1) box truck
2) semi-trailer truck, articulated, tractor-trailer

:)

B



edit: I had to write at least 2 characters. :lol:

B...

I have:
A
B and BE
D1 and D1E

B (and AM)

I have all these:

A - motorcycle with engine bigger than 50 ccm,
B, cars, no place for more than 8 people, no weight more than 3,5 tons
C, trucks with no trailer
E, trucks with semi or full trailer
and No D ( Buses , coaches) Never needed.

Got licences in Army. For free.

Anyone drives a tank? :D

I have:
A
B and BE
D1 and D1E


How did you get D1E if you don't have C?
In Bulgaria you can't get D if you don't have 2 years expirience with C.

I have

B
BE
C1 (up to 7.5 tonns)
C1E
D1
D1E

And some army licences.
BE, C1, C1E I did in army also for free^^

only B :(

How did you get D1E if you don't have C?
In Bulgaria you can't get D if you don't have 2 years expirience with C.

That's from the Army :)

I'm in my own class! I'm just that good! LOL JK Class E

I have a ... Virginia learners permit. I dont know the specifics, but I cannot drive alone, and I have to have 45 hours driving time (at least 15 at night) before I can get a full license. (VA doesn't have a provisional license)

To my knowledge, VA also doesnt' have different licenses for different vehicles, except for commercial vehicles, and large trucks... but i dont know much about our drivers license system other than what i need to get a full, regular drivers license.

I only have a B category license, but I would like to get an A category one.

Texas Class "C"

B M S

M = Moped/Scooter
S = Snowmobile :)

Snowmobile? Cool! Is it difficult to get such a license?

Only B ;)

Ontario class "G". This is more or less equivalent to the European B, except for the allowed weights. But I think these classes mean nothing to the readers of this forum, so perhaps it will be more interesting if we also describe what goes into getting a license.

In Ontario:

At 16 years of age one can do a theory test and get a "G1". At this point one can immediately (yes, that's right!) drive a car with an accompanying driver with enough experience, though no driving on motorways unless with an instructor.

After a year (8 months if completed a driving school) one can do the first road test (very simple test, no motorway driving), and get a "G2". A G2 is essentially a full license, with some restrictions for teenage drivers and alcohol levels.

After another year, one can do a second longer road test that also involves some motorway driving, upon which one receives the full class G. At this point the licensing is complete, and the driver is allowed a small alcohol level in the blood.

If one does not get a G class within 5 years of getting a G1, the whole process has to begin again (with some exceptions). This is important because many people don't rush to get a G after getting a G2, since they essentially have the same driving privileges. A "G" class does usually help to lower insurance costs.

This is similar to the US, except that, as far as I know, it is not common there to have 2 road tests. In general, from personal stories that I heard, it is more difficult to get a license in Ontario than in many locations in the US, though in Europe it is still much harder than anywhere in Canada.

Like in the US, it is generally permitted to drive much heavier vehicles in Canada with a "regular" car license than in Europe and probably the rest of the world outside of North America. With the G license I'm technically allowed to drive a vehicle weighing up to 11 tonnes, which includes a small truck. In the US the weights are usually even higher.

The system here is:

R - rider (motorcycle)
C - car
LR - light rigid
MR - medium rigid
HR - heavy rigid
HC - heavy combination
MC - multi-combination (road trains and B-doubles)

I have a class C.

Class D: Non-commercial driver, can drive any vehicle that does not require a Commercial Drivers License (CDL).

My restriction is designation B...I have to wear glasses when I drive. :D

At 16 years of age one can do a theory test and get a "G1". At this point one can immediately (yes, that's right!) drive a car with an accompanying driver with enough experience, though no driving on motorways unless with an instructor.

After a year (8 months if completed a driving school) one can do the first road test (very simple test, no motorway driving), and get a "G2". A G2 is essentially a full license, with some restrictions for teenage drivers and alcohol levels.

After another year, one can do a second longer road test that also involves some motorway driving, upon which one receives the full class G. At this point the licensing is complete, and the driver is allowed a small alcohol level in the blood.

If one does not get a G class within 5 years of getting a G1, the whole process has to begin again (with some exceptions). This is important because many people don't rush to get a G after getting a G2, since they essentially have the same driving privileges. A "G" class does usually help to lower insurance costs.

This is similar to the US, except that, as far as I know, it is not common there to have 2 road tests. In general, from personal stories that I heard, it is more difficult to get a license in Ontario than in many locations in the US, though in Europe it is still much harder than anywhere in Canada.


