Wednesday, January 31, 2007 ;
1:40 AM
Hooray!!!! Dh just passed his driving practical test! yay!
wrt yesterday's post, thanks for the tags and replies!
Sam, yes, that's why we were so naive, cos when dh wanted to apply for the driver's licence, he was told he can't and that he had to get that Tax ID called ITIN first. That we didn't check other resources for a second opinion was so naive. Thus began a 5 month application, wait and chase for the elusive ITIN at another dept. Yup. So glad it is over now.
Glori, thanks for your info! How's driving now? You doing in school is it? I did too, it was always fully booked indeed.
Ok, consolidated answers.
Theory tests here: 1 test, 25Qs, open book, no time limit
Theory tests there: 2 tests, 140Qs in total, closed book, fixed time limit
To pass theory test here: 75% and above correct answers
To pass in Spore: only 5 mistakes allowed (that's 92.8% and above correct answers)
Results here: Instantly known
Results in Spore: Have to wait for the mail (how long? 2 weeks?) {thanks for the update Glori, now it's computerised and results are instantaneous too!}
To take driving practical test here: can book a time once you pass theory (dh's case, yesterday fully booked, so he's taking today, else, like what sammi said, can do it the same day)
To take practical in Spore: can book after passing advanced theory, but must pass circuit test first, and the date is usually set much later because so many people are in the queue. I think I waited for 2 months after passing advanced last time? Glori, correct me if I am wrong abt the procedure.
Driving instructor here: can be your parent or anyone who has enough driving experience
Driving instructor there: must be from driving school or a certified, licenced and registered person
Test Car here: Your own (Dh took our Dodge Neon with peeling paint there)
Test car in Singapore: must be specially-fitted with brakes on the instructor's side of the car as well, usually belongs to driving school or registered driving instructor
Practical test components here: Circuit only. Within circuit the stuff are the same, stopping at lights, signals, U turn, 3 point turn, parking on slope, parallel parking.... But I am just so glad no need to go out onto the road cos it's so much easier then. I am not as used to driving on the other side of the road as dh yet!
Practical components there: Circuit then out on normal road conditions.
To pass practical here: 20 demerit point system. Exceed 20 and you fail. They're pretty strict though, even though it is within circuit only. Cos dh got 14 points and I read the checklist, he got points for not having both hands on steering, and minor stuff like that. So I have to be very careful and alert, he says. He missed some traffic signs too, cos he said they were overhead instead of by the roadside like in Singapore.
To pass practical there: same 20 points system.
One interesting difference I discovered:
When you sell off a car here: you keep your licence plates. The plates belong to you.
When you sell off a car in Spore: the plates go to the next owner. When you buy a new car, you have new plates, unless you pay more to keep your old numbers.
No wonder dh got caught when he parked at the supermarket. Cos it was easy for the traffic police to check the plates of that car and realise it belonged to an American, not this Chinese-looking guy! So maybe he got stopped on suspicion of stealing the car. :-)
Ok, we're off to settle the car stuff then have dinner out to celebrate! yay! yay!
rainbows every day, do not worry for the morrow
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