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History France and Germany were among the earliest countries to require mandatory driver licensing, right at the start of the 20th century. As automobile-related fatalities soared in North America, public outcry provoked legislators to begin studying the French and German statutes as models. On August 1, 1910, North America's first driver licensing law went into effect in the U.S. state of New York, though it initially applied only to professional chauffeurs. In July of 1913, the state of New Jersey became the first to require all drivers to pass a mandatory examination before receiving a license. Identification Because a large number of countries, including Australia, Canada and the United States have no national identification cards and because of the widespread use of cars, driver's licenses are often used as the standard form of identification. In such countries, driver's license bureaus also issue identification cards for non-drivers. (However, a U.S. law will soon require Americans returning from Canada or Mexico to present a passport as proof of identity and citizenship.) These U.S. states: Arizona, Colorado, Kansas, Massachusetts, Maryland, Michigan, Ohio, Texas, Louisiana, Oklahoma, Washington, Pennsylvania, Illinois, New Jersey, Iowa, Florida, and Wisconsin, require licenses and ID cards issued to those under 21 to have a vertical orientation instead of the usual horizontal one in order to aid in determining whether one is of legal drinking age. California has adopted a similar system for its licenses, having the picture appear on the right for drivers under 21 and on the left for drivers 21 and older. Many states also add information to their licenses, such as "Age 21 in 2009" or "Age 18 in 2005" to aid in enforcing the drinking age and provisional license restrictions. Many European countries require adults to carry an ID card at all times. Citizens of the UK and Ireland and other EU countries which have no national ID cards, have to carry their passports instead when travelling in these countries. In the People's Republic of China, the driver's license number is synonymous with the citizen's ID number (and is up to 18 digits long). Similarly, Saudi Arabia requires all drivers to carry an ID card in addition to a license, and present them whenever requested. Using a driver's license instead is only permitted if the request is made for on-site inspection/identification purposes, especially at check points. Expatriates may be requested to present their visas as well. Organ donation In the United States, the Uniform Anatomical Gift Act encourages the various states to set up programs through which licensed drivers can make organ donations for the purpose of transplant by a notation on their licenses. Likewise, in the United Kingdom and Ireland many choose to have an intention to donate organs listed on their licence, however it is by no means compulsory. In Australia, the system of notating organ donation requests on driver's licences was replaced in July 2005 with a national organ donor register, administered under the auspices of Medicare. Australia Licensing laws in Australia differ between different states and territories; however, most involve a similar procedure and a graduated licensing scheme. The following applies to licensing in New South Wales, unless otherwise noted. The minimum age for a Learner’s Permit is 16 years for cars and 16 and 9 months for motorcycles. Since the introduction of an enhanced graduated licensing scheme in 2000, new drivers must proceed through 3 different stages before gaining a full, unrestricted licence. The minimum age for a P1 licence is 17 and the mandatory periods of time between each licence makes the effective minimum age of full licensing 20. There are several common complaints about the NSW licensing scheme. The relatively high number of road accidents and traffic offences involving P-plate drivers (such as speeding and drink-driving) has prompted calls for further driving restrictions, such as curfews and passenger restrictions, as implemented in other countries. Some consider 50 hours to be insufficient experience for learner drivers. Also, the blanket speed restrictions on Learner and Provisional drivers can pose problems on country roads and freeways, where learner drivers are restricted to 80km/h while other drivers may travel up to 110km/h. In Victoria, this problem is avoided by not imposing speed restrictions on newly licenced drivers. In Victoria, citizens are eligible for their Learner's Permits at age 16, which required a computerised knowledge test, then are restricted only to driving whilst accompanied by a fully licensed driver. They must also display 'L' Plates, have a 0.0 BAC and may not tow trailers. Learner's Permits must be held for at least 6 months, unless the holder is over 25, in which case it is 3 months. It should be noted that unlike New South Wales, there are no speed restrictions, nor is there a requirement for hours of experience (although 120 hours are recommended, and new requirements are to be introduced in 2007/2008 which will mandate a minimum number of hours). Probationary Licences in Victoria may be obtained at age 18, after passing a hazard perception test and a driving test. The 0.0 BAC restriction remains and furthermore, P platers are not allowed to drive 'high powered vehicles' (those powered at more than 125kw/ton.) Unlike NSW, there is only one style of Probationary Licence and as with Learners Permits, there are no speed restrictions. Victorian 'P Plates' are a white P with a red background, and may not have any other form of 'P plate', as this attracts a fine and demerit points. This has recently become a point of contention, attracting some media attention. In Western Australia, drivers who have had their licence revoked can obtain an Extraordinary Licence