Americans shouldn't be able to drive in GB on a US license
Discussion
This is simply downright dangerous, due to the complexities of UK roads and how incredibly easy a US drivers license is to obtain. Anyone with a pulse can get a license. Although driving tests in the US do very somewhat by state they are all ridiculously easy compared to the UK or other western European nations.
Allowing US drivers to drive unsupervised on UK roads is not much different to allowing a British provisional license holder to drive unsupervised with no experience whatsoever. Even more dangerous in fact because at least a provisional license holder is likely to have experienced UK roads quite a bit as a passenger.
This is not a post to bash US driving standards, I understand that the tests need to be very easy because without a car in the US it is impossible to have any sort of independent life (unless living in New York or Chicago) because of how sparsely populated most of the country is. But allowing them to drive on UK roads is very dangerous.
This is insane.
Allowing US drivers to drive unsupervised on UK roads is not much different to allowing a British provisional license holder to drive unsupervised with no experience whatsoever. Even more dangerous in fact because at least a provisional license holder is likely to have experienced UK roads quite a bit as a passenger.
This is not a post to bash US driving standards, I understand that the tests need to be very easy because without a car in the US it is impossible to have any sort of independent life (unless living in New York or Chicago) because of how sparsely populated most of the country is. But allowing them to drive on UK roads is very dangerous.
This is insane.
Probably a good job most of them still live in America then.
Is it India where you can get a driving licence by not even driving a car, you just have to sit in the back seat or something and be driven about 100 yards and you have passed.
Is it India where you can get a driving licence by not even driving a car, you just have to sit in the back seat or something and be driven about 100 yards and you have passed.
Edited by Monkeylegend on Friday 3rd September 17:38
Why pick on America in particular? Any temporary visitor to the UK can drive on a licence issued by their own country. At least, any country that has ratified the 1949 Geneva Convention on Road Traffic, which is basically all of them - it's the same treaty which allows you to drive a hire car when you go to pretty much any other country in the world.
Some countries covered (from a quick Google) include Egypt (where the driving test consists of driving forwards and reversing through an few cones), Honduras (which has a written driving test only) and Mexico (no driving test at all - you just have to sign a declaration saying that you can drive).
Some countries covered (from a quick Google) include Egypt (where the driving test consists of driving forwards and reversing through an few cones), Honduras (which has a written driving test only) and Mexico (no driving test at all - you just have to sign a declaration saying that you can drive).
Aretnap said:
Why pick on America in particular? Any temporary visitor to the UK can drive on a licence issued by their own country. At least, any country that has ratified the 1949 Geneva Convention on Road Traffic, which is basically all of them - it's the same treaty which allows you to drive a hire car when you go to pretty much any other country in the world.
Some countries covered (from a quick Google) include Egypt (where the driving test consists of driving forwards and reversing through an few cones), Honduras (which has a written driving test only) and Mexico (no driving test at all - you just have to sign a declaration saying that you can drive).
Every day's a school day! Some countries covered (from a quick Google) include Egypt (where the driving test consists of driving forwards and reversing through an few cones), Honduras (which has a written driving test only) and Mexico (no driving test at all - you just have to sign a declaration saying that you can drive).
Took a driving test in Chicago about 20 years ago as I was working in the US temporarily. My test literally consisted of driving out of the test center, turning right, next left, next right, next right, next right, next left back into the test center and parking.
I had explained to the examiner that I had held a UK licence for more than 10 years, so that presumably influenced the route that I was asked to take, however I very much doubt that the same approach would have been taken with a US license holder taking a test in the UK!
I had explained to the examiner that I had held a UK licence for more than 10 years, so that presumably influenced the route that I was asked to take, however I very much doubt that the same approach would have been taken with a US license holder taking a test in the UK!
Jamessd said:
Took a driving test in Chicago about 20 years ago as I was working in the US temporarily. My test literally consisted of driving out of the test centre, turning right, next left, next right, next right, next right, next left back into the test centre and parking.
I had explained to the examiner that I had held a UK licence for more than 10 years, so that presumably influenced the route that I was asked to take, however I very much doubt that the same approach would have been taken with a US license holder taking a test in the UK!
