I am pleased today to offer a guest post, written by Richard McNunn of how2become,Ltd. an education and career training website.
It has often been said that the US and the UK are two countries separated by a common language, but the differences between the two friendly cousins are not just limited to the way in which their people speak. They also have different attitudes and laws, and a great example of this is in how their teenagers learn to drive. There are many differences in what teenagers have to go through in order to be able to drive on the roads, and below are some of the main ones.
Age
UK: The minimum age for people wishing to drive a car in the UK is 17, although the licence can be applied for 3 months in advance. At this point, a provisional licence will be issued, which entitles the holder to drive a vehicle under the supervision of a full licence holder. A full driving licence can be obtained at any point after the 17th birthday, providing that the driving test itself has been passed. Once a full driving licence has been obtained, the driver can drive on any road in the country unsupervised.
US: In the US, driving licences are issued by each individual state as opposed to a central agency as is done in the UK. As a result of this, the laws and ages vary wildly between each state. Most offer a provisional licence to new drivers under the age of 16, but this may be subject to various restrictions such as a curfew or the number of passengers in the car. Broadly speaking, most teenagers can drive a car in the US at the age of 15 providing they have the correct permit and a licensed adult in attendance, and a full driving licence can be received at the age of 16.
Where to Learn
UK: Learning to drive can be done in one of two ways. Learner drivers can either have private lessons with family or friends, or they can take lessons from a qualified driving instructor. A qualified driving instructor is normally the best choice, even if it is for a few lessons, as they will know the types of routes, questions and skills needed to pass the driving test which leads to the full licence.
US: In the past, “Drivers Ed” was a common feature of most public schools, but nowadays, it is only offered within a fraction of them. In a similar manner to the UK, most people choose between learning with family and friends or taking lessons with a commercial organisation. There has also been a rise in the number of schools offering online Drivers Ed courses, something which has proven popular with those that do not wish to sit in a classroom but learn on their own time instead.
Vehicle types
UK: In the UK, as well as driving on the left hand side of the road, the majority of cars have gear-sticks (shift). Most people will take their tests in these cars, and once the test has been passed, the licence will enable them to drive both gear-stick cars and automatics. Those people who choose to take their driving test in an automatic car and pass will only be entitled to drive automatic vehicles, which are something of a novelty in the UK.
US: In the US, driving on the right hand side of the road is the norm, as are automatic cars. The difference here is that a full licence grants the ability to drive both types of vehicle, even if the test is taken in an automatic. People from the US rarely “drive stick”, unlike the UK and Europe.
Richard McMunn is the director and founder of How2become.com; a career and recruitment specialist. Richard spent 4 years in the Royal Navy and 17 years as a Fire Officer and now provides recruitment training for those looking to join the army, navy and RAF. Find How2become on Twitter
