Left is Right. Right is Wrong.

Left is right. Right is wrong. Those are two statements that frequently run through my mind in regard to what side of the road I should be on when driving in Singapore.

Singapore is a former British colony therefore they have a considerable British influence including which side of the road they drive on. (That would be the ‘wrong side’ to Americans and a significant portion of the world.) Mastering the skill of the other side of the road, along with how to honk your horn frequently and drive in two lanes are realistic requirements for driving in Singapore.

If you want to drive in Singapore you can convert your foreign drivers license by taking a theory exam within a year of moving to the country. As Raegen and I approached the anniversary of one year in Singapore we realised that we needed to go full speed ahead and take the theory test. We heard studying was required it was quite challenging as its worded much like an SAT test with double negatives, etc. Awesome!

Most things in Singapore have a process which is usually complex and undefined. One can only be told “no-can-la” (that is not a spelling error) so many times before you get a little frustrated. Raegen and I have an all new respect for the DMV/MVD and its efficiencies!

After we finally registered for the test, which has a 2-3 month waiting list, we downloaded one of the many apps to take practice tests. Thank goodness we did because minus a few ‘gimmies’ like the ones below it was not an intuitive test even for those of us who have been driving for awhile.

Below are a few of the test questions. Let’s see how you do!

 

                                            

Lastly one that we still can’t figure out is that drivers are not required to move out of the way for emergency vehicles. Emergency vehicles are required to follow all traffic laws including the speed limit, traffic lights and everything in between. Hopefully the people inside are not in a hurry!

  

We went to take the 50 question test after cramming like it was our senior year in college. You can only miss five questions if you want to pass. As I entered the room I realised I was the only woman in the room full of 40 or so men.  (Women in cars….gasp!) I knew I had to pass, not to defend my gender, but because I really didn’t want to have to take the driver’s ed classes with a driving instructor in order to obtain my drivers license.

Luckily Raegen and I both passed our tests- 48/50 for him and a 47/50 for me. The process to actually receive our physical drivers licenses was yet again long and complicated but we are now officially legal drivers in Singapore!

See you on the road!

Happy Trails,

Amy & Raegen