It is somewhat similar, although when you pass your first test when you are 16-17 years old, you don't have to take another one after that.

Pretty much (and this depends on state, I am using CT as an example here), you can get a license when you are sixteen but there are restrictions, like not driving at late night or having many teenagers in your car without an older person in it, and there is zero tolerance for driving when drunk until legal driving age (0.08 BAC after 21). It is not considered a "full license".

When you turn 18, all the restrictions are lifted and you have a "full license", except for drinking. Many people just wait until they turn 18 so they don't deal with all those restrictions, also having ANY kind of drivers education or a learners permit isn't even required after you turn 18 as well.

The system here is:

R - rider (motorcycle)
C - car
LR - light rigid
MR - medium rigid
HR - heavy rigid
HC - heavy combination
MC - multi-combination (road trains and B-doubles)

I have a class C.

Hey you're still alive! :D

How did you get D1E if you don't have C?
In Bulgaria you can't get D if you don't have 2 years expirience with C.

...or five years with B? It used to be like that in Poland, but for some years one can obtain D without it, just that the training is long and expensive.

In europe (can be some little difference between countries)

No, there cannot be differences among EU countries. And the ...1 class means you can drive a smaller vehicle:
A1: up to 125cm^3, and not stronger than 0.16 W/kg (0.10 lb per HP :nuts:)
B1: only for Trabant and Mini Cooper 1)
C1: up to 7.5 tonnes
D1: up to 16 passengers

So A, C and D without the "1" mean you can drive anything in that class, without a trailer heavier than 750kg.


1) just kidding, no such class:)


Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Fahrerlaubnisklassen.png

В only.

A + B

:cheers:

No, there cannot be differences among EU countries. And the ...1 class means you can drive a smaller vehicle:

Yes, but are those "1 classes" relevant? I've never heard of someone doing practical exam for C1 or D1. :dunno:

Btw, there are also seperate classes for mopeds (AM) and agricultural vehicles (T) here.

I have a GDL 3, class E

The GDL is the graduated license program

level 1 is your learners permit which you can obtain at 15

level 2 is a partial license you get after you pass your drivers test but before you turn
18. with this license, you cannot drive between the hours of 11pm and 5am, talk on the cell phone, or have more than 2 other people under the age of 18. Also driving penalties are more severe and there is a zero tolerence policy on alcohol and tobacco, if your found in possesion, you lose your license.

level 3 is a full license, which you obtain after you turn 18, you have no more driving restrictions, however there is still a zero tolerence policy on alcohol and more severe penalties.

Finally you get your regular license at 21. Your license switches from being vertical to horizontal. There are no restictions and penalties are no longer more severe.

Class E means I can drive any non-commercial vehicle, except for motorcycles, which require another test.

Am, I may drive mopeds up to 50cc (OH MY GOD!! YEAH!!).

I have licence A (without limits) to drive the motorbike and licence B to drive car (and vehicles max 3.5 t).

Why do you need a truck drivers license (C/E) for over 3.5 tonnes in Europe, while a CDL is only required for over 11.8 tonnes in the United States?

Driving:
B
C1
BE
C1E
M
L
(all the stuff that was automatically included in a standard car driving license (Klasse 3) in Germany before EU standardisation)

Flying:
Sport Pilot License Hangliding
Sport Pilot License Ultralight (still working on this)
:)

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Drivers_license

Why do you need a truck drivers license (C/E) for over 3.5 tonnes in Europe, while a CDL is only required for over 11.8 tonnes in the United States?

Because nobody wants to have to get a commercial drivers license just to drive their family minivan:
http://newworldodor.files.wordpress.com/2009/06/hummer-h1-wallpaper-3.jpg

Isn't is strange (to some) how in the US you can (legally) get your driving license (in some states at least) without ever going to a driving school?

Is that even possible in any country in Europe?

А and B :)

I don't know how it works but CDL seems more relevant when its about the safety of passengers. There was a controversy when a 15 passenger van owned a by church crashed, the driver had an ordinary license. But you can buy those vehicles for your family, so where are the rules drawn? Its a bit confusing to me.

Also graduated licenses strictly for teens, with the rules magically lifted at 18 or 21, sounds like a bad idea. It only encourages a society where teens are discouraged to learn by their parents until they can just walk in and obtain a license, somehow needing less instruction??

The wisest thing to do would be require graduated licenses for everyone regardless of age.

Because nobody wants to have to get a commercial drivers license just to drive their family minivan:

If people have the money to buy these things, they'll sure have enough money for a CDL...

