Question about none English speaking people

[Jules]

Ok I have a question how is that that people that do not speak English are allowed to take the theory test in there own Language and have a translator in the car for there practical driving test?
Ok a lot of the roads signs are symbols but what about those that have writing on them they are always in English and I have never heard of any one that can read a language but not speak it

No flaming please I am genuinely interested

[Pø†øƒGøL�]

Well... I have a theory about that. Live in England, learn to speak English. Most colleges these days have appropriate courses to teach people "English as a foreign language".

We have enough accidents on the road already without them being added to by drivers who can't read the road signs. Matrix boards are in English and contain important information also.

[marky]

i suppose road signs dont often say

please dont turn right at the next junction as it is one way

[Xaccers]

Because road signs relating to driving (not directing) are all in the highway code which every driver should have read and be up to date with.
Non-english speaking drivers should also be up to date with all the meanings of signs, and it is up to them to get a translation.

[Jules]

But a lot of signs do have writing on them and not just temporary signs. So for instance if I lived in China I can not speak nor read the language so how would I be able to read what the road signs say?

And how do you get a translation of a sign as you are driving down the road? lol

[Xaccers]

Originally Posted by whyme38

But a lot of signs do have writing on them and not just temporary signs. So for instance if I lived in China I can not speak nor read the language so how would I be able to read what the road signs say?

And how do you get a translation of a sign as you are driving down the road? lol

Can you give an example of a road sign with important writing on it which would not make sense if the writting wasn't there?

[danielf]

It may have more to do with being confident/fluent in English than actually being able to speak/read it. For many people the driving test is a rather stressful event.

Also, any British person travelling abroad is allowed to drive a car on a British licence without speaking the local language.

[gazzae]

Don't really think you need to speak a language to drive in that country.
I didn't had problems driving in France, even though I can't speak French.

Originally Posted by whyme38

Ok I have a question how is that that people that do not speak English are allowed to take the theory test in there own Language and have a translator in the car for there practical driving test?
Ok a lot of the roads signs are symbols but what about those that have writing on them they are always in English and I have never heard of any one that can read a language but not speak it No flaming please I am genuinely interested

From my experience having lived in Kenya and Zimbabwe. Driving tests are in English, both have highway codes, traffic signs similar to our own: not that it matters as driving licenses can be bought, in Kenya the police do the driving tests and they love being bought.

But, no driver in Kenya drives according to the rules, it can be hell driving in Nairobi, believe me, bl...y matatus a menace. As for Zimbabwe no one can afford the price of fuel these days so the only vehicles moving belong to government ministers, officials party apparatchiks and none of them can drive either! And bl...y Zim army drivers are the worst.

[marky]

i know its but i couldnt resist

the real meaning of road signs

[Jules]

Originally Posted by Xaccers

Can you give an example of a road sign with important writing on it which would not make sense if the writting wasn't there?

Urban clearways with days and times on, bus lanes with days and times on, road closed up ahead signs etc those are just a few that come to mind
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Lol good one Mark

[Xaccers]

Originally Posted by whyme38

Urban clearways with days and times on, bus lanes with days and times on, road closed up ahead signs etc those are just a few that come to mind
__________________

Lol good one Mark

Well as long as the driver knows the urban clearway sign, it's not going to be any danger if he doesn't park there at any time of the day even if at certain times he's allowed.
Again with bus lanes, no danger if he doesn't use the bus lane during periods when he can, many English speaking people do this.
Road closed, well he'll find out when he gets to the closed part of the road. An inconvenience, but not to anyone else, and no danger

[punky]

Originally Posted by whyme38

Ok I have a question how is that that people that do not speak English are allowed to take the theory test in there own Language and have a translator in the car for there practical driving test?

Well, to be able to drive successfully, you don't need to read road signs, merely recognise them. You don't need to know what it says on it, but you know if you see the sign with those particularly markings, you know to do, or not to do something.

It works both ways. For example, take the bog standard US stop sign as everyone knows what it looks like. If you replaced the letters, you would still know to stop when you see that sign, because you look at it, not as text but as a picture and remember the markings.

Anyone know if BMW drivers speak English?

[Xaccers]

Originally Posted by punky

Well, to be able to drive successfully, you don't need to read road signs, merely recognise them. You don't need to know what it says on it, but you know if you see the sign with those particularly markings, you know to do, or not to do something.

It works both ways. For example, take the bog standard US stop sign as everyone knows what it looks like. If you replaced the letters, you would still know to stop when you see that sign, because you look at it, not as text but as a picture and remember the markings.

Exactly, this at a junction obviously means stop