if they can demonstrate that the loss of their licence inflicts hardship and pay a AU$500 fine. The Extraordinary Licence permits them only to drive to avoid the hardship, for example to and from work. Tourists and visitors staying less than three months are permitted to drive on the licence of their home country. If the licence is not written in English, then an acceptable translation of the licence must be carried at all times. Visitors staying more than three months must apply for a licence in the state in which they reside. In Australia, where there is no form of national identity card, driver's licences serve as the primary means of photo identification; 'proof of age' cards were available for non-drivers. These have been replaced by Photo cards from Dec 2005. Licences and Photo Cards are hologrammed, and contain a photograph, signature, the driver's address and organ donor status. As of 2005, Queensland licences are now called a "Driver Licence" (as opposed to the traditional "Driver's Licence", or the more grammatically correct "Driving Licence"), and no longer carry information about the holder's organ donor status. The Australian Organ Donor Register is now used for national registration of tissue donation status, due to criticism of the previous schemes. Elderly drivers are required to have their licences renewed more often and required to have compulsory eye tests, which does not include colour vision (which is in theory important for understanding traffic signals, although colour blind people can in practice tell by position, this requires more concentration). As of January 1 2007, Victoria will begin a phased adoption of a graduated licensing scheme, like that already used in NSW. Notably, while learner permits will be obtainable from the same age (16 years old), in July 2008 VICroads will introduce the new Probationary 1 (Green) which can be obtained when the person turns 18, and Probationary 2 (Red) which can be obtained when the person turns 19 it will last for three years after that meaning a person will be 22 before being eligible for a full licence. This aims both to increase the experience of young drivers, as well as limit their capabilities to counter their inexperience. The new P-Plates will have certain limitations: Contrary to many reports, there are currently no plans to introduce curfews or passenger restrictions for probationary or learner drivers in Victoria. Full details of the license changes are available from the Victorian Governments Arrive Alive website. Canada Canada's driving age is, like the U.S., determined on a province-by-province basis. The driving age in the various Canadian provinces are: Ontario has been using a graduated licensing system since 1994. A driver can take as little as 20 months to get a full licence, however a driver must have a full licence (G) within 5 years of obtaining a learners permit (G1). The exact same process, except with other restrictions, is used for obtaining a motorcycle (M) licence. In Ontario, there was a recently proposed legislation to deny driver's licences to high school dropouts until they turned 18. It was meant as an incentive for students to graduate. British Columbia has been using a graduated licensing system for many years. The program was last revised in October 2003, which involved large changes in the time it took to acquire a licence (previously, a person could complete the Class 7L stage in as little as 3 months, and the Class 7N in 12, and no passenger limit was enforced above Class 7L). European Union
Categories valid in all EU countries Furthermore there are more national categories for tractors, very light motorcycles, motorised wheel chairs, motor tricycles (modern voiturettes, Category B1 or S) and military categories such as for driving tanks. United Kingdom
Denmark In Denmark learners can start when they are 18 years old, only with an authorized driving teacher. The multiple choice theory test can be taken before the 18th birthday, but not the practical test. The theory test is a dias slide with 25 pictures and 2-4 questions to each picture. Maximum 5 errors are allowed. Category E is 20 pictures/4 errors. Many people take category A and B at the same time, as well as C and C/E at the same time. Denmark does not use the C1 and D1 categories. This means a truck (C) or a bus (D) licence covers all respectively truck or bus not covered by the car (B) licence. A B/E licence only allows heavy trailers on cars, even if the driver has a C or D permit. Tractor/Motorized equipment (T/M) permit can be obtained when the driver is 16 years old, as well as a moped licence. T/M allows driving a moped, but not the other way. Anyone older than 17 can drive a moped, and anyone with B licence can drive tractors and Motorized equipment. Motorized equipment would be things like combine harvesters, steam rollers, loaders, excavators and other vehicles driving maximum 30 km/h. Driving forklifts requires a special permit. Carrying hazardous goods requires an ADR-permit. Commercial passenger traffic (route bus, tourist bus, taxi) requires a 5-year licence. Some traffic violations will incur a klip ("cut") in the licence. The cut is not physical, but refers to the klippekort (cutting-card). The cuts are actually remarks in the police database. The licence, though, only allows 3 cuts before the police keep it. Young drivers and probation drivers (those who re-obtained the licence) only get 2 cuts for a certain period. Republic of Ireland|Ireland Learner drivers must complete a computerised theory test before obtaining a two year provisional licence in any category. In Ireland the EU categories are used, including A1, C1 and D1. Other categories of licence are M (motorcycles under 50cc, i.e. mopeds) and W (work vehicles, usually tractors). The driving ages are 17 for B category, 16 for M and W categories, 18 for A and C categories