Australian Driving Test
#16
Guest
Posts: n/a
Re: Australian Driving Test
Roger Martin wrote:
> "Joseph McDonnell" <[email protected]> wrote in message
> news:[email protected]...
> >
> >
> > Raffi Balmanoukian wrote:
> >
> > > in article [email protected], dugongs at
> [email protected]
> > > wrote on 4/1/02 4:35 AM:
> > >
> > > > In Qld, despite 10 years of UK driving, I had to sit the written multiple
> > > > choice test and do a complete practical test taking about an hour and as
> > > > comprehensive as the UK one I passed 10 years earlier. Anyone that thinks
> > > > that it is a walk in the park is kidding themselves and try to imagine
> > > > sitting your Uk test again after all those years of learning bad habits etc.
> > > >
> > > > There are positives in terms of refreshing your driving skills but
> quite
> > > > frankly i think it is a bit over the top.
> > >
> > > The irony is those rules are the same (as I understand it) for any
> overseas
> > > license - in your case, you've driven on the left side of the road all
> the
> > > time, but I would be issued a temporary license (in SA anyway) just on
> the
> > > basis of the written test although all my instincts are reversed! (well, they
> > > were for a while anyway...)
> >
> > Maybe I'm missing something here, but if someone migrates to Oz, he/she
> has to
> > undergo a test, but if that same person comes to Oz as a short-term
> visitor, he
> > does not. If a short-term visitor is considered safe enough to be allowed
> on the
> > roads, so should the immigrant i.e. he should be able to obtain a licence without
> > a test. When I moved to Holland, I obtained a Dutch licence
> simply by
> > surrendering my Australian one.
> >
> > Just my 2 Euro-cents
> >
> > Regards
> >
> > Joseph
> >
> Does seem a bit crazy, I'm not sure where and how Australia got into the additional
> testing of migrants (I took only a written test in 1980) but I think it came about
> due to a couple of things. Migrants were coming from countries where a driving
> licence was purchased as a means of raising government revenue, secondly there was
> widespread fraudulant issuing of drivers licences in some countries. Now Australia
> being the caring multi cultural society that we are - we could not single out
> countries which had "good" and "bad" driving tests or no tests. So we just test
> everyone, voila, no racial overtones or persecuting an individual because he/she
> came from a third world country.
But does this hold true in other areas? For example, would a doctor from (say) the UK
gain registration quicker than one from a third world country?
Roger, where did you get your licence with just a written test? I know my mother got
hers with a written test, but that was early in the 60's.
Joseph
> "Joseph McDonnell" <[email protected]> wrote in message
> news:[email protected]...
> >
> >
> > Raffi Balmanoukian wrote:
> >
> > > in article [email protected], dugongs at
> [email protected]
> > > wrote on 4/1/02 4:35 AM:
> > >
> > > > In Qld, despite 10 years of UK driving, I had to sit the written multiple
> > > > choice test and do a complete practical test taking about an hour and as
> > > > comprehensive as the UK one I passed 10 years earlier. Anyone that thinks
> > > > that it is a walk in the park is kidding themselves and try to imagine
> > > > sitting your Uk test again after all those years of learning bad habits etc.
> > > >
> > > > There are positives in terms of refreshing your driving skills but
> quite
> > > > frankly i think it is a bit over the top.
> > >
> > > The irony is those rules are the same (as I understand it) for any
> overseas
> > > license - in your case, you've driven on the left side of the road all
> the
> > > time, but I would be issued a temporary license (in SA anyway) just on
> the
> > > basis of the written test although all my instincts are reversed! (well, they
> > > were for a while anyway...)
> >
> > Maybe I'm missing something here, but if someone migrates to Oz, he/she
> has to
> > undergo a test, but if that same person comes to Oz as a short-term
> visitor, he
> > does not. If a short-term visitor is considered safe enough to be allowed
> on the
> > roads, so should the immigrant i.e. he should be able to obtain a licence without
> > a test. When I moved to Holland, I obtained a Dutch licence
> simply by
> > surrendering my Australian one.
