Driving license in different countries

[K-Strom]

Here in Sweden one has to pass a test on a computer(multiple choices, one correct answer) with 65 questions and you have to answer 52 of them correct(what signs mean, what should one do in certain traffic situations, whats potentially dangerous if fails on a bike and so on).
When you'v been able to pass this test you have to do a drivetest. In this test you have to be able to check the bike for anything that could be dangerous when riding it(special procedure) and you also have to pass a manouver-test, which includes breaking hard in 50 and 70 km/h plus manouvering in high and slow speed around cones and finally to be able to handle the bike when moving it without driving it. When this part is passed you will drive in traffic with an inspector on a bike behind you for something like 30 minutes. If he/she says it looks good, then you have your driving license!

If you want to take a driving license you have to apply for permit for it. If you for example arent suitable to drive for any reason you dont get it. You can also train with a friend that must have had drivers license in 5 years and approved by authorites to be your "guide". He can sit as a passenger or drive his own bike behind you. Often people train private like this but also takes lessons on driving school.

So how does it work in your country?

K-Strom

[emgold56]

K-Strom - Welcome to the Board

I live in Washington DC, and getting my license was very easy. Many states sponsor rider training through the Motorcycle Safety Foundation (MSF). Basically the MSF offers a two-day course where you spend half your time in class and half your time on a closed course. At the end of the course you are given a written test and a skills test. If you pass both you can get your license without further testing. You need to have a learners permit to participate in the course.

DC doesn’t have an MSF program, so I took the MSF class in New Jersey. Although I passed the course, I couldn’t use that to get my license. I took the DC written test and the skills test. Both were very easy to pass. The skills test took less then two minutes to complete. It is either comical or scary how easy it is to get a license in DC.

My first bike weighed 600lbs and I was not prepared to ride it. Although I never dropped it or had an accident, it was not the safest way to learn to ride. I like the idea of a graduated license, where each license grants you access to only a certain range of engine sizes. Although I learned quickly that it is your throttle hand and the not the engine that controls your speed, I think this method produces better riders.

Ethan

[Gilk51]

Howdy K,

Texas is similar - there is a written and riding test. If you pass the MSF course, the skills portion of the MSF "final exam" waives the riding part of the state test. You still have to go down to the DPS and pass the written (actually on computer) part, 80 % of 20-25 questions. You then get the "M" on your license if you have a valid DL already. Not sure what to do if you don't already drive another type of vehicle.

hmmm - DL is this case means "driver's license", not the 'Strom code! :roll:

Yes, it is pretty easy. I, too, like the graduated license idea, both for bikes and cars. I would also go for a mandatory 1 year bike license prior to a car license, that would help our safety situation.

[K-Strom]

In sweden it also works like this, when you are 18 you can at most drive a 11 kw strong bike, when 19 the max is 25 kw and first when you are 21 you can drive any bike. BUT, you must pass a skilltest on the stronger bike you want to move up to- e.g if you have drivers license and turn 21 you have to pass a skill test on a bike that is over 700cc(yes there are bikes with lower cc but over 25 kw but test have do be done on atleast 700 cc).
For the first 2 years that you have a drivers license, the license can be recalled much easier then after the 2 years have passed. That is to keep new bikers calm on the streets :)
Last year sweden had 168 deaths on a bike with a total of 200 000 registrered bikes. I think those numbers are correct.
There are roumors that super sport bikes might not be allowed in the future due to the fact that something like 60-70 % of the bikers that died did it on such a bike.