I got a US Drivers license and it was an oddly worrying experience.

"Rory" (Roraldfarrellsmith)
07/24/2014 at 12:12 • Filed to: None

To start; My whole experience took place in southwest Florida. So this may be the norm for good old Florida.
Basically I woke up early this morning verging on a hangover and filled with worry over going to the dreaded DMV.
As a foreigner, all tales of the DMV involve incompetency, aggravation, confusion and queuing. Family members informed me it was a flawed and broken system. I was shitting it.
So when I was called to do my Driver theory test , I was amazed at how relatively forgiving the questions were. Here is an example:

You are approaching a red traffic light, what should you do ?
a) Prepare to STOP carefully. Make sure to STOP
b) lol I dunno
c) the first answer

(Example given may be exaggerated)

The Actual driving part was also scarily easy. Not trying to sound cocky, but I was shocked. Nothing I was tested on insured I was a safe, competent driver.
I parked in a space, drove around a Corner and and reversed. My instructor just scribbled as I completed her tasks carefully . In total it took an hour and 15 minutes.
In Ireland you are graded and scrutinised on every move. I failed my first test as I rode the clutch to much and I cut out when parking.
Once I completed the test I was given a small card, charged fifty Dollars and sent on my merry way. It was way too easy, there was so mention of speeds , blind spots or handling. Florida Man ... Fucking Florida.

DISCUSSION (22)

ncasolowork2 > Rory
07/24/2014 at 12:17

That's the standard in the United States of America where driving is something all morons are entitled to.

Conan > Rory
07/24/2014 at 12:19

It's not so bad at all. Most of the difficulties seem to arise with paperwork and such or whenever the DMV gets busy. Now I've heard the Japanese tests are nasty if you ever travel there.

cabarne4 > Rory
07/24/2014 at 12:27

I saw someone take their practical test in Mississippi. They had to drive to the end of a parking lot, turn around, and come back. That's it.

What's scary is, you can drive in other countries on the US license. Think about that next time you see a rental car going the wrong way around a traffic circle.

Twingo Tamer - About to descend into project car hell. > Rory
07/24/2014 at 12:33

That's insane. I failed my first one here in the UK because someone drove into the incoming lane illegally behind tightly packed traffic and I pulled out onto it. Both of us stopped with plenty of time and the other driver rejoined traffic. They're well known to be strict with pretty decent drivers stuggling to pass in two goes.

twochevrons > Rory
07/24/2014 at 12:34

Getting my license in Minnesota was scary easy, too, especially the road test. It was all on a tiny closed course - all I had to do was demonstrate that I could change lanes, and know what to do at an intersection, and park, all with nobody else on the road.

Back home in New Zealand, as well as a theory test there are two ~1hr road tests, one year apart, covering all that, plus hazard awareness, car control and highway driving, all on 'live' roads.

MonkeePuzzle > Rory
07/24/2014 at 12:39

I felt similarly perturbed by the US test, in Colorado. Written test was a cinch, driving test consisted of departing the parking lot, turning right, one stop sign, loop back.

whereas my aussie test consisted of numerous items, including one very tricky reverse parallel park on a very steep hill where roll back at all was not permitted. and the written test took me a few attempts to pass.

Rory > twochevrons
07/24/2014 at 12:40

I understand the safety reasons but I cannot understand why many US states believe you can pass your test by driving around a closed course instead of driving on ACTUAL roads.
I had a friend from New Zealand and from what she told me about your driving test, it sounds similar to the Irish exam , maybe a little more extensive.

DipodomysDeserti > Rory
07/24/2014 at 12:43

That's the norm throughout the US.

jariten1781 > Rory
07/24/2014 at 12:47

Did you want to go through a full licensing process to convert as an already licensed driver?

If you were a fresh teen getting your first licence in Florida you have to:

Take a written test and get a permit

Obtain 50 hours of supervised driving with a minimum of 10 at night

Wait one year then, if you've met the supervised hours, you can take another written test and a practical to get a provisional license

With that you're restricted to the hours of 6am to 11am unless supervised

After 2 years of that you get a full license (no additional exam).