> >
> > Just my 2 Euro-cents
> >
> > Regards
> >
> > Joseph
> >
> Does seem a bit crazy, I'm not sure where and how Australia got into the additional
> testing of migrants (I took only a written test in 1980) but I think it came about
> due to a couple of things. Migrants were coming from countries where a driving
> licence was purchased as a means of raising government revenue, secondly there was
> widespread fraudulant issuing of drivers licences in some countries. Now Australia
> being the caring multi cultural society that we are - we could not single out
> countries which had "good" and "bad" driving tests or no tests. So we just test
> everyone, voila, no racial overtones or persecuting an individual because he/she
> came from a third world country.
But does this hold true in other areas? For example, would a doctor from (say) the UK
gain registration quicker than one from a third world country?
Roger, where did you get your licence with just a written test? I know my mother got
hers with a written test, but that was early in the 60's.
Joseph
#17
Guest
Posts: n/a
Re: Australian Driving Test
On Tue, 02 Apr 2002 12:57:09 +0200, Joseph McDonnell <[email protected]> wrote:
>
>
>Dave Noble wrote:
>
>> On Tue, 02 Apr 2002 10:53:28 +0200, Joseph McDonnell <[email protected]> wrote:
>>
>> >
>> >
>> >Raffi Balmanoukian wrote:
>> >
>> >> in article [email protected], dugongs at [email protected]
>> >> wrote on 4/1/02 4:35 AM:
>> >>
>> >> > In Qld, despite 10 years of UK driving, I had to sit the written multiple
>> >> > choice test and do a complete practical test taking about an hour and as
>> >> > comprehensive as the UK one I passed 10 years earlier. Anyone that thinks
>> >> > that it is a walk in the park is kidding themselves and try to imagine
>> >> > sitting your Uk test again after all those years of learning bad habits etc.
>> >> >
>> >> > There are positives in terms of refreshing your driving skills but quite
>> >> > frankly i think it is a bit over the top.
>> >>
>> >> The irony is those rules are the same (as I understand it) for any overseas
>> >> license - in your case, you've driven on the left side of the road all the
>> >> time, but I would be issued a temporary license (in SA anyway) just on the
>> >> basis of the written test although all my instincts are reversed! (well, they
>> >> were for a while anyway...)
>> >
>> >Maybe I'm missing something here, but if someone migrates to Oz, he/she has to
>> >undergo a test, but if that same person comes to Oz as a short-term visitor, he
>> >does not. If a short-term visitor is considered safe enough to be allowed on the
>> >roads, so should the immigrant i.e. he should be able to obtain a licence without
>> >a test. When I moved to Holland, I obtained a Dutch licence simply by
>> >surrendering my Australian one.
>>
>> Driving test standards vary from country to country. There are international
>> agreements around that allow visitors to drive on their own licences. I think it
>> is perfectly reasonable that they ensure that long stayers have an acceptable
>> knowledge of local driving laws and can demonstrate a competance to drive there.
>>
>> Dave
>
>Fair enough point, but both long and short stayers should have an acceptable
>knowlerdge of local driving laws and can demonstrate sufficient competance. During
>the 3 month 'run-in', period, long stayers will (hopefully) acquire these qualities.
>
And should have little problem passing a test at this point..theoretically.
I had to take a Victoria test whilst living there , which I did manage to pass with
no problems, however whilst I was there there were a couple of other people doing
exactly the same thing, i.e. taking a crossover test and one of them failed on the
theory exam.
Dave
>
>
>Dave Noble wrote:
>
>> On Tue, 02 Apr 2002 10:53:28 +0200, Joseph McDonnell <[email protected]> wrote:
>>
>> >
>> >
>> >Raffi Balmanoukian wrote:
>> >
>> >> in article [email protected], dugongs at [email protected]
>> >> wrote on 4/1/02 4:35 AM:
>> >>
>> >> > In Qld, despite 10 years of UK driving, I had to sit the written multiple
>> >> > choice test and do a complete practical test taking about an hour and as
>> >> > comprehensive as the UK one I passed 10 years earlier. Anyone that thinks
>> >> > that it is a walk in the park is kidding themselves and try to imagine
>> >> > sitting your Uk test again after all those years of learning bad habits etc.