and 21 for D category. There is no compulsory driver education system or service other than the theory test. There is no graduated licence system for newly qualified drivers, except for newly qualified motorcyle drivers' engine size. Provisional Licence holders must be accompanied (except A and M categories and those on a second B provisional licence) by a full licence holder, may not use motorways and must display red 'L' plates. Due to the government under-investment in the driving test service the waiting times for a test are usually over 1 year. There are over 400,000 Irish drivers on provisional B licences and there is a high failure rate of the test. This situation has led to the widespread non-enforcement of the restrictions on provisional licence holders. People who have failed their driving test will typically drive home from it, as the licencing system is not linked to the testing system and those on their second provisional B licence do not have to be accompanied by a qualified driver. There is a points system similar to other EU states. If a driver achieves 12 points his licence is lost. At present drivers with licences from outside the state cannot be given penalty points, in areas near the border with Northern Ireland this is a bigger problem. India
New Zealand New Zealand has had a graduated driver license system since 1987. It consists of three phases for a car license: Learner License which is gained after scoring 32 out of 35 (or better) on a multiple-choice test relating to road rules. Once gained, it allows a learner to drive provided they display black-on-yellow learner plates and are accompanied by a "supervisor" (being any person who has held a Full License for at least two years). The learner license is a blue plastic card. Restricted License is able to be obtained at age 15 1/2, which requires one having held a Learner License for six months (three months if aged over 25) and passing a twenty-minute practical driving test. This allows a driver to drive without L-plates, or a superviser, between 6am and 10pm. Drivers are allowed to carry certain passengers with them. These passengers are limited to; Spouses, partners, husbands or wives, or dependants. All other passengers are only allowed to be carried as long as one of the passengers has held a full license for longer than 2 years. Failure to meet this requirement can incur a $400 fine, with liability going to the driver of the vehicle. The restricted license is a yellow plastic card. Full License, which requires having held a Restricted License for eighteen months, or twelve months for someone who has taken a defensive driving course (six and three months respectively for people aged over 25), and passing a more thorough, hour-long driving test. It allows a driver to drive at any time with passengers, and after two years to supervise Learner and Restricted drivers. It is a green plastic card. Alternatively, people who gained a license before 1987 (or holders of overseas licenses) can usually obtain a Full License without needing to take a driving test. A Learner license can be applied for at age fifteen. This means the minimum possible age to gain a Full License is sixteen and a half. In recent years, there have been proposals to raise the minimum driving licensing age to 17 or 18, but so far they have never come to pass, due to objections from farmers who say that their children need to learn to drive early in life because of limited public transport. The car license allows the holder to drive a moped, tractor, or all-terrain vehicle as well as a car, however, motorbikes and heavy vehicles require separate licenses. Driver licenses carry a unique identifying number, date of birth and photograph of the holder, and apart from passports and a special-purpose 18+ card are the only legal form of ID for buying alcohol or tobacco. They also carry a legend declaring whether or not the holder wishes to donate his or her organs if he or she dies on the road, however, the next-of-kin are consulted first and decide whether or not organs will be donated regardless of the wishes of the license-holder. Drivers must carry their license at all times while driving. If they fail to do so they may face a fine of NZ$55. Norway Norwegian driving licences (Bokmål: Førerkort, Nynorsk: Førarkort) adhere to the EEA-standard. One of the more peculiar security features is Ivar Aasen's poem Nordmannen engraved in minuscule writing in the lower right corner on the back. Minimum age for cars is 18 years. Mopeds (50 cc, max 45 km/h), smaller motorcycles (engine capacity equal to, or less than 125 cubic centimetres) and tractors is 16 years. Most larger truck licences require holder to be 21 years old. Although Norway is not part of the EU, the licence is in the form of an EU licence. At the age of 16, you are allowed to drive accompanied by a parent, as long as you've finished a course called "trafikalt grunnkurs" (traffic elementary course). This "trafikalt grunnkurs" course will cost you $270-$415, depending on different seasons of the year. Some secondary schools offer a "trafikalt grunnkurs" along with a moped or tractor course, which is significantly cheaper than regular driving schools. Since January 1, 2004, the point system (Norwegian: Prikkbelastning) is used by Norwegian authorities to handle traffic offenders. Two points will be issued for most violations except for in the smallest speeding cases. If eight points or more is issued during a three-year period, the driving licence holder loses the right to drive for six months. Singapore The minimum age to get a driving licence in Singapore is 18 years old. A provisional driving licence is needed before a learner driver can drive the car on the public roads (must be 18 years old as well). You can only apply for this provisional driving licence if you pass a multiple choice test known as the Basic