Driver's Licences
Jul 27th 2004 | 12:03 am
#31
BE Enthusiast
Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 747
From: JAFAland, NZ
PM-ed you lancs lass
Jul 27th 2004 | 6:57 am
#32
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Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 22,151
From: 30°16'29" North 097°44'26" West
I guess I will have to take the driving tests as soon as possible after landing since I want to be ready for the job market asap.
Tough luck!
Tough luck!
Jul 27th 2004 | 1:00 pm
#33
Guest
Posts: n/a
As you may or may not known, the written test in Ontario is not done on computer, and I will advise those that have to take it, to really study the handbook, and get the "passing the driver's test video/dvd ( www.driversvideo.com ).
It's the little thing that people fail on in ontario, things like how to merge/exiting the highway, stopping at a red light before making a right turn, and looking left/right when going thru' an intersection, keeping to the right as soon as you make a left turn.
Oh....yes you have to do a three-point turn, parallel parking, and reverse parking, also there is the emergency stop.
It's the little thing that people fail on in ontario, things like how to merge/exiting the highway, stopping at a red light before making a right turn, and looking left/right when going thru' an intersection, keeping to the right as soon as you make a left turn.
Oh....yes you have to do a three-point turn, parallel parking, and reverse parking, also there is the emergency stop.
Originally posted by lancs lass
I have to agree that it seems silly that UK drivers can't automatically swap their UK licence for a Canadian one in all Provinces - but that is Canada for you! On arrival I would gladly have travelled from Alberta to Ontario to get out of taking the test but after driving around for 3 months on the UK licence and then taking the test it really wasn't a big deal.
You have to pass a written (well on a computer) multi-choice test - this was actually harder than the driving! But as others have said the test itself went by very quickly (20 mins) with no emergency stop, no backing round a corner, no 3 point turn - also when I had to parallel park the instructor could only find a spot with one car in front so really I was just backing into a space with no car behind. Also there was a drift of snow so couldn't see the kerb which worked out well all round! The instructor asked how long I'd been driving in the UK and could obvoiusly tell that I wasn't a novice and had plenty of experience - I'm sure all of us who take the test from the UK are just as good if not better than our Canadian counterparts - especially in Calgary - I heard it has the worst drivers in Canada!
I have to agree that it seems silly that UK drivers can't automatically swap their UK licence for a Canadian one in all Provinces - but that is Canada for you! On arrival I would gladly have travelled from Alberta to Ontario to get out of taking the test but after driving around for 3 months on the UK licence and then taking the test it really wasn't a big deal.
You have to pass a written (well on a computer) multi-choice test - this was actually harder than the driving! But as others have said the test itself went by very quickly (20 mins) with no emergency stop, no backing round a corner, no 3 point turn - also when I had to parallel park the instructor could only find a spot with one car in front so really I was just backing into a space with no car behind. Also there was a drift of snow so couldn't see the kerb which worked out well all round! The instructor asked how long I'd been driving in the UK and could obvoiusly tell that I wasn't a novice and had plenty of experience - I'm sure all of us who take the test from the UK are just as good if not better than our Canadian counterparts - especially in Calgary - I heard it has the worst drivers in Canada!
Jul 27th 2004 | 3:50 pm
#34
Forum Regular
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 40
From: Nova Scotia
Well I either had a very incompetent driving examiner or it's just not as strict in Alberta but as I said definately no emergency stop, reversing, 3 point turns in my test - would be interested to hear from others on whether their tests included the above? I certainly didn't find it as rigorous as when I took my test in the UK - but that was some time ago! Maybe they are just more lenient as they know you have been driving in another country?
Jul 28th 2004 | 12:06 am
#35
BE Forum Addict
Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 1,583
From: Waukee, Iowa
Originally posted by lancs lass
Well I either had a very incompetent driving examiner or it's just not as strict in Alberta but as I said definately no emergency stop, reversing, 3 point turns in my test - would be interested to hear from others on whether their tests included the above? I certainly didn't find it as rigorous as when I took my test in the UK - but that was some time ago! Maybe they are just more lenient as they know you have been driving in another country?
Well I either had a very incompetent driving examiner or it's just not as strict in Alberta but as I said definately no emergency stop, reversing, 3 point turns in my test - would be interested to hear from others on whether their tests included the above? I certainly didn't find it as rigorous as when I took my test in the UK - but that was some time ago! Maybe they are just more lenient as they know you have been driving in another country?
I am to this day not 100% certain how to identify that situation - where there is no signage - but I retook the test the next day and passed.
Sep 17th 2004 | 11:01 am
#36
Guest
Posts: n/a
Re: Driver's Licences
Those that just arrived in the provinces that swap your UK licence, what is the latest, was easy to get a canadian one, and how long did it take for you?
Sep 17th 2004 | 11:50 am
#37
Forum Regular
Joined: May 2004
Posts: 56
From: Newmarket, ON
Re: Driver's Licences
I think it is more because of the G to G reciprocal policy.
Here in Japan, people from certain countries: Canada, Germany, Australia, etc. can swap their driving license without taking any test, EVEN they DO NOT understand Japanese at all.
If you are complaining the un-fairness of the Canadian driving policy, I think, it's better to ask your own government to join this kind of reciprocal agreement.
FYI, now US is working with Japan on this, but Japan requires a fairly monumental amount of paperwork (even by Japanese standards) before they'll give US citizens this exemption.
Just my one cent...
Here in Japan, people from certain countries: Canada, Germany, Australia, etc. can swap their driving license without taking any test, EVEN they DO NOT understand Japanese at all.
If you are complaining the un-fairness of the Canadian driving policy, I think, it's better to ask your own government to join this kind of reciprocal agreement.
FYI, now US is working with Japan on this, but Japan requires a fairly monumental amount of paperwork (even by Japanese standards) before they'll give US citizens this exemption.
Just my one cent...
Originally Posted by lizwil98
I was listening to talk radio in my car and they were discussing the right for people from certain countries - they listed the countries but I missed that part - to exchange their driver's licences for Canadian licences without taking a test.
One of the men who phoned in was an ESL teacher and he said that he had a South Korean - who was included on that list - who had had four accidents in a year. He also said that many of the countries - Germany and south Korea were two of them - could not read the road signs!!
I can see the sense in allowing people from English speaking countries to automatically get an Canadian licence but does it not seem rather stupid that we would give the same right to people who cannot speak or read English????
This is the show - Warren on the Weekend
http://www.peterwarren.ca/
he says it like it is - you should listen if you get it in your city.
One of the men who phoned in was an ESL teacher and he said that he had a South Korean - who was included on that list - who had had four accidents in a year. He also said that many of the countries - Germany and south Korea were two of them - could not read the road signs!!
I can see the sense in allowing people from English speaking countries to automatically get an Canadian licence but does it not seem rather stupid that we would give the same right to people who cannot speak or read English????
This is the show - Warren on the Weekend
http://www.peterwarren.ca/
he says it like it is - you should listen if you get it in your city.
Sep 21st 2004 | 9:11 am
#38
BE Enthusiast
Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 909
From: Cochrane Alberta
Re: Driver's Licences
Originally Posted by simonhouse
Seems silly to me that UK drivers can direct swap their licence in four provinces, but not in the others.
There are ways around it though - UK drivers can swap theirs for a German licence; which is then exchangable anywhere in Canada! Maybe that needs to be added onto the Canada silly rule thread?
There are ways around it though - UK drivers can swap theirs for a German licence; which is then exchangable anywhere in Canada! Maybe that needs to be added onto the Canada silly rule thread?