>> >> >
>> >> > There are positives in terms of refreshing your driving skills but quite
>> >> > frankly i think it is a bit over the top.
>> >>
>> >> The irony is those rules are the same (as I understand it) for any overseas
>> >> license - in your case, you've driven on the left side of the road all the
>> >> time, but I would be issued a temporary license (in SA anyway) just on the
>> >> basis of the written test although all my instincts are reversed! (well, they
>> >> were for a while anyway...)
>> >
>> >Maybe I'm missing something here, but if someone migrates to Oz, he/she has to
>> >undergo a test, but if that same person comes to Oz as a short-term visitor, he
>> >does not. If a short-term visitor is considered safe enough to be allowed on the
>> >roads, so should the immigrant i.e. he should be able to obtain a licence without
>> >a test. When I moved to Holland, I obtained a Dutch licence simply by
>> >surrendering my Australian one.
>>
>> Driving test standards vary from country to country. There are international
>> agreements around that allow visitors to drive on their own licences. I think it
>> is perfectly reasonable that they ensure that long stayers have an acceptable
>> knowledge of local driving laws and can demonstrate a competance to drive there.
>>
>> Dave
>
>Fair enough point, but both long and short stayers should have an acceptable
>knowlerdge of local driving laws and can demonstrate sufficient competance. During
>the 3 month 'run-in', period, long stayers will (hopefully) acquire these qualities.
>
And should have little problem passing a test at this point..theoretically.
I had to take a Victoria test whilst living there , which I did manage to pass with
no problems, however whilst I was there there were a couple of other people doing
exactly the same thing, i.e. taking a crossover test and one of them failed on the
theory exam.
Dave
#18
Re: Australian Driving Test
As we will be going to Melbourne on a temporary (4 year business) visa, I found this interesting on the Vicroads website :
"Drivers who do not hold a permanent Visa
May drive (or learn to drive) on an overseas licence/permit for an indefinite period, provided the licence/permit is in English or is accompanied by an English translation (an English translation in an International Driver Permit - issued to licence holders - is an acceptable translation). This applies even if age or other eligibility requirements to obtain a licence or permit in Victoria are not met. "
However, this 'politically correct' way of bundling all overseas licence holders together without favour to any group of countries does not seem to exist in Victoria. They have a list of 'Recognized Countries' - Austria, Belgium, Canada, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Luxembourg, Netherlands
Norway, Portugal, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, UK, USA. Any licence holders of these countries only have to take the "road law knowledge test (LPT/KT2)", assuming their licence is "Current or invalid or expired for less than 5 years".
I Don't know how the other States/Territories differ, but I'm more than happy with Victoria's policy...
Cheers,
Paul.
"Drivers who do not hold a permanent Visa
May drive (or learn to drive) on an overseas licence/permit for an indefinite period, provided the licence/permit is in English or is accompanied by an English translation (an English translation in an International Driver Permit - issued to licence holders - is an acceptable translation). This applies even if age or other eligibility requirements to obtain a licence or permit in Victoria are not met. "
Does seem a bit crazy, I'm not sure where and how Australia got into the additional testing of migrants (I took only a written test in 1980) but I think it came about due to a couple of things. Migrants were coming from countries where a driving licence was purchased as a means of raising government revenue, secondly there was widespread fraudulant issuing of drivers licences in some countries. Now Australia being the caring multi cultural society that we are - we could not single out countries which had "good" and "bad" driving tests or no tests. So we just test everyone, voila, no racial overtones or persecuting an individual because he/she came from a third world country.
Norway, Portugal, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, UK, USA. Any licence holders of these countries only have to take the "road law knowledge test (LPT/KT2)", assuming their licence is "Current or invalid or expired for less than 5 years".
