Topic

[Borys]

.

[pilonv1]

17, first time. Back then you only had to do 12mths learning OR turn 17 and take the test. I did it with 6 months driving Then you get your provisionary licence for 12 months.

Now Australian teenagers have to have four YEARS of learning/provisionary shit including log books and stuff.

[MrAngryFace]

Aberdeen WA, talk about easy.

[tiesto]

18 in Centereach, NY... after failing twice 

[lordmaji]

18. Bay City, Michigan.  Passed by 1 point.

[Tauntaun]

Orangeburg, NY.  First try. 

[bork]

17, Atlanta, GA...or more like outside of Atlanta.  I failed the first time (wasn't my fault; some dickhead actually drove ONTO the course [it was in a parking lot], the instructor got out, screamed at him, then got back in the car and failed me.  I was all  ), so my Dad drove me way out to this other license center that had no one waiting.  Passed no problem.  I screwed up on the parallel parking and hit a cone, but the lady got out of the car, picked it up, and said "I didn't see anything!" 

Getting my Japanese drivers' license is a whole 'nother tale.  If anyone wants to know about that, I'll post it.

[Powerslave]

Hit me up with the full story :sonic

[Phoenix Dark]

17 in Ann Arbor, Michigan

Passed with written test with a nigh perfect score, then passed the actual driving test with ease. The only tiem I lost points was during the parking part: I'm not great at parallel parking.

Never been in an accident

[lordmaji]

17 in Ann Arbor, Michigan

Passed with written test with a nigh perfect score, then passed the actual driving test with ease. The only tiem I lost points was during the parking part: I'm not great at parallel parking.

Never been in an accident

What time of day did you drive? I know Ann Arbor can get crazy during traffic hour. 5pm

[Phoenix Dark]

Around 11AM or noon iirc. Traffic wasn't bad.

Honestly Ann Arbor traffic is only high downtown or on campus. I'm usually in Ypsilanti though, and the traffic there isn't bad at all

[GilloD]

17/ Perfect score on the written exam, drove on the wrong side of the road on the test. Still passed!

[xnikki118x]

I was 16, and I got it here in PA. Passed my permit test and my driving test the first time.

[CajoleJuice]

17, Patchogue, NY, first try.

[Brehvolution]

16 In Elmira, NY.

Lots of NYers here!

[Skiptastic]

16. Indiana. Didn't even have to take a driving test, as I had completed driver's ed and got the voucher so I didn't have to. 

[Tauntaun]

16 In Elmira, NY.

Lots of NYers here!

NY WHAT WHAT?!?!??  Dang dude, you're up by Rochester, need to kicks it local like us Tri-Staters.  

spoiler (click to show/hide)

My wife has relatives up there, she says it's nice up there.

[close]

[brawndolicious]

About a year ago, since I was 18.  The only thing I did bad was driving a couple mph below the limit. 

However, I live in a very..oriental area so most people drive like shit anyways.  I mean, it's mostly the women that suck horribly but I always drive defensively because of this area's drivers.

[MrSingh]

1st time: 17, in Malaysia
2nd time: 24, in Kansas
3rd time: Last year in Japan

[Pharmacy]

im doing my test tommorow! in the uk

errrrrrrrrrgh ive got some bad nerves just thinking about it

[Pharmacy]

im doing my test tommorow! in the uk

errrrrrrrrrgh ive got some bad nerves just thinking about it

AHUAHUAHUAHUAHUAHUAHUAHUAHUAHUAHUA

oh great now all im gonna be thinking about in my test is some polish guy laughing at me over the internet

fuck u borys  pc gaming

[bork]

Hit me up with the full story :sonic

Okay, but don't say I didn't warn you.   

I PASSED!!!!

You might be wondering, "what did I pass?" The Japanese driver's test. It took me three hours of practice at the driving school and four tries to do it, but I finally got my license today! The entire process, from the initial paperwork to today took about FOUR MONTHS.

Let me break it down how much it cost based on each time I went. I'll use dollars.

June:

-Got my American license translated. About $30 or so. Made a reservation at the driving center.

July:

-Went to the driving center and filled out paperwork. Can't remember how much it cost, but likely around $30 or so. Then I had to make ANOTHER reservation to take the actual test.

August:

-8/19: International driver's license expires.

September:

9/1- Just got back from the States the previous day. Was driving on the opposite side of the road for a week straight. Now I have to readjust for a TEST?! Of course I failed, but even then it was for a dumbass reason. I went too far over the white line at the stop sign. Cost me about $40 I think, maybe more. Made a reservation at the driving school, which happens to be right next to the center.

Later that week: Did one hour of lessons at the school. Cost about $45. The instructor says I need more practice and to come back.

The next week: Did two hours of lessons the following monday. My (now) wife  couldn't take me there, so I had to pay for a cab. Lessons cost $90, the cabfare about $40.

Later that week: Did the test again, failed for the dumbest possible mistake: I turned into the wrong lane. Another JET there passes on his first attempt. I am weeping inside. Costs me $30.