Is that even possible in any country in Europe?

AFAIK, that is still possible possible in Belgium.

In the Netherlands the system is quite simple: you aren't alllowed to drive anything untill you've got your licence, and there's nothing between it. Nowadays people need to take about 40 to 45 lessons on average before they can do practical exam. The demands to pass the practical exam are considerably high, which is one of the reasons we have about the lowest traffic death rate in europe.

Also graduated licenses strictly for teens, with the rules magically lifted at 18 or 21, sounds like a bad idea. It only encourages a society where teens are discouraged to learn by their parents until they can just walk in and obtain a license, somehow needing less instruction??

The wisest thing to do would be require graduated licenses for everyone regardless of age.

Heh I agree. This is exactly the system that is used in Ontario. To get through the 2nd stage of the GDL, one has to do another road test, at any age (i.e. reaching a certain age does not make a difference). There are some additional night driving restrictions on teens, but it's a fairly minor point.

I'm a bit curious about worldwide driving age in other countries. So, tell us what are the minimum age in which a driver can get his/her license, and also tells us briefly how driver's licensing works for youngster getting their first permits.

Italy
Cars: after 18th birthday, new drivers get a license valid for 10 years. In the first 3 years, they cannot exceed 100km/h on motorways (blank limit = 130 km/h) and are subject to lower tollerance of alcohol in the blood (don't remeber the value, I never ever drive after dinking). From 2011, new drivers will be restricted from driving, in the first 365 after their licenses will have been issued, any car with power/weight ratio ver 50kW/ton.

Mopeds and quadricycles: free to drive after 14-years old wiht an "idoneity certificate", not needed after age 18 if you already have another motorbike's license.

Motorbikes/motorcycles: I complicated system is in place. From 16-years old on, it is possible to get a youth permit for cycles with less than 11 kW and engins between 75 and 125cc. After 18th birthday allows to drive any other 2-wheeled motor vehicle under these 11 kw and 75-125cc limits. Those restrictions are valid until age 21 or until the driver gets an independent permit for motorbikes.

Articulated vehicles: requires car permit + special permit, not available until age 21.

There are also another set of requirements for commercial drivers, but I'll skip those.

Netherlands

Since a few years, it is possible to start with driving lessons at age 17,5. You can only get the license after you've turned 18, and it is a full license from the beginning, without restrictions (B). A person of 18 years old is also eligible to obtain a commercial driver's license (C). I'm not sure about buses.

Dutch people are allowed to drive a moped after turning 16, only a theoretical exam about traffic regulation is needed. You don't need this if you have a driver's license.

One of the worst thing about the driving lessons is that you must comply with all traffic rules, you cannot speed. So, when learning to drive, you never learn to drive fast(er), but most young people are testing the top-speed of their first car anyway. I'd rather see a more practical approach to driving lessons. Not obeying all traffic rules all the time, but learning how to drive faster, because they will do that anyway. Most Dutch have no idea how to drive in Germany for instance, where speed limits are much higher. Learn to anticipate at high speed is essential in my opinion.

New Zealand
We can start from fifteen with a learners licence for either a moped/motorbike or a car. We have that for six months then we are able to go for our restricted and we have that for about a year before we can go for a full licence but it is legal to stay on a restricted for about six years before being able to go for a full licence.

Note: I see you are using American English. See if you can find the slight differences in the spelling of words.

Croatia

candidate can access driving lessons in the age of 17,5. however, he cannot get valid license till age of 18.
2 years since getting licence, (young) driver has 10 km/h lower speed limits on open road (80-100-120). he mustn't drive vehicle stronger than 75kW, neither he may drive with any alcochol consumed.
there was a rule that young drivers may not drive between 23 nad 5 h (except with person older than 25 with valid driving licence), but it seems it is not valid anymore.
you get licence valid thru 80th birthday (if you don't have health restrictions).

for motorcycles - you may get licence in the age of 16, but you can drive motos up to 125ccm and 11kW.
in the age of 18 you may get licence for category A2 (motorcycles up to 35kW, power ratio up to 0,2kW/kg). after having A2 licence for 2 years you can get licence for A category (all motorcycles without limits).

