Hello again and welcome back to America under the microscope. Hello, James.
Hello lulu.
So what are we going to talk about today?
Well, we're gonna be talking about a topic that many people are interested in driving.
This is I guess the topic that a lot of people can relate to. I'm sure a lot of our listeners have their own car or they at least know how to drive. By the way the US is sometimes referred to as a nation on wheels.
Yeah. That's because in America most people have cars.
It's really big. And then for some parts of America, it's very difficult to get around without a car.
Some parts of America? Most parts of America is difficult to get by without a car.
Perhaps only in super big cities, if you live inside the city, you don't need a car.
But even then in some cities, you do need a car because public transportation can be limited even in cities.
So would you say for Americans the number one means of transport is driving their own car?
Absolutely.
So let's look at some of the roles and things that are related to driving. First of all, rules.
Rules, yes, so in a previous lesson we talked about guns and how things are different from state to state.
And let me guess it's gonna be the same with driving, isn't it?
How did you know?
It seems that everything with American is always things depend from state to state.
It honestly should be the American model. Things depend.
But do you have at least the same national license?
Not exactly. So when you want to get a driver's license in America, you get a license from the state you are a resident of. So I'm from Washington I have a Washington state driver's license, but I can use this license anywhere in the country. So if I want to drive in New York, no problem.
But your driver's license will say Washington State.
Yes, it is right on the top of its Washington State Department of licensing.
What if you need to, let's say, if you need to move to New York, does that mean you need to change your license?
Yes, but that's a very easy thing to do. I would just go into the New York driver's license office and fill out some paperwork, pay a fee, get a new picture and new license.
Are traffic rules at least the same?
More or less, most states agree on traffic rules. There are some small differences, like some states have slightly different rules about limits on speed or have some slightly different rules about where you can or cannot park. But more or less it's the same.
所以美国的license，l-i-c-e-n-s-e 驾驶执照是你在哪个州住就在哪个州申请。如果说你要move的话，是要更换驾照的。
What about for Chinese tourists? So if I want to travel or if I want to go and study in a university in the US, can I use my Chinese driver's license and just translate it.
For a limited amount of time, yes, you can use your Chinese license in America usually for a few months, but if you're going to live there or study there you are supposed to get a US license.
Can I just change my Chinese license into a US license, because I mean I've taken a test.
Doesn't work that way. So while you can use a foreign license in America if you need to get the US license, you would have to do the whole test everything. It's not a transfer, simply a new license.
I guess that's a kind of the same in many countries. If you watch American TV shows, you'll see a lot of kids when they reach a certain age they're really excited to get their driver's license. So let's look at how do Americans learn how to drive. How early do you start learning?
Well, this is surprising to most people, but we start learning at the age of fifteen.
Fifteen, that's really early.
Yeah.
If I remember correctly you have to reach twenty one to drink.
Yep.
So, but at the age of fifteen you can drive.
Not exactly, I said we can start to learn.
You can start to learn to drive. When can you get your license?
Sixteen, at fifteen we can start the process of learning.
Do you learn from a school or … ?
Well yes, we do have driving schools. We'll talk about that in a little bit. But mostly we are taught by our parents.
By the way is it true that American families usually own more than one car.
Two is standard.
Two is standard. Is it quite common for mom and dad to buy their kid a car?
No.
Not really?
No, you see that in TV and yes some families with money do give their children cars, but from my experience in high school with a lot of my classmates, most people had car, drove their parents' car if they need to drive or they got a job and bought a car.
Maybe their parents just need an excuse to trade up for a new car.

It's always possible.
But how exactly do you get a license? Uh no matter if you are taught by schools or parents you will need to pass the test, right?
Tests, plural, there's more than one test you have to pass.
Oh, so written test and actual driving test.
Yes. Well, there are three tests. We'll talk about all three tests. So uh we're gonna start with the younger group because, if you're under eighteen the first thing you have to do is complete a driving school or what we call a driver's safety course.
