If you can write, you can drive

In order to get a driving licence in Honduras, you have to take, and pass, a simple written questionnaire and complete a medical check, eye exam and a blood test. That's it. No practical test. Tip for visitors to Honduras: don't rent a car, the locals haven't learned how to drive!

According to zuto.com, the UK has one of the longest driving theory tests in the world, at 50 questions. The world champion? Vietnam, with a whopping 450 questions. The majority of Vietnamese drivers are extremely old, because it takes so many years to complete the theory test. It's a lot easier in Uganda, where you only need to get 25% of the 30 questions right.

Until recently, the Egyptian driving test involved just a highly tricky "drive forwards six meters; then reverse six meters". Which meant the testers didn't need any test track greater than 6 meters in length. I haven't been able to confirm what percentage of people failed this. Recently the test has been made harder (it could hardly been made easier) by the addition of an S shaped track and a parking test.

The Philippines driving test lasts about 5 minutes and includes making right turns only. There is driving on the right in the country, so presumably all Philippine roads are circular, making it awkward to get from one coast to another. Maybe there's only one road in the country, making the North Circular look pathetically small. But good for an Indy 500 perhaps. In contrast, in India - where they drive on the left - you only have to  be able turn left in the driving test.

Meanwhile, here in the UK a new Highway Code, which is described by the Government as "essential reading for all road users, including pedestrians, mobility scooter users, cyclists, horse riders, drivers and motorcyclists", has been published. It includes a new "hierarchy of road users":

1. pedestrians, in particular children, older adults (yay!) and disabled people

2. cyclists

3. horse riders

4. motorcyclists

5. Motorised vehcles

which frankly sounds what already pertains.

There are countries which require first aid training for drivers, which sounds like a good idea.

Want to know the safest countries, based on road fatalities per capita? San Marino leads with just 0 deaths per 100,000 inhabitants (the UK is 10th with 3.5). Be careful in Libya (40.5), Venezuela 37.2) or Thailand (38.1).

I'm off to San Marino for my hols. Not driving, just walking in the streets.