Republic of Kosovo


The criteria of age for equipment with the driving license for the first time are determined as follows:

To have reached 14 years, for driving means of M category;
To have reached 16 years, for driving means of A1 and T category;
To have reached 18 years, for driving means of A, B1, B and C category;
To have reached 19 years, for driving means of B+E, C and C1+E category;
To have reached 20 years, for driving means of C+E category;
To have reached 21 years, for driving means of A, D1, D1+E, D and D+E category;
Criteria of experience for extension of categories are determined by the Law on Security in the Road Traffic.

http://www.rks-gov.net/en-US/Qytetaret/Shtetesia/Pages/PatenteShoferi.aspx

Ontario, Canada

For cars:

Class G1: At age 16, write a theory test to get this class. At this point, one can immediately drive with an accompanying driver with at least 4 years of experience (as a G2 or G driver). No alcohol in the blood. No driving between 0:00 and 5:00. No driving on 400-series motorways with a speed limit of above 80 km/h.

Class G2: One year after getting the G1, or 8 months if a driving course was taken, do a simple driving test (no motorway driving) to get this class. Almost no restrictions - no alcohol in the blood is the only one. Relatively new law: for drivers aged 19 and below, between the hours of 0:00 and 5:00, maximum of 1 passenger below 19 y.o. for the first 6 months, and then up to 3 such passengers until age 20 or Class G.

Class G: One year after getting the G2, do another longer driving test (including motorway driving) to get this class. Full license without restrictions.

A driver has 5 years to complete the process from G1 to G. If that doesn't happen, the license expires and one needs to reapply for the G1 and do all the tests again. There are some exceptions, such as if one gets a G2 when there is less than one year left in the 5-year period - in that case it is extended.

United States varies a LOT from state to state since the laws are up to the states as if they were their own countries.

Where I'm from in Iowa:

Age 14 - can drive a car if there is a licensed driver in the car with you. There are other specific rules, but that's the basic rule.

Age 16 - take driver's education and receive your license.


I know the laws have been a LOT more strict the past 10 years or so. I grew up in the late 90's, and basically back then I was ok to drive by the time I was 14, just had to make sure an older person with a license was in the car with me. When I turned 16 I was fully licensed and there were no special rules. I believe now there are other rules, such as at 16 you can drive, but only between like 5:00 and 0:30, etc. Then at 17 is when all rules are dropped and you're fully licensed.

In Florida, one can obtain a restricted Florida drivers license at 15. Requirements are:

Two forms of identification plus your birth certificate
Proof of your USA Social Security Number
Proof of where you live
Proof that you have taken a Traffic Law and Substance Abuse Education class
Parental consent

Then you have to take the written test on road rules and road signs, plus a vision and hearing test. If you pass you will earn your restricted license.

Driving restrictions are daylight hours only for the first three months, then no later than 10 PM. At all times you must have a licensed driver over 21 sitting in the right front seat.

At 16 you can earn your intermediate Florida driver's license. Requirements are as follows:

Must hold a restricted license for one year with no convictions for traffic offenses (that means speeding, running a red light, etc.)
Certification from your parents that you have had 50 hours of behind the wheel experience, which includes 10 hours of night driving
Driving test (I remember this very well when I got my regular license at 16: Parallel parking and having to make the quick stop from 20 mph!)

When you pass the driving test then you are issued your intermediate Florida driver's license. However, it comes with restrictions:

16 years old: Allowed to drive between 6 AM and 11 PM unless you have a licensed driver over 21 sitting in the right front seat or traveling to and from work.

17 years old: Allowed to drive between 5 AM and 1 AM unless you have a licensed driver over 21 sitting in the right front seat or traveling to and from work.

18 years old and up: No restrictions.

Here is a link to the Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles web site which will give you more information: http://www.flhsmv.gov/ddl/teendriv.html#learner

Nova Scotia, Canada

The licensing system for regular cars:

Class 7 - at age 16, you can apply for a Class 7 license (aka learner's permit) which involves taking a vision test, a road sign recognition test, and a multiple choice theory test. This license allows you to drive with one passenger only who must hold a Class 5 license. You must both have a BAC level of zero. After 6 months with a Class 7 license (3 months if you've taken a driver training course) you're allowed to schedule a road test to pass to the next stage.

Class 5N - Lasts for 2 years. BAC level of zero and no driving from 0:00-5:00 unless going to work.

Class 5 - after two years you trade in your 5N for a class 5, which is the full license, and you can apply for license classes 1-4 (larger vehicles).