I Don't know how the other States/Territories differ, but I'm more than happy with Victoria's policy...
Cheers,
Paul.
Last edited by pread; Apr 2nd 2002 at 11:48 am.
#19
Guest
Posts: n/a
Re: Australian Driving Test
"Joseph McDonnell" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
>
>
> Roger Martin wrote:
>
> > "Joseph McDonnell" <[email protected]> wrote in message
> > news:[email protected]...
> > >
> > >
> > > Raffi Balmanoukian wrote:
> > >
> > > > in article [email protected], dugongs at
> > [email protected]
> > > > wrote on 4/1/02 4:35 AM:
> > > >
> > > > > In Qld, despite 10 years of UK driving, I had to sit the written multiple
> > > > > choice test and do a complete practical test taking about
an
> > > > > hour and as comprehensive as the UK one I passed 10 years earlier. Anyone
> > > > > that thinks that it is a walk in the park is kidding
themselves
> > > > > and try to imagine sitting your Uk test again after all those
years of
> > > > > learning bad habits etc.
> > > > >
> > > > > There are positives in terms of refreshing your driving skills but
> > quite
> > > > > frankly i think it is a bit over the top.
> > > >
> > > > The irony is those rules are the same (as I understand it) for any
> > overseas
> > > > license - in your case, you've driven on the left side of the road
all
> > the
> > > > time, but I would be issued a temporary license (in SA anyway) just
on
> > the
> > > > basis of the written test although all my instincts are reversed!
(well,
> > > > they were for a while anyway...)
> > >
> > > Maybe I'm missing something here, but if someone migrates to Oz,
he/she
> > has to
> > > undergo a test, but if that same person comes to Oz as a short-term
> > visitor, he
> > > does not. If a short-term visitor is considered safe enough to be
allowed
> > on the
> > > roads, so should the immigrant i.e. he should be able to obtain a
licence
> > > without a test. When I moved to Holland, I obtained a Dutch licence
> > simply by
> > > surrendering my Australian one.
> > >
> > > Just my 2 Euro-cents
> > >
> > > Regards
> > >
> > > Joseph
> > >
> > Does seem a bit crazy, I'm not sure where and how Australia got into the
> > additional testing of migrants (I took only a written test in 1980) but I
> > think it
came
> > about due to a couple of things. Migrants were coming from countries where a
> > driving licence was purchased as a means of raising government revenue, secondly
> > there was widespread fraudulant issuing of drivers licences in some countries.
> > Now Australia being the caring multi cultural society that we are - we could not
> > single out countries which had "good" and "bad" driving tests or no tests. So we
> > just test everyone,
voila,
> > no racial overtones or persecuting an individual because he/she came from a third
> > world country.
>
> But does this hold true in other areas? For example, would a doctor from
(say)
> the UK gain registration quicker than one from a third world country?
>
I'm really not sure about that - certainly there is some sort of literacy testing of
people applying to some professions for registration. Mind you I've been in a public
hospital with a Scottish doctor and she was speaking a totally foreign language to me
- even though it was English.
I know quite a few trades people who always insist that overseas training is no good
and that plumbers/electricians etc must do a full 4 or 5 year course to become
qualified again. Seems a waste of talent to me, but I guess if I was electrocuted by
an electrician recently from Outer Mongolia I might have the same views - even if
they were post mortem LOL.
> Roger, where did you get your licence with just a written test? I know my
mother
> got hers with a written test, but that was early in the 60's.
>
Ah, sorry I should have said that I exchanged my UK HGV I licence. Even that written
test was pretty slack - about 10 questions from distant memory.
news:[email protected]...
>
>
> Roger Martin wrote:
>
> > "Joseph McDonnell" <[email protected]> wrote in message
> > news:[email protected]...
