Learning To Drive In England

[passpato]

My Thai wife is learning to drive in England. The big problem is the theory test. She is doing well with her practical lessons but The language in the theory test is quite difficult. The test is either about to, or already has been made more difficult to prevent people learning "parrot fasion"from test questions.

I have bought a dvd rom of "Driving Test Success"and she is learning from this. If anyone has any usefull tips or anything in Thai language please let me know.I am aware of the use of translators but they are expensive and only in London. We are in Somerset.

Any help appreciated

[thaicbr]

Does your wife have a Thai licence? If so she can drive on that for 12 mths.

[Semper]

Does your wife have a Thai licence? If so she can drive on that for 12 mths.

According to the op, she is still learning to drive. Thai license does not help.

[passpato]

No. lived in the uk 3 years but never held a licence

Does your wife have a Thai licence? If so she can drive on that for 12 mths.

[roamer]

In actual fact there are moves afoot to make it a requirement that both the theory and practical test are taken in English. There are real concerns now about about some of the incidents involving drivers who have taken either test in a language other than English and they could well implement the changes quickly and face any discrimination charges later down the line. Can't come quickly enough for me, see some appalling incidents in London.

The other changes to the driving theory test come in January 2012 with the introduction of questions that have not previously been published, now that will make it harder for those with limited English to get through. If your wife has not passed it by then you could well have problems.

Might just be better to treat the whole thing with a more holistic approach that involves much more work on her English in general.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/motoring/8828254/Foreign-language-driving-tests-to-be-banned.html

[Thongkorn]

I am a professional Hgv Driver. In the UK nearly all the Hgv drivers i come across in my line of work cannot speak English , Poles . this is not a bash against the Poles but what you are experiencing is institutional racism, its OK if you come from Europe and cannot speak English , but if you are from Thailand you have to pay and jump through the hoops

[theblether]

Don't worry about it too much........

Sit at the kitchen table and make flash cards up with your wife, just as we learned by watching Blue Peter.

I believe the crux of the test is still Sign recognition so physically making the signs by hand will make it memorable and fun.

To my recollection there is a formula for safe stopping distance that can be memorized.

20 mph = 40 feet ( x 2 )

30 mph = 75 feet ( x 2.5 )

40 mph = 120 feet ( x 3 )

50 mph = 175 feet ( x 3.5 )

60 mph = 240 feet ( x 4 )

70 mph = 315 feet ( x 4.5 )

You can guarantee your wife will be asked about safe stopping distances so memorizing the chart is a must................

You can probably also guarantee she will be asked about the 300 metre, 200 metre, 100 metre exit chevrons from the motorway ( 3, 2, 1 Chevrons ) so make sure she knows that too.

However don't stress out too much, it might take two or three attempts but she will pass the theory part.

Remember it's nerves that beat most people in their driving test so try to make the learning fun.

[theblether]

I am a professional Hgv Driver. In the UK nearly all the Hgv drivers i come across in my line of work cannot speak English , Poles . this is not a bash against the Poles but what you are experiencing is institutional racism, its OK if you come from Europe and cannot speak English , but if you are from Thailand you have to pay and jump through the hoops

Sorry it's not institutional racism, in fact it's the opposite. As part of the free movement of people and labour across European Community member states it is illegal to forbid someone from taking up a job on the basis of lack of language skills.

We now have the bizarre situation of Doctors working in the UK that can't talk English, and they cannot be prevented from working.. This has had fatal consequences.

If Thailand was part of the European Union then Thai nationals would have the same rights as Polish workers, so to say it is institutional racism is misleading as there are 26 European Community member states that have the same rights of free movement and employment in the UK. That's not racism in action.

[PattayaParent]

I am a professional Hgv Driver. In the UK nearly all the Hgv drivers i come across in my line of work cannot speak English , Poles . this is not a bash against the Poles but what you are experiencing is institutional racism, its OK if you come from Europe and cannot speak English , but if you are from Thailand you have to pay and jump through the hoops

So how's your command of all the languages of the EU countries?