Class 6 (motorcycles) - age 16
Class 8 (farm tractors) - age 14

Here's the RMV webpage with more information. (http://www.gov.ns.ca/snsmr/rmv/licence/gradlic.asp)

Slovakia - you can drive at:
15 years - AM category
16 years - A1 and B1 category
17 years - T category (+disabled people B category)
18 years - A category (<25kW or ratio <0.16kW/kg) and B, C and subcategory C1
21 years - A category (25kW< or ratio 0.16kW/kg<), category D and subcategory D1

Categories (simply all A are bikes, B are ordinary cars, C lorries/trucks, D buses):
AM - motorcycle with engine <50 cm3 / max.speed <45kmh
A - motorcycle with engine 50< cm3 / max.speed 45kmh <
A1 - motorcycle with engine <125 cm3 / 11kW
B1 - 3-4 wheels vehicles with engine <50 cm3 / max.speed 45kmh
B - all cars under 3500kg with no more than 8 seats
C - all cars 3500kg <
C1 - all cars 3500-7500kg
D - cars with more than 8 seats
D1 - cars with more 8-16 seats
T - agricultural vehicles

majority of drivers have B category driving license valid from 18 years old (also including AM category)

I'd guess these categories are same in whole EU, cause of our european driving license
http://www.minv.sk/swift_data/source/policia/evo_a_vp/vzor_vp/Novy%20Euro%20VP1a.jpg

Class G: One year after getting the G2, do another longer driving test (including motorway driving) to get this class. Full license without restrictions.

What if you live in northern Ontario? A 4-day driving test to reach a motorway in the first place? ;)

UK: Full license at 17, no restrictions after that, with the exception of NI, where you cannot drive above 60mph for a year after you get your license.
Portugal: Full license at 18, no restrictions after that. Mopeds at 14

Hungary:

"M" (moped <50cm3): 14 years
"A1" (motorbike <125cm3 and 11 kW): 16 years
"A limited" (motorbike max 25 kW and 0,16 kW/kg): 18 years
"A" (all motorbikes): 21 years
"B" (cars up to 3500 kg and 9 seats): 17 years
"C1" (vehicles between 3500 and 7500 kg): 18 years
"C" (over 3500 kg): 18 years
"D1" (bus up to 16 seats): 21 years
"D" (bus): 21 years
"E" (heavy trailer, combined with B, C1, C, D1 or D category): same age as the basic category, except for B+E which is 18 years

I think these categories are the same in Europe.

other categories:
"K": small tractor, vehicle pulled by animals
"T": agricultural vehicle with trailer, slow vehicle with trailer
"TR": trolleybus
"V": tram

You get M, K and T categories together with B.

For 2 years your licence is beginner, which means you can't pull a trailer and carry a passenger on motorbike.

I'm not sure about buses.A licence for buses (D) is obtainable from 21 years, and only if you already have the B-licence (cars). If you want to work as a busdriver, most employers require that you have at least one year experience with licence B.

I think European countries are pretty much all the same or similar ages. It seems the US itself varies a lot between different states.

Brazil: 18 years old.

In Spain it's like in almost every European country. There are two kinds of licenses.

The licencia de conducción:

14: LCM (Licencia de conducción de vehículos para personas con movilidad reducida). Basically vehicles for disabled people without passengers.

16: LVA (Licencia para vehículos agrícolas). For farming vehicles. Also LCM with passengers.


The permiso de conducción:

15: AM: Two or three-wheeled vehicles <50 cm3, four-wheeled vehicles whose max speed is <45 km/h, always <0.11 kW/kg, always without passengers until you're 18.

16: A1: Motorbikes without sidecar <125 cm3, <11 kW, <0.11 kW/kg.

18: A2: Motorbikes. Three and four-wheeled vehicles <550 kg. <35 kW, <0.2 kW/kg.

20: A: All kinds of motorbikes + AM + A1 + A2. You need to have had an A2 license for at least 2 years.

18: B: Vehicles <3,500 kg with trailers <750 kg (if the set is <3,500 kg).

18: C1: Vehicles 3,500 kg < m < 7,500 kg. You need the B first.

21: C: Vehicles >3,500 kg. You need the B first.

21: D1: 9 < number of seats < 17. You need the B first.

24: D: Trolleys and vehicles whose number of passengers is >9. You need the B first.

18/21/24: E: For trailers >750 kg.

18: BTP: For special/high priority vehicles (ambulances/police cars...), taxis, etc. You need the B first.


If you're interested, this is a list of maneuvers you need to do to pass the test made in a closed track:

http://www.dgt.es/was6/portal/contenidos/documentos/oficina_virtual/conductores/Maniobras_circuito_cerrado_Esquemas.pdf


This sums it up. Notice that there are some differences in Spain:
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/8/89/Fahrerlaubnisklassen.png/271px-Fahrerlaubnisklassen.png

^^
No agricultural license? You don't need one or is this a seperate license in Spain?

