Unraveling the Driving Test
With every summer, there comes a time when a crop of ALT’s International Drivers Licenses are about to expire. To ensure my life of comfort continued, while others sweat or freeze outside of my environmentally controlled metal steed, I subjected myself to the Maebashi Practical Driving Examination.
And let me get it out of the way as early and clearly as I can… it is a pain in the oshiri! Examiners are a random quagmire, and it seems as though their mood is a decisive factor for how harshly they mark you. There are 3 parts to the test; application, the paper test and the practical test. Here’s my blow-by-blow account which I hope will help anyone going through the horrors of the test in the future…
For each of my 5 times attempting the test, I had to:
- Use nenkyu, as the application desk is only open from 1 to 1:30pm.
- Drive about an hour and a half to Maebashi Driving Center from Kiryu.
- Submit my documents (you only have to do this the first time).
- And, as in my case, if you renewed your license anytime around 3 months before coming to Japan, get ready for a battle. Trying to prove I lived in Guam required my old drivers license, tax forms from 2008-2009 (original copies only), and a letter from my Mayor, saying I had lived on Guam and provided contact information should the Gunma Bureau ever want clarification. Despite all the evidence submitted, I was told they would ‘give me leeway’ and get the other workers to believe I had lived in Guam before my move to Japan.
If they clear you, you’ll take the paper test:
- Sign up at the application desk and receive a number. Wait until 3pm.
- Get moved into the room above the driver’s testing grounds. Wait until 4pm.
- Take the 5 minute paper test.
- Wait at the application desk…again, for 30 minutes!
- Numbers will appear on a board. If your number is there, you pass. If not, reschedule, grab the reapplication papers and prepare to do the paper test process once again.
- Drive home, considering the never ending, mind-numbing, sleep-inducing waiting around and bureaucracy of the whole process.
So, what needs to be done for the practical test? My top-tips for passing are:
- Left and right blinkers – Each time you use your blinker, make sure you hear at least 3 blinks before you move into the respective lane, especially in the very first part of the course.
- Left, centre and right mirror – Stare at the mirror with your whole head for at least 1 second.
- Left and right shoulder – Again, use your whole head, for at least half a second.
- Look right, left, and right again – You’ll have to do this at any intersection. Look in each direction for half a second (except at the one stop sign).
- Speed – Obstacles and turns are done at 18-20km/h. Cruising speed is 20-30km/h. 50km/h zone must be done between 48-50km/h.
- When making turns that require hands changing over the steering wheel – Never stay with you arms forming an X. Never use an underhand grip. Never turn the steering wheel with only one hand.
- Returning hand positions – Acceptable are 10 and 2, or 9 and 3 o’clock positions only.
- During turns – you are not supposed to use the gas or the brakes. But only using the brake may not be marked off, depending on the instructor.
- Stopping distance (yellow/red lights and the stop sign) – This is determined by hiding the marker for the stop line with the hood of the car.
- Driving style (braking, turning, lights, looking, etc) – Everything is to be done smoothly. The instructor wants to see confidence and a familiarity with the ‘order of things’.
- Lane lines – These should never be crossed (except for the 2 obstacles at the beginning of the test). Anytime you drive towards the left or right side of a lane, aim for within 30cm. On the left, it should look like the line is going into your left head light. The same with the right side and the right head light. Except for the first part of the test and changing lanes, your wheel never touches the lines. And they must never hit a curb… instant fail!
Scared yet?
You should be! Now… for the real fun. This map and description is a point-by-point account of the practical driving test course. They use this to test your ability to follow rules, sequences, and timing, rather than your ability to drive safely. It’s long, it’s arduous, but I hope this can help you to pass.
After the test, go back the application desk and await your fate. If you pass, you’ll still have to return to Maebashi Driving Center another day to endure a Japanese-only congratulations speech, and receive and activate your license. Again, it is a 1 to 4pm fiasco! So expect to use nenkyu once more. If you don’t pass, wash, rinse and repeat.
My last piece of advice… take the practice driving test practice course at Takasaki’s Kantou Jidousha Gakkou. It’s a 2 hour course costing 12,000 yen. I wish you the best of luck…
Having had a breakdown yesterday at the driving center because I thought I had all the necessary documents, and after and hearing the horror stories of others having a hell of a time just submitting the paperwork in order to take the test…make sure you have a document stating the month and DAY (and year of course) your license was issued as my MN license only has month and year on it. Thankfully when I went home this past summer I went to the DMV to get a record of my license which had the exact date it was issued. However, convincing them that was a valid document took some doing and the kindness of strangers to translate for me as the document was only stamped and not signed so apparently not “official” enough. They eventually accepted it though, but you should try to have someone sign it for you if you are able to get your record in person. Also, they may ask for you to prove residency in your home country for three months prior, so bring some sort of bill or other documentation showing you were in your country.
It’s best to go in there over-prepared for anything they might throw at you, so hopefully you can avoid hassle, and save yourself some anguish as you’ll need all your mental faculties to go through the hell of the practical test. You might also want to do some yoga/meditation/prayer or whatever gets you into a zen state before you embark on this endeavor. It will no doubt try your patience.
Phew, reading all this I am glad I can say I am from a European country. Just a simple eyetest, few questions and that`s it. Had my japenese DL in no time. Gambatte to those who will need to go through the whole process.
thanks a lot;very helpfull,reading this 50% of confidence in own abilities to pass this.especially we are tested by professionnal policemen.but i want to remind people about the training course staff in takasaki,in particular old teachers,they are not fair,no feel,no conscience,no manner,they are not teaching,they won’t us to pass,they just telling us about the hands position and after50 mn they’ll tell you(DAIBU YOKU NARIMASHITA). i had experience with a old ojiisan,he did not respect the time(50mn)because he saw a brasilian girl with a blond hair arriving,so he wanted her for the next lesson,ignoring completely if i can control the car.so if you have your own car take the train alone or with a person who knows it.