New driving exam for Americans in the UK.

Now matter how long you have had driving experience in the US you need to prove you are a good driver in the UK so be sure you show the examiner that you know how drive and park your car on the sidewalk (pavement) so as to block pedestrians. Also, show that you know how to park on the wrong side of the street so that your car is facing traffic. Finally, show the examiner that you can drive in a manner that no British driver drives, after all the exam is for show and revenue.

"Question Authority!"

Don't forget lane discipline - make sure to utilize as much space as possible, so straddling lanes is acceptable.   

That's why they call it rip-off Britain.  I was getting passed left and right today because I was practicing how to drive for the exam (on my own).  It's all a damn joke I tell ya.

And don't forget to demonstrate how many times you can use the parking brake on a 200-yard journey.   

Also, show that you know how to park on the wrong side of the street so that your car is facing traffic.

Perfectly legal in the U.K. during daylight hours, but illegal at night.

Perfectly legal in the U.K. during daylight hours, but illegal at night.

I didn't know that. You may have saved me some money.

The reasoning is that during daylight hours it doesn't matter since the vehicles are clearly visible, but that after dark it's necessary to park on the left side of the road so that your red rear reflectors are facing the approaching traffic.

The reasoning is that during daylight hours it doesn't matter since the vehicles are clearly visible, but that after dark it's necessary to park on the left side of the road so that your red rear reflectors are facing the approaching traffic.

I remember the old days when you had to leave your parking (side) lights on all night unless you had a light accessory that you attached to the door window.
Hey Paul, don't you need a front license plate for a motorcycle now?

I remember the old days when you had to leave your parking (side) lights on all night unless you had a light accessory that you attached to the door window.

That's still in the law today.  Unless in a recognized, marked parking space, you are required to have parking lights illuminated at night if parked on any road where the speed limit is over 30 mph.   Like the not parking on the wrong side of the road at night, however, it doesn't seem to be enforced much anymore.

Hey Paul, don't you need a front license plate for a motorcycle now?

No, they haven't been a requirement since about the mid/late 1970s.  I think it was decided that the double-sided plates stuck end-on on top of the front mudguard could be hazardous in a collision.

Edit to add:
I just checked the motorcycle plate rules, and it was 1975 that front plates were made optional (for all bikes, not just new ones from that date onward).

Apparently all new motorcycles registered from 2001 onward are prohibited from having a front plate, although for older bikes it's still optional.

I have a question - is it true that you must take your driving exam with a standard car?

I hope not! Not only will it be hard enough for me to get used to driving on the other side of the car and road, but a standard too? I might as well not even bother. 

No, you can take the test in an automatic car.  If you pass, however, you will then be licenced to drive ONLY an automatic car.  Taking and passing the exam in a car with manual transmission would entitle you to drive either a manual or automatic car.

That's the size of it.  At one time there was no distinction and it didn't matter whether you took the test in a manual or an automatic, you were licensed to drive both.   

A new "automatic transmission only" license category was created in 1969, and since then anyone who takes the test in an automatic is granted a license which permits the driving of cars with automatic transmission only.  If you take the test in a vehicle with manual transmission, you are licensed for both.

The U.K. legal definition revolves around whether there is a means "independent of accelerator and brake to vary the amount of power transmitted from the engine to the wheels."   Basically, that means a clutch pedal, so those newer-style semi-automatics where you select the gears manually with buttons or paddles but the changes are done automatically is classed as automatic for licensing purposes.   The old 1940s/50s type of semi-automatic with a 2-speed auto transmission behind a manual clutch and 2-speed manual box would be classed as manual officially.

Edit for typo.    

Oh I see. That's great to know. Thank you!

Before the examiner goes out with a US driver he, the examiner, should be required to follow a UK driver and see if he would pass them? Or, he could say to the US driver I want you to drive just like that driver.

Question authority!

Before the examiner goes out with a US driver he, the examiner, should be required to follow a UK driver and see if he would pass them?

 

He's saying a UK driver wouldn't be able to pass a test even though they've been driving forever.  No one really drives to test standard every day, well maybe some adi's.