^^ Yes, the LVA is the agricultural license ;)

http://www.csv.go.cr/educacion/licencias.html

Here is a translation:

Class A1 (50 to 90 cc):

- Minimum 13 years of age
- Authorisation from the parent or legal guardian if underage
- A 2 million Colones (about 2600 Euros or 3550 US Dollars according to current exchange rates) Insurance policy by state insurer INS, covering damages made to a third party
- Birth certificate by the civil registry
- Photo ID
- Pass the theoretical exam
- Medical certificate
- Pass the practical driver's exam

Class A2 (91 to 125 cc):

- Minimum 15 years of age
- Authorisation from the parent or legal guardian if underage
- A 2 million Colones (about 2600 Euros or 3550 US Dollars according to current exchange rates) Insurance policy by state insurer INS, covering damages made to a third party
- Birth certificate by the civil registry
- Photo ID
- Pass the theoretical exam
- Medical certificate
- Pass the practical driver's exam

Class A3 (126 to 500 cc) and A4 (501 cc and higher):

- Be 18 years old, have a citizen ID card or be an underage married person
- Pass the theoretical exam
- Medical certificate
- Pass the practical driver's exam

Class B1 (between 250 kg and 1.5 tonnes), B2 (light and heavy vehicles under 5 tonnes), B3 (all heavy vehicles except for semis) and B4 (all vehicles):

- Be 18 years old, have a citizen ID card or be an underage married person
- Pass the theoretical exam
- Medical certificate
- Pass the practical driver's exam

Class C1 (Taxi):

- Pay a public serivce security deposit for the time of validity of the licence to state insurer INS
- Pass the theoretical exam for public transportation
- Medical certificate
- Pass the practical driver's exam

Class C2 (Bus):

- Prove that you have 5 years of driving experience with B Class vehicles
- Pay a public serivce security deposit for the time of validity of the licence to state insurer INS
- Pass the theoretical exam for public transportation
- Medical certificate
- Pass the practical driver's exam

Class D1 (tractor on tyres)

- Minimum 16 years of age
- Authorisation from the parent or legal guardian if underage
- A 2 million Colones (about 2600 Euros or 3550 US Dollars according to current exchange rates) Insurance policy by state insurer INS, covering damages made to a third party
- Birth certificate by the civil registry
- Photo ID
- Letter of the company the applicant works for or from the rural police, indicating the type of machine and experience
- Pass the theoretical exam
- Medical certificate
- Pass the practical driver's exam and provide a ticket for it

Class D2 (tractor on caterpillar track) and D3 (all agricultural and industrial vehicles):

- Be 18 years old, have a citizen ID card or be an underage married person
- Letter of the company the applicant works for or from the rural police, indicating the type of machine and experience
- Pass the theoretical exam
- Medical certificate
- Pass the practical driver's exam and provide a ticket for it

Class E1 (All multi-axle vehicles except public transportation vehicles):

- Be 18 years old, have a citizen ID card or be an underage married person
- Pass the theoretical exam for special equipment
- Medical certificate
- Pass the practical driver's exam and provide a ticket for it
- Have at least a year driving experience with vehicles of class A4 and B4

Class E2 (All multi-axle vehicles, tractors with tyres or caterpillar tracks, and vehicles under class D3):

- Be 18 years old, have a citizen ID card or be an underage married person
- Pass the theoretical exam for special equipment
- Medical certificate
- Pass the practical driver's exam and provide a ticket for it
- Have at least a year driving experience with vehicles of class A4 and B4

When issued for the first time, the licence will be valid for two years, and it requires you to pay a fee of 4000 Colones. After every renewal, the licence will be valid for five years (except for drivers who are 65 years old and hold either a class C or E licence, they can only renew those licences every two years). The five year renewal costs 10000 Colones. Temporary studen driver permits, which you can get once you have passed the theoretical test, cost 500 Colones.

When you want to apply for the tests, you'll have to pay a few sums before the callcentre accepts you as well. For the theoretical exam, you have to pay a sum of 5000 Colones to BCR (Banco de Costa Rica), then you can call the callcentre. The same before calling the callcentre prior to requesting a date for the practical exam. If you fail any of the tests, you have to wait 10 work days before re-applying for a test date, pay the 5000 Colones at the BCR, and then call the callcentre for the date (applies for theoretical and practical exams).