9/22: My wife can't take me today, so I have to go alone. This time I manage to complete the entire course. I feel good about it. But guess what? FAIL FAIL FAIL. Apparently some of the driving manuevers I was told to do at the school WEREN'T FUCKING NEEDED. WHAT. THE. FUCK. Costs $40 for the cab and $30 for the test fees. The next available time open is for today, 10/2. I get to have a week without having to stress over this shit.

October:

10/2: This time I feel more prepared, more confident. I don't know if I'm going to pass, but I know how I'm going to try it this time. Test costs $30. Let me break down how this test went; here are some of the procedures. You see, in Japan, the driving test isn't so much about ability so much as it is about appearance and memorizing little procedures and things to do on the test that nobody ever does on the road.

To start, the car is parked at a curb in front of a numbered pole. I walk up to the car, and the instructor gets in and tells me "Let's go." BUT WAIT. Just getting in is BAD. First, I say to him "Yoroshiku Onegaishimasu" and bow. Then you want to walk around the vehicle, looking UNDER IT to check for any objects or small animals. Then on the driver's side, you want to look both ways before opening the door, in case of incoming cars. I open the door, get in, and close it. I look at the instructor and say "Yoroshiku Onegaishimasu" AGAIN and bow. Then I adjust the seat forward, put on my seatbelt, and adjust the mirror.

Now it's time for the practice "lap," which is more like a tiny loop near the start. I put my foot on the break, start the engine, SIGNAL RIGHT, shift into drive, then put down the e-brake. Still can't go yet, though. First you want to do a 360 turn with your head, looking fucking EVERYWHERE. Then you can go. Just make sure to check over your left shoulder for bikes, or you fail. I do the loop and go back, putting it park. The guy shows me a map of the course, that I have to have memorized. (Did I forget to mention that the course must be memorized at the center immediately before the test [get there early!] and that it changes every week?) Luckily, this week's map is actually a bit easier than the last time I took the test; there's a whole section they basically left out. Here I go.

Everything seems to be going fine; I'm making turns beautifully: everytime you turn right, you look right, then left. Every time you turn left, you look right, left, then over your left shoulder to check for BIKES.

Anytime I need to change lanes, I signal, count "ichi...ni...san," look over my shoulder, and move over. The guy isn't touching his clipboard, which is either a really good sign or a really, really, REALLY BAD SIGN.   

Now, in Japan, even on two lane roads, you're supposed to shift over to the right of the street before you turn right. I have fucking NEVER seen anyone do this for the past year I've been driving here, but you have to do it on the test. You also want to stay towards the left of the road, closer to the curb. Don't drive in the middle of the lane or to the right. That will fail you.

I go through both "obstacle course curves" (s-shaped and a double L shaped curves) with no problem, but I notice the guy writing something now. I think I've just failed for some reason, but I keep it up since he still hasn't said anything.

Next I get to the same spot that had a hand in flunking me the past three times. It's where the stopsign and the four lane road (that looks like two lanes, hence why I failed like an idiot the second time) are. Right after you turn here, you have to accelerate to 50km. (Last time, I screwed up and didn't get to go to 50km because the guy told me to move over into the leftmost lane first, and unfortunately for me, another guy doing the test was right there, and of course it doesn't matter to the instructor.) So I go to 50km; it's raining a bit by now, and I put on the wipers. I see the guy write something. Uh-oh. Get to the curve and slow down, going slowly through the blinking yellow signal. Again he's writing something. Signal left, turn off the course into the starting pit, carefully driving about 30m away from the curb. He tells me to stop at sign #2, then quickly says "sign #1." Now, I noticed before that people failing seem to stop at #2 and 3, so maybe I somehow passed, but I'm not getting my hopes up. I signal AGAIN and stop, then put it in park. He tells me to wait inside, but I make sure to check under the car again since the test actually isn't over. I check again, bow to the instructor, thanking him, and then go wait inside. I tell my wife I've failed; I don't know why, but I get the feeling I failed again. This time I don't feel so let down.

The wait for the instructor's return feels like HOURS. There's a few more gaijin there that have to take the test too. They're from Brazil, so I have no idea what they're all talking about. The instructor finally comes in and tells ONE of the Brazillians he passed, apparently perfectly. Doesn't say a word to anyone else. More waiting.

Finally the guy at the foreigner's window calls me over. "O.K." he says.         Wait. Wait. WAIT. "O.K.!?! I passed?!?!"   "Hai, "O.K." he repeats. HOLY CRAP!!! I can't believe it! And on top of that, several other people there passed too! They seemed to be really generous today, as every other time I went, either one person passed or EVERYONE failed.

I have to pay another $25 for some fees. Apparently I also donated $10 to the workers who wave little kids across the street. Oh well, they gave me a little wallet for that. Whatever.

Then more waiting (about an hour), and I FINALLY HAVE MY LICENSE!!! I CAN DRIVE AGAIN!!!

So if I did the math correctly, it cost me over $400 (somewhere between 40,000-50,000 yen) to get my American license converted into a Japanese driver's license. I got lucky that they let me retake the test so quickly, too. It can sometimes be a month wait or longer inbetween failed test. Oh, and mind you all of this is for foreigners with a valid driver's license from their own country. Of course most Europeans, Australians, and Canadians don't have to bother with any of this.   