Well no, they drive on the opposite side so it would be turning left, next right, next left, next left, next left, next right back to the test centre and parking.I had explained to the examiner that I had held a UK licence for more than 10 years, so that presumably influenced the route that I was asked to take, however I very much doubt that the same approach would have been taken with a US license holder taking a test in the UK!
Monkeylegend said:
Well no, they drive on the opposite side so it would be turning left, next right, next left, next left, next left, next right back to the test centre and parking.
Interesting factiod - apparently the routes that UPS drivers take in the US are designed to minimise the number of left turns that they make. This is to avoid them being delayed by having to wait before being able to turn due to oncoming traffic. Aretnap said:
Why pick on America in particular? Any temporary visitor to the UK can drive on a licence issued by their own country. At least, any country that has ratified the 1949 Geneva Convention on Road Traffic, which is basically all of them - it's the same treaty which allows you to drive a hire car when you go to pretty much any other country in the world.
Some countries covered (from a quick Google) include Egypt (where the driving test consists of driving forwards and reversing through an few cones), Honduras (which has a written driving test only) and Mexico (no driving test at all - you just have to sign a declaration saying that you can drive).
Simply because it is the only country I have experience with to make a judgement on their driving tests. The same would apply to any other countries which have sub-standard driving requirements. Some countries covered (from a quick Google) include Egypt (where the driving test consists of driving forwards and reversing through an few cones), Honduras (which has a written driving test only) and Mexico (no driving test at all - you just have to sign a declaration saying that you can drive).
Jamessd said:
Monkeylegend said:
Well no, they drive on the opposite side so it would be turning left, next right, next left, next left, next left, next right back to the test centre and parking.
Interesting factiod - apparently the routes that UPS drivers take in the US are designed to minimise the number of left turns that they make. This is to avoid them being delayed by having to wait before being able to turn due to oncoming traffic. Kateg28 said:
But what happens when they retaliate? I like my USA road trips.
I don’t think this is practical or very friendly to be honest
The difference is that the UK has much higher driving standards, it would not make any sense for them to retaliate out of anything other than pettiness. Whereas the UK would have legitimate safety reasons for not allowing them to drive in the UK.I don’t think this is practical or very friendly to be honest
DOCG said:
Simply because it is the only country I have experience with to make a judgement on their driving tests. The same would apply to any other countries which have sub-standard driving requirements.
I've driven in something like 40 countries and the US doesn't register in the worst half IMO.DOCG said:
This is simply downright dangerous, due to the complexities of UK roads and how incredibly easy a US drivers license is to obtain. Anyone with a pulse can get a license. Although driving tests in the US do very somewhat by state they are all ridiculously easy compared to the UK or other western European nations.
Allowing US drivers to drive unsupervised on UK roads is not much different to allowing a British provisional license holder to drive unsupervised with no experience whatsoever. Even more dangerous in fact because at least a provisional license holder is likely to have experienced UK roads quite a bit as a passenger.
This is not a post to bash US driving standards, I understand that the tests need to be very easy because without a car in the US it is impossible to have any sort of independent life (unless living in New York or Chicago) because of how sparsely populated most of the country is. But allowing them to drive on UK roads is very dangerous.
This is insane.
While the test may be easy do you think learning/experience stops with the test? I've driven a lot on the states and driving standards are no better or worse than here.Allowing US drivers to drive unsupervised on UK roads is not much different to allowing a British provisional license holder to drive unsupervised with no experience whatsoever. Even more dangerous in fact because at least a provisional license holder is likely to have experienced UK roads quite a bit as a passenger.
This is not a post to bash US driving standards, I understand that the tests need to be very easy because without a car in the US it is impossible to have any sort of independent life (unless living in New York or Chicago) because of how sparsely populated most of the country is. But allowing them to drive on UK roads is very dangerous.
This is insane.
You can drive from 16 in the US, and given the minimum age for the majority of UK hire cars is 21 any US driver here is likely to have had at least a few years driving experience.
It's pretty much impossible to function without a car in a lot of the US, so car ownership from a young age is more common.
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