Our driving test standards are also high, having spoken with US colleagues, much higher than state-side (although I imagine that varies from state to state).

The theory test you must pass before taking your practical also now includes a hazard perception test - you are shown multiple videos and must click when you first perceive a hazard - the earlier you click after the hazard presents the higher your score - but if you just click randomly you get a zero.

Some of them are tricky - for instance, one I remember is a van coming from a side road at too fast a speed, but you can only first see this hazard forming in a reflection of a shop window.

I live in the US in a town with particularly bad drivers. I know I know, everyone's area has the worst drivers. But I've lived in dozen cities across the US so have some frame of reference. The sad thing is, it's a small town with what -should- be little traffic.

It's one of those places there will only be 2 other cars in sight, but they're driving side by side and 10 under the speed limit. And for some reason, everyone seems to just hold down their brake pedal at all times so you can never tell when they're actually slowing. I presume they're driving an automatic with two feet and keep just enough pressure to trigger the brakelights. And everyone, even the Kia Rios, drives in the opposite lane before turning so they can swing wide like a semi. I could go on and on but I digress.

Anyways, it had been an enigma to me for the last few years since I moved here, until one day I was asked to take a lady to her driving test. Sure, why not.

The entirety of the 5 minute road test was turning out right onto a sparsely populated 2 lane highway, driving anxiously at 35 in a 55 for a mile or so, then turning around and coming back. Passed. Suddenly, everything made more sense to me.

And I'm sure this isn't probably even the easiest test nationally, just one I became familiar with recently.

So yeah, we have absolutely no driving standards.

> also now includes a hazard perception test

I took my test nearly 25 years ago, and this was present then -- for the avoidance of doubt, the UK test has always been very thorough, though not quite as thorough as those in places like Finland where apparently they have skid pans and similar!

> having spoken with US colleagues, much higher than state-side (although I imagine that varies from state to state).

You know, it does vary but relative to any other developed country it's pitiful in every state. The reality is we just hand out driver's licenses to whomever.

Then you get the two wheeled side of the fence. You can do a one day compulsory basic training course and convince a trainer you know what you're doing, then drive on the road with everyone on a 125cc motorcycle (or 50cc at 16 years old), and then repeat the CBT every two years to keep on the road. It's only if you go for the full license that you need to study for theory as a prerequisite, so long as you keep out of trouble.

This is probably a huge factor for sure. Both the UK theory and practical tests are somewhat tricky, at least compared to those in places like the US. Many people will fail them the first time around, and a fair few will fail them multiple times.

The official statistics have a rate of about 40-60% for these tests:

https://www.gov.uk/government/statistical-data-sets/driving-...

Though it definitely varies by area:

https://www.gocompare.com/motoring/reports-statistics/drivin...

It's closer to a school exam in terms of difficulty, rather than the quick drive around a parking lot that it seems a lot of places have.

So people seem a lot more prepared than in many other places, since they actually have to be able to spot hazards and do driving maneuvers to get their license in the first place.

In New York state, virtually EVERYONE fails their first driving test. Rare exceptions. Second test pass is standard.

I kind of assumed every state does this.

“now includes”

It has done for nearly 25 years at this point ;)

I haven't driven in other countries but from my experience I'm not sure this is translating to good driving on the road.