I've read stories of some foreigners having to take this test as much as EIGHT times before passing, too. 

[CrystalGemini]

I was 18 and it took me two tries.  ugh it sucked.  The written portion took me three tries.  Stupid test.  Took it in Oakland, CA.  They'll pass anyone there on a crowded day. lawl

[Pharmacy]

oh great now all im gonna be thinking about in my test is some polish guy laughing at me over the internet

fuck u borys  pc gaming

f u borys i just went for a driving lesson and i stalled for the first time in ages i blame u

[Tauntaun]

oh great now all im gonna be thinking about in my test is some polish guy laughing at me over the internet

fuck u borys  pc gaming

f u borys i just went for a driving lesson and i stalled for the first time in ages i blame u

BLAME YOUR HATE OF PC GAMING WANKER! 

[Powerslave]

Took a driving exam once and failed. I blame Borys.

[Tauntaun]

Borys

He knows a man's game. 

[Bildi]

Now Australian teenagers have to have four YEARS of learning/provisionary shit including log books and stuff.

Wow, that sucks.

I think I got my license at about 19 or 20.  Foolishly I drove around by myself on my learner's permit (which is like driving unlicensed) for a couple of years before I figured I should probably stop that.

Luckily I never had an accident, but I did get pulled over by the cops one day and got a $60 fine (which seemed fairly insignificant next to the $120 fine and 2 points I got for doing 60km/h in a 40km/h zone).

[Robo]

17 in Baltimore, MD.  I took my drivers test (and failed three times) in my dad's third-gen Camaro. 

[xnikki118x]

Lyte that SUCKS so bad, holy cow.

[Pharmacy]

MY TEST IS IN A FEW HOURS OH SHIT

OH SHIT

[bork]

Lyte that SUCKS so bad, holy cow.

I feel lucky it only took me four tries! 

The first two attempts, I screwed up and didn't even complete the course, so okay, I understand.  It was the third attempt that got me a little angered, especially since I did everything I was taught to do at the driving school and was told by the people there this is how the test would be...only it wasn't.  I must have looked pretty upset after the test, because one of the guys looked at me and said "don't worry, you'll pass next time."  And I did...makes you wonder. 

He didn't say it sympathetically, either.  People have said that these driving centers will fail a lot of people for the tiniest mistake just to get a bunch of money out of them first before "awarding" them a license.  If I didn't witness someone pass on the first try, I would never have believed it.

During the time my license expired, I did something really, really stupid- I drove anyway.  At first it was just to and from work, but I got bolder and bolder and ended up driving everywhere again, even on the highway.  And I'm not the only one whose done this.     One teacher would always ask me when my license was expiring, and I'd just say "oh...next week I think," EVERY WEEK.  He never seemed to get what was going on.

[demi]

I don't have it. I probably won't get it for a while. $4 gas? Please.

[cloudwalking]

I don't have it. I probably won't get it for a while. $4 gas? Please.

qft

also the public transportation around here is killer, there is a bus stop every 2 blocks and the train goes fucking everywhere. not paying for gas + car insurance ftw

[demi]

I'll wait for gas prises to rise, so people will sell their brand new cars, fresh for the picking at the used car lots for a virgin of the road like me.

[bork]

I don't have it. I probably won't get it for a while. $4 gas? Please.

qft

also the public transportation around here is killer, there is a bus stop every 2 blocks and the train goes fucking everywhere. not paying for gas + car insurance ftw

I wish I lived in a city with public transportation that good!  But at the same time, I also like that with a car I can go anywhere whenever and wherever I want to.

[cloudwalking]

I don't have it. I probably won't get it for a while. $4 gas? Please.

qft

also the public transportation around here is killer, there is a bus stop every 2 blocks and the train goes fucking everywhere. not paying for gas + car insurance ftw

I wish I lived in a city with public transportation that good!  But at the same time, I also like that with a car I can go anywhere whenever and wherever I want to.

yeah if i didn't live where i do it'd be a bit more of a hassle (although the public transportation is pretty good all over switzerland). i'm right across the street from one of the busiest train and bus stations in the country. i can pretty much walk out the door and get wherever i need to without waiting more than 20 minutes. and since there are so many stops you usually don't have to walk very far at all once you get there. plus there is a train to zürich main station like every 5 minutes or so.

[Polari]

I don't have mine yet. When I can afford a banging vintage Jag and gas I'll probably get it though.

[tiesto]

I'll wait for gas prises to rise, so people will sell their brand new cars, fresh for the picking at the used car lots for a virgin of the road like me.

You're not a virgin of the hershey highway though.   

[demi]

I have a secret...

[Pharmacy]

I PASSED

ONLY 6 MINORS w00000000000000000000t

after i found out i took the L plates off the car and drove away without them for the first time i stalled lol

gonna light up a blunt in celebratio n

[Pharmacy]

Grats Pharmacy! Welcum to the world of real men

once i get a car and an 8800GTX fly over to the uk babes