When you’re planning on travelling a large distance in a short amount of time, generally the best way to transport yourself is by car. However, this may be easier said than done if you’re planning to drive in the UK. In order to obtain the licensing to legally drive in the UK, drivers must pass both a theoretical driving test and a practical driving test. According to Wikipedia, only 43 percent of people who take the practical test each year pass and only 51.6 percent of people who take the theoretical test pass. For these reasons, it’s important to adequately prepare yourself before attempting to get a UK driver’s license.
Remembering the History
Some may wonder why the British driving requirements are so much stricter than say America’s. This answer all comes down to the history of how this country was set up. Judd Birdsall, contributor to The Guardian, reminds us that Britain has eight times the population density as the US and much of the city infrastructure has been around for centuries. Hundreds of years ago, there weren’t motor vehicles, meaning the windy and narrow roads were created mainly for carriages and coaches. For these reasons, safety on the road is vital, resulting in much more difficult and intense driver’s testing than other countries around the world.
Learning the Lingo
While preparing for the UK driver’s testing, one of the most important aspects to focus on is learning what certain words, phrases, and signs mea while on the road. Many times, there will merely be a sign without words that you will have to adhere to, but if you don’t know what that sign means, you could be in trouble. Especially if you already know how to drive in a different country like the US, WikiHow advises learning what terms like A-road, B-road, bonnet, boot, RTA and more signify. To give you a humorous sneak peek as to if you’re prepared to take the UK driving test, test your knowledge with this infographic.
Passing the Tests
When you feel ready to show all your study and practice, it’s time to take the tests. Drivers are allowed to get a license for a moped when they’re 16 years old and a license for a car when 17. The first test you will take will be the theory test, which includes a multiple choice test and a hazard perception test. Within two years of passing this test, you will need to take the practical test, which includes the off-road and on-road modules. If you have put in the necessary time to study and prepare for each aspect of these test, you should feel confident in your ability to pass each test and be comfortable driving the sometimes dangerous streets of the UK.
Best of luck!