Theory Test, which is conducted by the Singapore's Traffic Police. This licence itself carries several restrictions, of which some are listed below. Upon the passing of a Final Theory Test, the learner driver can then proceed to take the Practical Driving Test. A Driving Licence will be issued upon the passing of the Practical Driving Test. Then on, the licence holder undergoes a 1 year probation period. During this period, he is required to display one triangular plate at the top right portion of the front windscreen, and the other triangular plate at the top right portion of the rear windscreen. He or she is also not allowed to accumulate more than 12 demerit points (versus more than 24 demerit points for full licence holders), after which the licence may be revoked. If you hold a foreign driving licence and intend to remain in Singapore for less than twelve months, you are not required to convert your foreign driving licence to a Singapore driving licence. You may drive in Singapore with a valid foreign driving licence. However, if your licence is not in English, in addition to a valid foreign driving licence, you are required to have an International Driving Permit. If an International Driving Permit is not available, an official translation of your driving licence in English is required. To convert to a Singapore driving licence, you are required to pass the Basic Theory Test (BTT) which will familiarise you with traffic rules and Singapore's Highway Code pertaining to traffic related issues peculiar to Singapore. A Singapore Permanent Resident (PR) who wishes to drive in Singapore is required to convert his foreign driving licence after becoming a PR. Drink Driving and using your hand phone while driving (without a hands-free set) are serious offences. In addition to your licence being revoked, the offender may be charged in court and be fined/jailed. Switzerland Since the 2000s, Switzerland uses the EU system of vehicle categories, issues EU-style credit-card licences and has generally adopted much of the harmonised EU legislation with regard to drivers' licences. To apply for a car driver's licence (category B), the applicant must be 18 years old. They must first pass a theoretical exam to receive a learner's permit valid for two years. This allows them to drive a car while accompanied by an individual of at least 23 years of age who has possessed a valid licence for at least three years. Driving on highways is only allowed for learning drivers who are "ready for the exam". During the two years, eight hours of theoretical traffic instruction by a cantonally certified driving instructor must be attended. Practical driving lessons are not legally required, but are considered a de facto prerequisite for passing the practical exam with a government expert, which around two thirds of trainees manage to do on the first attempt. Since 2005, the driver's licence issued upon passing the practical exam is no longer permanent, but valid for three years only. In this time, two days of further training must be completed and no serious infractions of the rules of the road are allowed, or the permanent licence is not acquired. For motorcycles and heavier vehicles, the regulations are different, and some agrarian vehicles can be driven without a licence. As of 2006, a 45-minute driving lesson costs around 90 CHF, while the various fees and theoretical instruction costs associated with getting a car driver's licence can amount to up to CHF 600, without counting the costs for the two days of further training. To assist with the integration of foreign residents, some cantons such as Bern have recently stopped allowing the theoretical exam to be taken in any languages other than German, French, Italian and English. This measure is also being discussed at the national level. Mainland China|Mainland of the Peoples Republic of China Minimum age varies from 18 (for cars) all the way up to 26 (for large buses). Learner's licences, although granted, have little effect, as most training takes place within the confines of specially-designed training areas inaccessible, on paper, to the general motoring public. Previously, expressways were inaccessible even for holders of a normal driver's licence if they did not possess the licence for a full year; however, such a regulation has now been invalidated. Drivers with licences less than a year old, however, are still considered "intern drivers" or "new drivers" (in Chinese, 实习司机, shíxí siji), and certain limitations apply to them (for example, they must display a uniform label on the car when they are driving). The PRC considers the driving licence, under a new law, an administrative licence (in Chinese, 行政许可, xíngzhèng xuke). Taiwan, Republic of China Driver licenses are categorized pursuant to the Road Traffic Security Rules (): The minimum age pursuant to Article 60 is normally 18, but one must be at least 20 to get a professional license or a license for an ultra-heavy motorcycle. A professional license must be converted to an ordinary one upon 60 years old, but a professional small vehicle driver may keep the license until 65 years old when passing annual physical examinations. Since driving job is not open to foreigners, foreigners cannot get professional driver licenses. United States