> > >
> > >
> > > Raffi Balmanoukian wrote:
> > >
> > > > in article [email protected], dugongs at
> > [email protected]
> > > > wrote on 4/1/02 4:35 AM:
> > > >
> > > > > In Qld, despite 10 years of UK driving, I had to sit the written multiple
> > > > > choice test and do a complete practical test taking about
an
> > > > > hour and as comprehensive as the UK one I passed 10 years earlier. Anyone
> > > > > that thinks that it is a walk in the park is kidding
themselves
> > > > > and try to imagine sitting your Uk test again after all those
years of
> > > > > learning bad habits etc.
> > > > >
> > > > > There are positives in terms of refreshing your driving skills but
> > quite
> > > > > frankly i think it is a bit over the top.
> > > >
> > > > The irony is those rules are the same (as I understand it) for any
> > overseas
> > > > license - in your case, you've driven on the left side of the road
all
> > the
> > > > time, but I would be issued a temporary license (in SA anyway) just
on
> > the
> > > > basis of the written test although all my instincts are reversed!
(well,
> > > > they were for a while anyway...)
> > >
> > > Maybe I'm missing something here, but if someone migrates to Oz,
he/she
> > has to
> > > undergo a test, but if that same person comes to Oz as a short-term
> > visitor, he
> > > does not. If a short-term visitor is considered safe enough to be
allowed
> > on the
> > > roads, so should the immigrant i.e. he should be able to obtain a
licence
> > > without a test. When I moved to Holland, I obtained a Dutch licence
> > simply by
> > > surrendering my Australian one.
> > >
> > > Just my 2 Euro-cents
> > >
> > > Regards
> > >
> > > Joseph
> > >
> > Does seem a bit crazy, I'm not sure where and how Australia got into the
> > additional testing of migrants (I took only a written test in 1980) but I
> > think it
came
> > about due to a couple of things. Migrants were coming from countries where a
> > driving licence was purchased as a means of raising government revenue, secondly
> > there was widespread fraudulant issuing of drivers licences in some countries.
> > Now Australia being the caring multi cultural society that we are - we could not
> > single out countries which had "good" and "bad" driving tests or no tests. So we
> > just test everyone,
voila,
> > no racial overtones or persecuting an individual because he/she came from a third
> > world country.
>
> But does this hold true in other areas? For example, would a doctor from
(say)
> the UK gain registration quicker than one from a third world country?
>
I'm really not sure about that - certainly there is some sort of literacy testing of
people applying to some professions for registration. Mind you I've been in a public
hospital with a Scottish doctor and she was speaking a totally foreign language to me
- even though it was English.
I know quite a few trades people who always insist that overseas training is no good
and that plumbers/electricians etc must do a full 4 or 5 year course to become
qualified again. Seems a waste of talent to me, but I guess if I was electrocuted by
an electrician recently from Outer Mongolia I might have the same views - even if
they were post mortem LOL.
> Roger, where did you get your licence with just a written test? I know my
mother
> got hers with a written test, but that was early in the 60's.
>
Ah, sorry I should have said that I exchanged my UK HGV I licence. Even that written
test was pretty slack - about 10 questions from distant memory.
#20
Guest
Posts: n/a
Re: Australian Driving Test
> However, this 'politically correct' way of bundling all overseas licence holders
> together without favour to any group of countries does not seem to exist in
> Victoria. They have a list of 'Recognized Countries' - Austria, Belgium, Canada,
> Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Luxembourg,
> Netherlands Norway, Portugal, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, UK, USA. Any licence
> holders of these countries only have to take the "road law knowledge test
> (LPT/KT2)", assuming their licence is "Current or invalid or expired for less than
> 5 years".
>
God help us - the Belgians have only just introduced driving tests - well in the
passed 20 years or so LOL.
> together without favour to any group of countries does not seem to exist in
> Victoria. They have a list of 'Recognized Countries' - Austria, Belgium, Canada,
> Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Luxembourg,
> Netherlands Norway, Portugal, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, UK, USA. Any licence
> holders of these countries only have to take the "road law knowledge test
> (LPT/KT2)", assuming their licence is "Current or invalid or expired for less than
> 5 years".
>
God help us - the Belgians have only just introduced driving tests - well in the
passed 20 years or so LOL.