Enforcement of 12 month driving rule

If you're cycling you really should take your cycling proficiency test! 

I was thinking about this last night....

First of all, it is right that the Commonwealth nations have some privaliges over non Commonwealth nations.  Sorry, but a) there was a war to break away from this, and your forefathers knew there would be pros and cons down the line, and b) Commonwealth countries have had comparative legal systems and administration to the UK over the past several hundred years, so it is likely that a Candian will have been taught to a similar method and standard to a UK national.  (I'm not saying BETTER, just similar).

Secondly, as has been said, different States administer drivers ed in different ways.  If US drivers ed was made into a Federal system, then I am sure that there would be a good argument for changing the rules, but as it is it would be the same as the UK accepting licences from 51 different countries in one go.  It's not practical.

Finally, I thought about the immigration implications of driving without a valid licence.  I would say that this renders your insurance invalid.  Driving without valid insurance is a criminal offence.  So, regardless of how hard done by you feel, to drive in the UK on your US licence over the 12 month mark may have the knock on effect of a criminal record, which would (needless to say) be a MAJOR problem in getting ILR and naturalisation.

Vicky

I was thinking about this last night....

First of all, it is right that the Commonwealth nations have some privaliges over non Commonwealth nations.  Sorry, but a) there was a war to break away from this, and your forefathers knew there would be pros and cons down the line, and b) Commonwealth countries have had comparative legal systems and administration to the UK over the past several hundred years, so it is likely that a Candian will have been taught to a similar method and standard to a UK national.  (I'm not saying BETTER, just similar).

Secondly, as has been said, different States administer drivers ed in different ways.  If US drivers ed was made into a Federal system, then I am sure that there would be a good argument for changing the rules, but as it is it would be the same as the UK accepting licences from 51 different countries in one go.  It's not practical.

Finally, I thought about the immigration implications of driving without a valid licence.  I would say that this renders your insurance invalid.  Driving without valid insurance is a criminal offence.  So, regardless of how hard done by you feel, to drive in the UK on your US licence over the 12 month mark may have the knock on effect of a criminal record, which would (needless to say) be a MAJOR problem in getting ILR and naturalisation.

Vicky

 

That's all good information, Vicky.

The thing that confuses me (and I don't know of any solution) is why it is okay for a tourist to drive in any country (US, UK, Europe, etc.) without any knowledge of the rules of the road.  That scares me. 

That's all good information, Vicky.

The thing that confuses me (and I don't know of any solution) is why it is okay for a tourist to drive in any country (US, UK, Europe, etc.) without any knowledge of the rules of the road.  That scares me. 

Presumably that's because they're are only supposed to be there for a short time, hence less chance of an accident than someone who is sticking around for a year or two or longer.

Presumably that's because they're are only supposed to be there for a short time, hence less chance of an accident than someone who is sticking around for a year or two or longer.

Yes, I guess so.   

Okay, so far no one has mentioned that it's not easy to transition to driving in the UK without lessons. I found it scary, the roads narrow and rules and signs I just didn't understand. In my opinion, that's why you should get a license - so you can drive safer and be more aware.

The most valuable lesson I got from getting my UK license after living in the uk for just 7months was AWARENESS. We just don't need it as much in the US, the roads are bigger, there are fewer cyclists and pedestrians generally. THere is a huge difference between driving in the UK and US. I am happy to have both now, I am proud of it b/c it was damn hard work to get the UK one.

By the way, had I not gotten my UK license, I would have had big problems b/c I was in 2 accidents in 2yrs (both not my fault, one left hand driver truck and another was an unaware taxi driver that just did not look) and I was so happy to have cover. Accidents do happen and you need to have the security of coverage. My policy covered the car rental for almost 2 weeks, which would have been way too expensive plus the cost of the damage.

In terms of driving permits, I suffered more than anybody here.  Long story.

Please tell your long story.     Nothing like reading about somebody else's suffering to make you feel better about your own!   