Decline in licensing among young people in the U.S. In the past decade, fewer and fewer teenagers are getting driver's licenses. According to a December 2004 Los Angeles Times article, only 43% of American 16- and 17-year olds had licenses in 2002. By comparison, the percentage in 1982 was 52%. The rate is even lower in some states (e.g., 9% in Missouri). The decrease in percentages are said to be due to the many restrictions that an average teen must face overall in order to obtain the licenses. Other information and use as identification Most U.S. states require new drivers to complete both driver's education classes (which include both classroom lectures and textbook lessons) and driver training (behind the wheel lessons with a state-licensed driving instructor) in order to earn a driver's license. U.S. driver's licenses have a unique number or alphanumeric code issued by the Department of Motor Vehicles (or equivalent), a photograph of the bearer, a copy of his or her signature, the address of his or her primary residence, the type or class of license, restrictions and/or endorsements (if any), the physical characteristics of the bearer (like height, weight, hair color, and sometimes even skin color), and birthdate. Social Security numbers are becoming less common on driver's licenses, due to identity theft concerns. Most states require that when a driver establishes residence in a state, he or she must obtain a license issued by that state within a certain timeframe. The classes of licenses are usually organized so that Class A is usually the license that indicates a person can drive the heaviest and largest vehicles. The license held by the vast majority of ordinary drivers is Class C, D, or E depending upon how the government sets the weight limits for each class. Motorcycles are usually Class M, although some jurisdictions simply add an endorsement permitting the holder to operate motorcycles as well as the class of vehicle for which he or she is licensed. Because there is no national identity card in the United States, the driver's license is often used as the de facto equivalent for completion of many common business (and governmental) transactions. As a result, driver's licenses are the focus of many kinds of identity theft. Driver's licenses were not always identification cards. Indeed, in many states, drivers licenses did not even have a photograph well into the 1980s. Activism by the Mothers Against Drunk Driving organization for the use of photo ID age verification in conjunction with increasing the drinking age to 21 in order to reduce intoxicated drivers led to photographs being added to all state licenses. New York and Tennessee were the last states to add photos in 1986 (However, New Jersey later allowed older drivers to get non-photo licences; this was later revoked). Later additions varied from state to state, and have included fingerprints, bar codes, magnetic strips, social security numbers and allegedly tamper-proof features, most of which were added under the guise of reducing or preventing identity theft, and to curb the usage of false identification. Special licenses In the United States and Canada, persons who drive commercially (especially truckers and taxi drivers) are required to have special licenses. For taxicab drivers, these licenses are usually called Chauffeur Permits. In most cases, commercial truckers must hold a commercial driver's license or CDL. In India, a commercial driving licence is valid for 5 years while an individual licence is valid for 20 years. In the United Kingdom, one must hold a Passenger Service Vehicle (PSV) licence to drive a bus carrying more than eight passengers for hire or reward, or a Large Goods Vehicle (LGV) licence to drive a truck (lorry) licensed to carry a weight greater than 3500 kg. Special licences can also be required in order to transport hazardous materials. The cost of taking the series of tests and examinations to obtain these licences usually means that an employer would subsidize their drivers. In India, people aged more than 50 years have to undergo strict medical test in order to obtain a licence. The licence validity is 5 years and requires renewal every 5 years. International considerations The holder of a licence from any European Union member country can drive in any other EU country. Most countries worldwide will also recognize the licenses of citizens of foreign states wishing to drive as visitors. All EU member countries now issue licences in a standard format, regardless of the language of the licence. The International Driving Permit (IDP) (sometimes erroneously called the International Driver's Licence) is a booklet which is an authorized translation of a driver's home license into many languages (especially languages with different scripts such as Cyrillic, Arabic, Chinese, Japanese, etc.). In some cases, it is obtained from a motoring organization such as the Automobile Association or the equivalent in the driver's home country. In other cases, it is delivered by the same government services that deliver ordinary licenses. The IDP has no validity except when used in conjunction with the driver's own license. The existence of the IDP is necessitated by many countries refusing to recognize driver's licenses written in foreign languages without accompanying translations. The People's Republic of China at present does not recognize IDPs (although Hong Kong and Macao do) and requires drivers to get an additional PRC license before being officially allowed on all roads. Most licence-issuing authorities require holders of "foreign" licences taking up residence in their jurisdiction to obtain a local driving licence within a limited time (typically 1 year), although European Union drivers who move from one EU state to another can continue driving on their original licences until the age of 70. In most cases, the driver must follow the full local procedure for obtaining a licence, but some jurisdictions have mutual recognition agreements and will exchange the foreign licence for a local one without the need to undertake an additional driving test. This occurs when people shift between U.S. states; the United Kingdom also (as of 2006) exchanges full licences issued by Australia, Barbados, British Virgin Islands, Canada, Falkland Islands, Hong Kong, Japan, Monaco, New Zealand, Singapore, South Africa, South Korea, Switzerland and Zimbabwe. | |||||||||||||||||
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