British Expatriate Network

Hi Everyone,
Again I am asking about a U.S. driver's licence.
I have never learned to drive as while I was in the U.K. I had no need to and a car was an expensive luxury to me.
Howver I now need to learn due to the non-existent public transport in S.C.
My wife insists that I do not need a beginners permit and that I only need to apply for the full licence. This seems strange to me as I am a beginner having never sat behind the wheel in my life.
Is there anyone out there that has been through the whole process and can tell me what I need to do?.
Thanks for any help, Martin.

<font size=-1>[ This Message was edited by Marty and Jucal on 2003-01-06 0712 ]</font>

I had never driven in UK either and it took me 9 lessons to drive, it is easy believe me.
Ill tell you what I did in NY state and maybe its the same. You have to go to the DMV and apply for a learners permit. You take an eye test ("look at this line" tell me what you see) and fill out a 30 question multiple choice test, which a child could do (things like "Alcohol makes you a bad driver, a cool driver, an elephant) and then you get to learn to drive. I suggest that you scour your area for a good driving school and cough up $250-300 for your lessons and the test....yes thats all it costs. If you want yout license quick learn to drive without stick, you can spend an afternoon after you get your license learning that. I found learning very very easy, much more relaxed than in the UK. None of this "no crossing hands" rubbish.
The only thing that is irritating is in NY state you have to take a 5 hour safety course, which means watch 5 hours of videos from 1976 about driving in the snow and then take a 30 question multiple choice test. Again, a demented gibbon could pass. Dont fret about it, I did but anyone can drive in this country. Go on the roads and you'll see Im not lying.

Anyone can drive?, I truly believe you, Mr.Bungle. I have only been in the country for six weeks and I have seen many idiotic moves that I wouldn't expect a monkey with a frontal lobotomy perform!!.
By the way do any Americans know how to change lanes?, without changing the colour of my underwear I mean!!.
Thanks for the info,
Martin

lol

Have fun with "suicide lanes" by the way.

basically, no. I drive for a living and often wonder at what I see. Not only do they not know how to change lanes properly (look, signal, LOOK AGAIN, make 100% certain there is nothing already in the space they want to move into, move smoothly), they also seem to have no sense of when they SHOULD change lanes (ie when they're doing 60 in the middle lane and the 80,000 lb truck behind them is doing 70 and isn't allowed in the left lane).
You'll find most US drivers are ignorant, unskilled and appear to have obtained their licence as part of an &$$hole Outreach Program.

_________________
Graham

LFC 2001, 5 Finals, 5 Wins, 4 Cups & 1 Shield

"All Those With A Red Heart Can Rejoice, For They Have Seen 'GOD'" - UEFA Cup Final May 16 2001

The name of the game is FOOTBALL, there is no such thing as soccer

<font size=-1>[ This Message was edited by: scouser on 2003-01-17 22:47 ]</font>

I mostly like it on the M25 when some flash git in a BMW speeds up to my rear end doing 100mph and flashes me like mad cos he (always a he, sorry) wants to get past me and break the sound barrier and/or kill himself before Guildford.

lol

Bad day, scouser?

This'll get moved!

not particularly, I just think it's a sad state of affairs that most people in this country are taught to drive by their school's PE teacher as my wife was. I'd love for them to all have to spend just one day driving some of the trucks and buses I drive, perhaps then they'll see how really stupid some of their lane changes are.

Or make them pass the Brit test on a motorway?

EASY!
In the UK I failed my first car test, passed it second time, took my HGV and Hazchem exams, so I was expecting the worse in the USA
I had to answer 80 questions (multiple choice) like When it`s foggy do you,
A. Turn on your headlights?
B. Speed up and get home as fast as you can?
C. Drive close to the car in front so you can see his lights?

Then the test, Sit in the car, show the examiner where the light switch is, drive round the block and go backwards for 10Ft in a straight line.

Result, here`s your licence Sir.