Foreign drivers

The Government’s decision to exempt holders of foreign driving licences from parts of Bermuda’s driving test is a step in the right direction. However, I would have scrapped the need for such drivers to take any of it.

A Bermudian driver may have no experience driving at high speeds on four-lane carriageways, yet he can drive on British motorways with a Bermudian licence without taking any test. He may have never driven on the right hand side of the road, yet he can drive in the US with a Bermudian licence without taking any test there either. He may be unfamiliar with the right of way rules in France, yet he can drive there on a Bermudian licence, again without the need to take any test. Overseas licence holders unfamiliar with parking in tight spots or negotiating narrow roads will simply do what Bermudians do when faced with unfamiliar driving conditions abroad: drive slower and more carefully.

Moreover, I don’t understand the need for the six-month provisional licence that will be issued to foreign drivers after completing the tests. In my opinion, a provisional licence makes more sense for new drivers – Bermudian as well as foreign – than it does for experienced drivers who are simply new to Bermuda.

Comments

[JJ on 05.07.06 at 13:14]

Limey

I think your reference to Bermuda license holders being able to drive in other countries only relates to hired cars on, say, a vacation. If you take up residence in Canada , the UK or the US you have to take the state or provincial driving test at some point after taking up residence. I believe there is a 90 day period on which you can drive on a foreign license.

[Hello, my name is Somers and I am a Bermudian on 05.07.06 at 13:28]

And visitors to this island do not need to take a test to drive a moped - some of whom may have never driven on roads with no verge, on a wobbly bike, being followed by a bus 3 feet from the tail light...

[The Lion on 05.07.06 at 13:38]

JJ is correct. I was required to take my UK drivers test when I resided there.

[Phil on 05.07.06 at 13:42]

JJ

It's true that Bermudians who are resident in the UK can only drive on their Bermudian licence for up to 12 months after becoming resident. After that they have to take a British driving test.

I think that's a pretty dumb rule - if you're considered safe enough to drive a car for a year on your Bermuda licence, why not after that too? If anything, you'd be a better driver by then.

However, certain other nationalities can opt to give up their foreign licence for a UK one, without the need to take a test (this includes some other overseas territories, such as Gibraltar and the Falkland Islands). Particularly useful if you're immigrating (and so don't mind giving up your licence from your former home). I don't know why Bermudians don't have this option too - possibly because of the low standards of the driving test here?

Full details here.

Somers

Good point. If I had my way I'd only allow visitors with an existing motorcycle licence from their home country to rent a moped here.

[silencedogood on 05.07.06 at 14:20]

The bermuda driving test needs real life skills such as how to pass a horse and buggy at rush hour without killing yourself or the horse, how to drive a bike with one foot dragging, how to stop abruptly to let cars into the lane, how to poke your nose out into the lane to force others to stop to let you in, and how to drive with 3/4 of your car over the centre line, and how to drive an industrial truck full hot (driver's choice of elephants or cockspur) all of which seem to be the norm on the roads today.

Seriously though, I think the 12 month limit in the UK is related to getting a permanent record of the individual in the government systems in case of accident, hit and run, identification, insurance requirements, etc. rather than ensuring the basic driving skills.

I believe the various states and provinces in North America have similar rules for when their own citizens relocate to other parts of their country.

[Raptor on 05.07.06 at 14:26]

I should think a realistic information packet about the issues on Bermuda’s roads might be a helpful welcome. I don't see the point to foreign drivers having to take multiple written/driving tests in Bermuda though. In Germany, as a resident, I had to take a difficult written test and a sign-recognition test. You had to score 97/100 or above to pass. I did not have to take a road/driving test. But there aren't many countries where you can drive as fast as your car is built for.

[Raptor on 05.07.06 at 14:29]

Moving between states in the U.S. you present your old licence, do a simple eye test, get a photo taken--and you're on your way. That's it.

[lost in flatts on 05.07.06 at 14:53]

Yes but without all the tests how would TCD continually burn everyone for doing absolutely nothing?

My personal favourite, after riding a moped legally for 2 years, an 18 year old has to go back in, pay another liscensing fee and take another test (!) for a 100cc bike. Cause that's such a massive increase in power.
Oh and then your car.
Then your light truck.

Cha-ching!!!

[JJ on 05.07.06 at 15:21]

I am not saying I agree with Bermuda'a rules, just that they are not really any different to most other countries in my experience. I moved from the UK to Canada and had to take a test. I moved from Canada to the US and had to take a test. I moved here from the US and had to take a test.

[SmokingGun on 05.07.06 at 15:27]

I believe in KISS. Everyone should have to take the test. You start making all sorts of exceptions and things get out of hand. Imagine what it's going to be like in ten years when all the "fractional" owners are setting up quasi-permanent residences.

