According to the countries in the United Nations, there are 196 in the world. The country having the best, or worst, drivers of vehicles is a very difficult determination to make without some quantative method of measurement. One method would be to have actually driven in all of the countries belonging to the United Nations which would take almost a lifetime to do. Short of doing this, this examiner feels a bit qualified to make an attempt to answer the question based on actually driving in 19 countries and reports on the experience. These countries are the United States, of course, followed by Germany (both West and East before unification), France, Italy, Austria, Turkey, Czech Republic, England, Wales, Sweden, Ireland, the Netherlands, Vietnam, Korea, Taiwan, Denmark, Switzerland, Scotland and last, but not least, the small country of Liechtenstein.
Since drivers are involved in traffic accidents one measure could be to take a look at traffic injuries and deaths in all of the countries. The World Health Organization (WHO) has complied a very comprehensive 2009 report of driving statistics for the 196 countries based on many factors including road conditions, income levels, driver training, traffic deaths per 100,000 population and concluded that the countries with the highest number of traffic injuries (including death) were India, China, U.S., Russia, Brazil, Iran, Mexico, Indonesia, South Africa and Egypt. The countries with the least were found to be the Netherlands, Sweden and the United Kingdom (England, Wales and Scotland). To base driver expertise on traffic injuries is one method, but this number, according to WHO, includes injuries to other than vehicle passengers or 56% of the injuries occurring to pedestrians. Since the WHO report does not discuss who was at fault, this measurement is not as accurate as being there. The WHO report:
Driving in England was the most challenging for an American since the entire roadway is basically reversed and driving on the "wrong" side required constant concentration. The added dilemma was doing it in an American car that made passing solely dependent upon the passenger’s ability to ensure the opposite side of the road was clear. Usually if there was no passenger, there was no passing. Going around a traffic circle in the opposite direction just felt weird. Even as a pedestrian, looking for traffic in the "wrong" direction was a big change. However, English drivers are the most courteous and extremely patient. Driver training is normally conducted by another adult licensed driver, as in the U.S., but the vehicle must display a large red letter "L" sign for "Learner".
Driving in Asia is even more challenging than driving in England since the driver has to maneuver through traffic with many different types of vehicles and animals on the road. Korean farmers, for example, will take their pigs to market tied to the back of a bicycle. In Paris, France, cyclists are everywhere and at a stop light, drivers find themselves surrounded with cyclists on all sides. In addition, French drivers do not use headlights at night on lighted streets and in rural areas have yellow headlights. Driving in Italy, drivers constantly blow their horns at every intersection, curve or just about any place else. In Turkey, beggars come out of nowhere at traffic lights to clean windshields for a tip.
Germany has the most disciplined drivers with very little patience for drivers who are not quick to move on a green light or executing a turn, etc. This examiner would rate the Germans as the best drivers of all the countries visited. Germans are the most technical and for example, know all the data displayed on a tire. Germans are required to attend driver training before given a driver’s license. Part of the training is technical data not normally understood by other country drivers. They must take first-aid training as part of the driver course.
Germans also drive more roadworthy cars due to required technical inspections. No German-registered road vehicle may be operated on public roads without a certificate from the TÜV. Technischer Uberwachungs-Veren or TUV stands for Technical Inspection Association. In most cases the certificate has to be renewed every two years. A pass in the mandatory roadworthiness and smog test is indicated by tamper-proof decals on the license plate. German drivers fear the TUV similar to Americans fearing the IRS. Germans are not permitted to change the tire size or add fog lights without approval from the TUV.
Learning to drive in Germany is a rather costly process. For the normal license you have to do a mandatory 14 theoretical lessons, 12 practical lessons (4 motorway, 3 night time, 5 country roads), and then however number of actual lessons are required for the actual driving process. Then come extra costs for the test itself and getting the license. In total the costs for learning and getting a license are €1,400 to €2,000. (US $1820 - $2600) $1.30 equals 1.00 Euro
Note that the lessons as described above really are mandatory. And you must pay an authorized instructor to teach you. Unlike in other countries, such as the UK, it is not legal to take free lessons from a friend or family member.
Here is a breakdown of the average costs:
* Registration & Theory classes: €130-199
* 12 Special lessons (mandatory): €420-495
* Theory Test: €49-66
* Practical Test: €130-160
* KVR application: €45
* TUV exam: €87.81
Those are the items that must be paid. The 12 special lessons involve the normal roads, autobahn, and night driving.
Normal driving lessons range from about €25 to €32. Most first-time learners require 10 to 20 lessons. Although this is obviously different for everyone.
So assuming no outside assistance, and let's say 15 of the normal lessons, the cost is approximately €1500 (but probably more) and about 3 to 4 months before qualified to get on the road.
A learner driver could, in theory, get some extra free practice by jumping in someone else's car in some carpark somewhere. But if the police catch you you're in deep doodoo (which, in all likelihood folks, WILL happen, as curising local car parks looking for evil is probably high on criminal activity agenda).
There are approximately 18,000 driving schools in Germany with safety equipped cars meaning that they are designed with dual steering wheels and brakes for instructor use and they are clearly marked as "Fahrschule". Here in Tallahassee the American Safety Institute, located on Hwy 90 at Chaires Cross Roads (Across from BP Station) has a Traffic School. It is owned and operated by Bart Cassidy who has over 30 years experience in traffic safety. Cassidy says, "From the beginning every educational program your teen should be given in person by a competent educated great driver, that's a reality. Anyone who tells you different and suggest that the internet works just as well, be cautious they either don't know what they are talking about or they are trying to make money. DO it right the first time." The Institute has an excellent driver training program for teens and use special equipped cars. Many local high schools no longer teach Driver Education because of costs and liability. To find out more about American Safety Institute visit http://americansafetyinstitute.com/ or if a parent, or guardian, wants to learn more about the driving lessons available in Tallahassee visit www.drivingschooltallahassee.com.
It was a German driver who pointed out to this examiner that the 1978 Corvette had tires that were rated at 95 MPH when the car had been driven on the autobahn at a much faster "legal" speed. It was something the driver learned in driver school. Higher rated tires were quickly installed to prevent a terrible event on the autobahn. Driving this car in Germany prompted the very first published article written by this examiner, entitled "I Drive in Competition Every Day" and was published by a sports car magazine. See slide show.
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