Okay, so far no one has mentioned that it's not easy to transition to driving in the UK without lessons.
...
We just don't need it as much in the US, the roads are bigger, there are fewer cyclists and pedestrians generally. THere is a huge difference between driving in the UK and US.

Of course it wasn't an 'easy' transition but it can be done without lessons. I learned to drive in SF without proper lessons but it definitely helped that I had a wee bit of driving experience before I did.

SF has crazy hills, pedestrians, bikes, scooters, tourists, SUVs, narrow roads, one way systems... so yeah, it does perturb me when people speak of the US as some flat easy place to drive when there are actually quite a few challenging places just as thereare less challenging places to drive in the UK.

I see both sides of the coin here, given that I was lucky enough to originally be licensed from a commonwealth country, yet got most of my subsequent experience in the US.

FWIW, I wouldn't advocate breaking the law - If I'd had to go through the testing process like most other USC's, I would have, though I would have first given careful consideration to whether or not I really needed/wanted to continue driving that much in the first place given the required time, cost, and administrative hassle.

But out of curiosity, I recently checked the websites of a couple of Australian states. Driving test standards appear to be very similar to those of the UK (one even requiring logbooks and a longer provisional period for new, younger drivers), yet each allows the exchange of licences from the USA in addition to the UK and various other commonwealth countries. Obviously, this doesn't mean that 'If Australia jumped off the Empire State Building, then the UK should too', to twist a cliche.. But it does mean that it's NOT unprecedented or necessarily infeasible to have a reciprocal agreement that includes the USA.

(To be fair, Australia on the other hand isn't as generous in its intial grace period - new residents need to obtain a licence for their applicable state within months - 3 in the examples I saw - as opposed to a year.)

But out of curiosity, I recently checked the websites of a couple of Australian states. Driving test standards appear to be very similar to those of the UK (one even requiring logbooks and a longer provisional period for new, younger drivers), yet each allows the exchange of licences from the USA in addition to the UK and various other commonwealth countries. Obviously, this doesn't mean that 'If Australia jumped off the Empire State Building, then the UK should too', to twist a cliche.. But it does mean that it's NOT unprecedented or necessarily infeasible to have a reciprocal agreement that includes the USA.

(To be fair, Australia on the other hand isn't as generous in its intial grace period - new residents need to obtain a licence for their applicable state within months - 3 in the examples I saw - as opposed to a year.)

This was the point I was making. Many European countries have reciprocal agreements with the US. My friend recently got her driving licence in Switzerland and only had to take an eye exam. Why can't there be an agreement in place here?

This was the point I was making. Many European countries have reciprocal agreements with the US. My friend recently got her driving licence in Switzerland and only had to take an eye exam. Why can't there be an agreement in place here?

I can't speak for all European countries, but my experience in the Netherlands (as of 1998):

One had to take classroom lessons then pass both a written test containing rules of the road and a 50 question "flash test" where they would show you a picture of a traffic situation and you had to decide within seconds on the appropriate course of action.  For example if you are not on a priority road and are headed straight, and a bicycle approaches from a street to the right, who has the right of way?  In Holland, it is the bicycle, of course!

Alas, in NL one only had to pass the written and flash tests.  Those who did not study or were simply too stupid to learn the rules often failed multiple times.  A score of 90% was required on both.  However, there was no "on the road test" as long as you had a US license and some years experience (I forget the number) actually driving an automobile.

In the old days people would hop over to France for a couple of hours so as to restart the 12 month period. I don't know if going home for Christmas would restart the clock?

This was the point I was making. Many European countries have reciprocal agreements with the US. My friend recently got her driving licence in Switzerland and only had to take an eye exam. Why can't there be an agreement in place here?

How many times must I say that the UK likes to make everything complicated.  Plus it generates revenue and keeps instructors/testers employed.

In the old days people would hop over to France for a couple of hours so as to restart the 12 month period. I don't know if going home for Christmas would restart the clock?

Nope, Garry confirmed that the clock does not restart when you leave.