It ain't perfect, but it's a lot more strict than when I got mine.

dogisbadob > Rory
07/24/2014 at 12:50

I didn't know you had to take a test at all if you already have a license. Many countries just let you trade your old one for a license at your new country/state. For example, in your case they'd basically give you the Florida license because you already have the one from Ireland.

pdx107 > Rory
07/24/2014 at 12:56

out here in Oregon driving tests are done on real roads/highways

norskracer98-ExploringTheOutback > jariten1781
07/24/2014 at 13:42

It's almost the same in NY. Here we have the permit test 50 w 10 at night.

We have to wait 6 months to be eligible to get your licence but you have to sit in a 5 hour course or drivers ed to get your licence if you're under 18. With the written and driving test.
But with a Junior licence you can drive at anytime during the day but you need supervision after 9PM.

Once 18 you get your proper licence.

Rory > cabarne4
07/24/2014 at 13:42

I have a friend who works at a rental desk in Dublin airport. Last month they had a call out from some US tourists in their twenties. They drove their rental Opel Insignia on the wrong side of the motorway, Hitting a bus head on, thankfully not at a high speed.
Now that is not the norm for most US tourists, My Aunt is in her 70's and when she visits she is better then most Irish drivers.
What was the icing on the cake was the fact the tourists kicked up a fuss. They felt they were not in the wrong and threatened to "Sue everyone"

Rory > jariten1781
07/24/2014 at 13:45

For some countries you can exchange your licence, Ireland annoyingly isn't one of them.
I simply walked in with my forms , insurance and passport. I asked to take my full test and got it.
I was never asked about a learners permit, Never asked to see my other licence, never mentioned about anything you posted.
I wonder ... did I just slip through the cracks??

Rory > dogisbadob
07/24/2014 at 13:46

Most countries have agreements with the US in regards to "exchanging licences" Ireland isn't one of them. Maybe its because we drive on the right or the fact that most Irish licences are EU only and not considered international.

cabarne4 > Rory
07/24/2014 at 13:47

They felt they were not in the wrong and threatened to "Sue everyone"

Yup. Definitely American tourists.

I have seen, here in the US of A, someone come to a complete stop at the beginning of a roundabout, and turn left (the wrong way). I've also seen people just drive straight over the middle of them.

Not uncommon...

jariten1781 > Rory
07/24/2014 at 13:53

It's not really slipping through the cracks, it's an oversight in the system. They assume that if you're over 18 you've been licensed somewhere before and don't check. That was an ok assumption 20 years ago, but a lot of people don't get licensed until college or later nowadays. Some of the states now make you show a previous license and 1 year of driving on it or they put you into the graduated system, apparently FL hasn't gotten that memo yet. Oregon is the only state I know of that treats you like a brand new driver no matter what your experience is.

Cé hé sin > Rory
07/24/2014 at 14:26

You had to do a test? Some states don't have any!

Cé hé sin > Rory
07/24/2014 at 14:32

No, of course you can't exchange an Irish licence. US licences can't be exchanged in Ireland because of the low standards of testing and so the feeling is mutual.

Not many places in the developed world will exchange an American licence and when they do it's often for selected states only.

Buick Mackane > Rory
07/24/2014 at 21:04

Now you know why we have so many incompetent idiots on our American roads. Our driving tests are much too easy.

ranwhenparked > Rory
07/24/2014 at 22:36

I remember taking driving classes after school and we had a British expat instructor substitute for the regular guy for one or two classes, which consisted mainly of watching 1980s era GM films on how to use ABS interspersed with him loudly complaining about the criminally lax testing standards in the US.

countypork > Rory
02/13/2015 at 09:02

Rory, if you go back to Ireland, you can use your US license to get a full license back home. I had some friends use my car to do that while they were over here on a J1.