Foreigners who want to have a licence, holding already a valid driver's licence, need to provide a photo ID that identifies them as residents (e.g. passport with an entry stamp no older than 3 months, residency card), provide their valid driver's licence with a photocopy of it, as well as the medical certificate. They also need an authorisation from the head or vice chief of the Licence Department, or from the head of the DGEV (Road Education Department), both within the Ministry of Transportation and Public Works. If the licence is no longer valid, you'll have to make both the theoretical and the practical test.

For renewal of a foreigner's driver's licence, they need to provide a photo ID that identifies them as residents (e.g. passport with an entry stamp no older than 3 months, residency card), the licence that needs to be renewed, as well as the medical certificate. In all cases, I believe the same fees apply.

Bosnia & Herzegovina

Here it is possible to start driving lessons with 17 and take driving tests, but you can get your licence when you fill 18.

You can drive only untill 23.oo if you have under 21, or not enough driving experience, and you have to wear the P (pocetnik) sticker at the back of you car, so people can see youre a beginner.

http://www.iddeea.gov.ba/images/vozacka_a.gif

http://www.iddeea.gov.ba/images/vozacka_b.gif

:wave:

What if you live in northern Ontario? A 4-day driving test to reach a motorway in the first place? ;)

Haha, excellent question! :) In fact, places that do not have a 400-series nearby make do with rural highways (typically 80 km/h).

Actually, it's quite funny - some people in Toronto who are afraid of the highway test book their test in a town called Orangeville (http://maps.google.ca/maps?f=q&source=s_q&hl=en&geocode=&q=orangeville,+ontario&ie=UTF8&hq=&hnear=Orangeville,+Dufferin+County,+Ontario&ll=43.807774,-79.937897&spn=0.53814,0.903625&z=10) and do the test there on one of the local roads (I think Highway 9).

Ontario, Canada

For cars:

Class G1: At age 16, write a theory test to get this class. At this point, one can immediately drive with an accompanying driver with at least 4 years of experience (as a G2 or G driver). No alcohol in the blood. No driving between 0:00 and 5:00. No driving on 400-series motorways with a speed limit of above 80 km/h.

Class G2: One year after getting the G1, or 8 months if a driving course was taken, do a simple driving test (no motorway driving) to get this class. Almost no restrictions - no alcohol in the blood is the only one. Relatively new law: for drivers aged 19 and below, between the hours of 0:00 and 5:00, maximum of 1 passenger below 19 y.o. for the first 6 months, and then up to 3 such passengers until age 20 or Class G.

Class G: One year after getting the G2, do another longer driving test (including motorway driving) to get this class. Full license without restrictions.

A driver has 5 years to complete the process from G1 to G. If that doesn't happen, the license expires and one needs to reapply for the G1 and do all the tests again. There are some exceptions, such as if one gets a G2 when there is less than one year left in the 5-year period - in that case it is extended.

Looks like Ontario's driving requirements are over the top. I hated this graduated licensing model. One driving test is enough and you should be able to do it quickly after your written test, so there is no need to wait for 5 years. I think it's only a cash grab by the Drive Test agency and the Ontario government. I don't think Ontario drivers are any better than before this system was implemented.

I like the Bosnian system. Conditions are always good for young drivers.

Bosnia & Herzegovina

Here it is possible to start driving lessons with 17 and take driving tests, but you can get your licence when you fill 18.

You can drive only untill 23.oo if you have under 21, or not enough driving experience, and you have to wear the P (pocetnik) sticker at the back of you car, so people can see youre a beginner.

http://www.iddeea.gov.ba/images/vozacka_a.gif

http://www.iddeea.gov.ba/images/vozacka_b.gif

:wave:Looks like Bosnia adopted a licence design similar to that of the current EU design.

Looks like Ontario's driving requirements are over the top. I hated this graduated licensing model. One driving test is enough and you should be able to do it quickly after your written test, so there is no need to wait for 5 years. I think it's only a cash grab by the Drive Test agency and the Ontario government. I don't think Ontario drivers are any better than before this system was implemented.

Heh yeah I mostly agree. I don't know whether Ontario drivers are any better now than before 1994 (when the graduated system was introduced), but I do know that Ontario drivers overall are one of (if not the) best in North America, statistically. The accident rate here is on par with the better (in terms of driving statistics) European nations.

I do think the system is too complicated though, and agree about having only a single test. However, this test should not be trivial as it is in some North American locales (for example, like the one in California, according to a few of my friends who worked in Silicon Valley). Our test is not nearly as complicated as in other places (like Europe), but from what I heard it is still more serious than in other places on this continent.

