Feb 26 2011
Learning to Drive in Australia after Immigration
When moving to a new country getting acquainted with the differences in driving can be tricky. The drivers in the UK drive on the left and so moving to another country can be particularly tricky as the majority all drive on the right side of the road. However Australia is a country that also drives on the left, making it much easier to learn how to drive in a new country.
An immigrant can drive for up to three months using their previous driving licence in Australia when using a permanent visa and for those who have moved to the country on a temporary basis, with the aid of an international driving licence they can drive in the country for up to 12 months before being required to apply for a local Australian driving licence. The application for an Australian driving licence can differ in each state of the country.
When first moving to the country, an immigrant can only drive the class of vehicle that they have previously had a licence for. Applying for an Australian licence is much quicker than normal for those with a UK licence thanks to the UK being part of an approved scheme in the country. The application process will generally involve paying a small fee and taking a knowledge test at one of the local driving centres.
When driving in Australia or in any new country it is important to realise that there are a number of differences that new residents will need to understand. The traffic light system is slightly different from the UK and much more similar to the USA. When starting from a red light, traffic lights move from red straight to green and when stopping they stay on amber for much longer than the UK system. Since the roads are also much wider than in the UK there are many more roads that have right turn only arrows on.
One of the most unique aspects of driving in Australia is some of the wildlife road signs that drivers come across. There are a number of signs that indicate whether kangaroos, koalas or wombats are in the area, signs that are only present in Australia.
Find out more about driving in another country if you are looking to Emigrate to Australia and how to get there with a Skilled Visa Australia.