[loki on 05.07.06 at 20:02]

When I first read the headline for this thread, I mistakenly thought that you'd written an opinion piece about the Portuguese footbal team, but quickly realised that I'd omitted the 'r' in 'drivers'.

[shipwreckedcanuk on 05.07.06 at 20:21]

Loki,

Perfect.

[YankeeKayaker on 05.07.06 at 23:35]

(Moving between states in the U.S. you present your old licence, do a simple eye test, get a photo taken--and you're on your way. That's it)

Well...the states in the US ARE all part of the same country. I mean, if you move from British Columbia to Ontario it's like that too.

[Bandit on 06.07.06 at 07:01]

Can someone answer me this. When I tok my car test in 1979 here is something I discovered -

When a Bermudian passes the car test they automatcally get a light truck license for free. When a non Bermudian passes the car test they do not get a light truck license.

Why is this? And, is this still the case?

[Andrew on 06.07.06 at 08:23]

Bandit,

It depends on the car you take the test in. If you take it in one of the larger classes (f,g etc) then you are automatically given your light truck license.

I would expect that most non-Bermudians take the tests in the smaller cars.

[craig on 06.07.06 at 08:37]

From memory (and it's been a while now) - if you take your test in a manual (stick shift), you get your "Light Truck & Private Car". If you take your test in an automatic, you just get "Private Car". Size didn't use to be a factor (if it is these days) since I did my test in a tiny Subaru x00 Stick Shift and got both classes..

[Two Cents on 06.07.06 at 09:59]

"When a Bermudian passes the car test they automatcally get a light truck license for free. When a non Bermudian passes the car test they do not get a light truck license".

Bandit,

RE Your question, I was told that when a non Bermudian passes the car test in a manual vehicle, if they produce their work permit or a letter from their employer, they too will recieve a light truck license, as needed.

[Bandit on 06.07.06 at 10:57]

Interesting. I took my test within a day or two of a friend of mine. I took my test in a manual Ford Escort (mk1, manual), my friend in a small hatchback (Colt?). He got light truck and I didn't. He was a Portagee/onion, I am a limey.

I am pretty certain I asked at the time and they said he got it automatically.

It does not bother me really, I just felt it was odd.

[SmokingGun on 06.07.06 at 11:21]

"Portagee/onion" - works for a living = needs truck.
"limey" - spends all day on a computer = no need for truck. In fact no need for the car. Give back the license and ride a moped..... ;-)

[Bandit on 06.07.06 at 11:42]

HAHA A MOPED!! Nice one smokinggun!!

We both worked for the same bank, both on computers. I believe he is still there at the bank and very high up now. Good luck to him!

I never needed my light truck license when I lived there.

[Roger on 06.07.06 at 11:59]

When I came to the island a couple of years ago we all shared the same Yamaha Axis for our bike test.

Some ended up with automatic only, some ended up with no restrictions.

I then went to take a gear test 6 months later which was a joke ride around the car park.

Just took car test and didn't get light truck (expat in a stick shift). I wish I'd have known about the work permit thing because then I could have used my newly acquired light truck licence to rent them back home.

Basically it's a lotto what you'll get permission for at TCD!

[SmokingGun on 06.07.06 at 12:00]

Bandit - I love riding the moped - 90 cc's still a moped in my book.
Are you in London? "Daredevil Central" when it comes to bikes.

[Bandit on 06.07.06 at 12:22]

Bye, 90cc is a big bike!!

No, I am not in London. I have lived in the Isle of Man for the last 18 years, and Jersey before that. I still have strong links to Bermuda though and much interest in it's future.

On the riding front, I have a 250 and a 600, but little time to ride either.

Just as a point, I had to take my car and bike tests when I moved to Jersey.

[Phil on 13.07.06 at 13:27]

I emailed the UK Driver and Vehicle Licencing Agency to try to find out why Bermuda was not on the list of countries whose citizens can exchange their local licence for a British one.

I received the following response:

"The designation of a country depends on it having a driving test and licensing procedures comparable to our own. We have no legal exchange arrangement with Bermuda, which means that we are unable to exchange any Bermudian driving licence for the British equivalent."

[Adjustah on 13.07.06 at 14:06]

"The designation of a country depends on it having a driving test and licensing procedures comparable to our own. We have no legal exchange arrangement with Bermuda, which means that we are unable to exchange any Bermudian driving licence for the British equivalent."

Well then. Don't worry, I'm sure this will all get sorted out when we go Independent. ;)

[lost in flatts on 13.07.06 at 14:46]

Not only that, when we're indepedent we'll be given cars upon arriving in 15 countries, and 4 of those a driver too!

[JJ on 13.07.06 at 17:08]

Adjustah, iIthink you have actually come up with a tangible reason to seek independence!

[SmokingGun on 13.07.06 at 17:29]

I think the response is just living proof that we already are independent. They don't even treat us like a colony. Maybe someone should inform them that we still drive on the left in case they thought we were part of the US.