I also liked the fact that driver training was optional and I could learn with an accompanying driver :) While in theory, I think some driver education is required (and I did take around 10 driving lessons overall between my G1 and G), if I speak personally on my own behalf, I liked not having to spend hundreds of dollars on a large number of mandatory lessons (like some of my friends in Israel did to get their license), and being able to drive for 2 years with my dad near me, which gave me enough experience to pass the test with ease and in fact start my independent driving career as someone who already had been driving quite regularly for a few years. This, of course, may not always be the case with all people and accompanying drivers :) Despite this system, which may be viewed as "problematic" by many Europeans, Ontario still achieves very good driving statistics.

Age 15 for a permit to drive with an adult and 16 to get a restricted license. It's good that the age is low here the US and especially Florida seeing you have to drive everywhere to do anything.

In New Jersey its 15 for a Moped or scooter , 16 for a permit and 17 or 18 for a license , and 21 for a commercial truck or bus operator license :)

~Corey

Heh yeah I mostly agree. I don't know whether Ontario drivers are any better now than before 1994 (when the graduated system was introduced), but I do know that Ontario drivers overall are one of (if not the) best in North America, statistically. The accident rate here is on par with the better (in terms of driving statistics) European nations.

.

Yes, I forgot to mention, driving schools made big money with this licensing scheme as well. There are many people who benefit from this model, and I don't know if the extra time and money spent on driving training, testing and retesting is actually worth it in the end. It all seemed too laborious for me. But I'm glad it's over.

I watch Canada's Worst Driver, and one of the contestants recently moved to Canada from India. He said in order to get a license in India, all you need to do for the driving examiner is start the car, and he gives you a license :lol:. I wonder if this far from the truth.

Statistically speaking, two-lane country roads are the most dangerous with the most fatalities relative to it's usage. States or countries with little or no large cities are always less safe due to this reason, compared to states or countries with a lot of large cities.

So it doesn't surprise me that much that Ontario is safer than say, Saskatchewan.

Statistically speaking, two-lane country roads are the most dangerous with the most fatalities relative to it's usage. States or countries with little or no large cities are always less safe due to this reason, compared to states or countries with a lot of large cities.

So it doesn't surprise me that much that Ontario is safer than say, Saskatchewan.


Isn't the amount of traffic also a big factor here?
And let's not forget geography? (e.g. Amalfi coast vs. flat and straight roads in Finland)

Sweden and Finland have very few limited access highways, but rank among the safest countries in Europe.

^^ That is why I said "relative to traffic". Motorways have more accidents overall, but their usage is also much higher, thus the motorway is the safest road type.

A very large proportion of Sweden and Finland's population is urban. 85% of the Swedes live in urban areas.

Mountainous roads like those you find in the Amalfi coast are actually safer than flat, semi-urban 2-lane local roads. Perception of danger greatly increases in tight-curved, steep-grade roads crossing rugged terrain.

In Italy highway private-operated network (80% of all highways roughly), tunnels account for 5% of overall lane-length (a remarkable feature by the way), yet less than 1% of highway accidents happen on tunnels. Stretches like Bologna-Firenze, full of curves, ascents and descends, are safer than all-flat ones like Bologna-Milano.

This pattern repeats itself elsewhere.

Yes, subjective traffic safety (human observation) is usually significantly different from the objective traffic safety (statistical).

Although Italy is generally perceived as a country where people drive like crazy, statistical surveys show a different outcome, Italy ranks among the top in Europe in traffic safety measured by the number of traffic fatalities relative to it's population.

You can drive only untill 23.oo if you are under 21


very strict... :nuts:

It's not uncommon in rural parts of the Netherlands to see students going to high school in a tractor. You can drive at the age of 16.

http://www.destentor.nl/multimedia/archive/01368/ST_10317905_103179_1368517b.jpg

Looks like Bosnia adopted a licence design similar to that of the current EU design.

Yes, it looks like. They are adopted our laws because they want to joined EU.

Slovakia
http://static.etrend.sk/uploads/tx_media/2004/10/4120c_vodicak.jpg

UK
http://wemadeentertainment.co.uk/images/OldStyleDrivingLicence.jpg

Poland
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/c/c1/PL_driving_license_front.JPG

Bundesrepublik Deustchland
http://www.volker-goebel.biz/GrafikenPerso_Fuehrerscheine/EU_Fuehrerschein_V.jpg

Looks like Bosnia adopted a licence design similar to that of the current EU design.

Jepp, 6 years ago. :)

I like the Bosnian system. Conditions are always good for young drivers.

Hehe im sure the young Bosnian drivers would disagree with you (or me when i first got my drivers licence) :D