So if you're over eighteen you don't have to?
Nope. Not required, if you're over eighteen. If you're over eighteen, you will just need to pass the exams. So the driver's safety course actually this isn't really any different than what you do in China. You go to the class, you learn the laws, you learn about the safety, you learn about the dangers, you pass and they give you a certificate. And then you need to take the certificate to the licensing office and then you can do the other exams. So, really not any different than in China.
The other exam is also driving on the road or …
We haven't even got to the licensing exams. That was just the exams for the school.
And the written test is all abcd choose one.
Oh, yeah. Our written test is multiple choice. Um, most places require you to pass with an eighty percent which is slightly easier than China where you need ninety percent. But the length of the test this is where it's changed just from state to state. Some states it's fifty questions, some states is twenty five questions, it really depends. Next test, test number two is a simple eye exam. Obviously you have to be able to see.
You have to be able to tell colors.
No, actually you don't.
You can be color blind to drive?
I'm color blind, so no, very few people are pure color blind and the eye examine for America you don't go to a hospital for this, you just do it in the licensing office.
Ok. so it's a very simple basic one.
Yeah, it's like, it's like primary school vision test, you have the chart and you read the line and really simple things. Once you pass your eye test and then you'll have to do the skills test which is the driving test. In order to do the driving test, this is very different because you need to make an appointment as the examiners usually are busy, and so there's a waiting period around two weeks to a month depending. And what's really surprising the most people is you, the candidate, need to supply the vehicle you're going to be testing in.
Oh, so it's not owned by the licensing department. It's your own car.
Yeah. The licensing department own the car that would be a big expense, they don't want that liability, so they make you supply the car.
So they just supply the examiner.
But this is to your advantage because in many countries like China, you have different licenses for different types of cars, whether it's automatic transmission or manual transmission. America there is no difference in your licensing.
How does that make things?
Well, first of all, you do the test in automatic because they're easier to drive. And you do the test in a smaller car because they're easier to do parking and reversing.
And also I guess if it's your own car, it's easier for you to practice beforehand so you don't have to get into like a completely new a strangers car.
Right, it's because you have a better feeling of this car and all that. So passing the driving test isn't so easy. Because if you break one traffic law, you'll fail automatically.
What happens if you fail, are you allowed to take it again?
I don't have to make, not right away, no. For the writing test if you fail you can take it again the next day, for the driving test you have to wait for the next available time which will probably be two weeks.
Okay. So you can just take it again and again, if you don't pass or is there a limit.
Yes, you can. But you have to pay every time. The fees are usually around twenty five dollars. So, it's not free to retake the test.
Okay. So I mean after you pass the test, all the tests, you get your license.
Yeah, you go inside, you pay the licensing fee which is usually run fifty dollars. They take your picture and then give you your card. Now you can drive away.
Are there any different types of licenses you can get?
Yes. In general, we have three basic ones. So remember I said you can start learning at fifteen. So at fifteen you can get something we call a learner's permit.
A learner's permit, I think that's the same in many countries. Does that mean you have to have someone with you when you're driving?
That is correct. You need a teacher in the car, which your teacher could be a parent or any experience driver, but you cannot drive alone. At sixteen after you pass your exam, you can get what we call an intermediate license. You can drive alone. But there are usually restrictions, like you can't drive at night, uh usually have restrictions of who you can't have in your car. So like many places don't let you have friends, but family is ok.
This is still not a full license. When do you get your full license?
Usually, eighteen.
Eighteen.
Then no restrictions, you just drive technically we also have motorcycle licenses and professional licenses too.
Professional license would be what you need if you're driving, let's say, I don't know, a bus or …
Yes, things like buses, delivery trucks and stuff like that. So for most people, unnecessary.
Okay. So I guess that's the basics about driving in America in the advanced episode let's look at how to buy a car.
Oh, yeah, that's also a very fun thing to talk about.
All right, see you next time.
Bye everyone.
Bye.

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