'PERMIT ME'

ROB RECKONS THAT WHEN IT COMES TO GETTING A DRIVING LICENCE IT IS DIFFERENT STROKES FOR DIFFERENT FOLKS

ODD BITS of discussions between the Friday lunch crew at our fav inner-city Vietnamese often turn up in my columns. Rob van Driesum who crisscrossed a range of continents and oceans aboard variously powered conveyances as a young fella often adds an international perspective to the conversations.

My recent comments about local newbie drivers choosing the soft-option ‘auto-only’ driving licence led to a wider discussion about licences and driving skills. Van Driesum pointed us to an article that labelled licence testing in the Netherlands as pretty tough. The Dutch are apparently in no hurry to allow novice drivers on the road with three to five month licence-test waiting times. Applicants sitting the 65-question theory exam have to complete each of its three sections within varying specified time limits. Apparently, they test road rules widely, including truck and moped questions. Even some tow-rope and horse questions – horses being led versus horses being ridden. Also dealing with funeral processions and military convoys – and a simple “Stop and wait!” just doesn’t cut it – you need to identify military flags displayed by various vehicles in convoys.