Question about none English speaking people
 

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 :confused:

No flaming please I am genuinely interested

Re: Question about none English speaking people
 

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.

Re: Question about none English speaking people
 

i suppose road signs dont often say

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

Re: Question about none English speaking people
 

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.

Re: Question about none English speaking people
 

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

Re: Question about none English speaking people
 

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?

Re: Question about none English speaking people
 

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.

Re: Question about none English speaking people
 

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.

Re: Question about none English speaking people
 

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.


:Yikes:

Re: Question about none English speaking people
 

i know its :notopic: but i couldnt resist

the real meaning of road signs:D

Re: Question about none English speaking people
 

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

Re: Question about none English speaking people
 

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

Re: Question about none English speaking people
 

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.

Re: Question about none English speaking people
 

Anyone know if BMW drivers speak English?

Re: Question about none English speaking people
 

Exactly, this https://www.cableforum.co.uk/images/...2005/08/23.jpg at a junction obviously means stop

Re: Question about none English speaking people
 

No, but I know some people who perpetuate inflammatory stereotypes if that helps.




And no, I don't drive a BMW.

Re: Question about none English speaking people
 

T'was a joke :(

Seen far worse inflammatory stereotypes on CF I can tell you.

Re: Question about none English speaking people
 

They do........... very common english :D

Re: Question about none English speaking people
 

I thought it meant "Cobras crossing" :)

Re: Question about none English speaking people
 

But being an animal lover, you'd stop and let them pass wouldn't you?
See, it does the same job :D

Re: Question about none English speaking people
 

no sledging :D

Re: Question about none English speaking people
 

Not sure.... they certainly can't drive properly, and have no idea where things like indicators are though.....

Re: Question about none English speaking people
 

well my mother in law does very well, but she is 78 say no more:Yikes:

Re: Question about none English speaking people
 

OK so perhaps you dont need to be able to speak english to recognise the road signs.

What happens if stopped by a copper? How will they understand what he/she wants?

What about temporary signs? they are there for safety.

Explain the flood sign to someone that cant read or speak english
What about Police stop
What about the info on the signs on motorways such as queues likely?

Guess you do need to be able to speak and or read english to drive then.

Re: Question about none English speaking people
 

they would soon find out :D

Re: Question about none English speaking people
 

You have never driven abroad then?

Re: Question about none English speaking people
 

In europe at least, most of the road signs have pictures with them too, so you can work out for yourself what's going on. If you're that wary, that clueless or simply that worried - IMO, don't bloody drive abroad! I do all the time. I'm not fluent in French, Spanish or German - but I can work out what road sign means what. What's the problem?

Re: Question about none English speaking people
 

Never had the urge, I cant speak the language and therefore find it an unacceptable risk to take.

In France if they have a sign without pictures saying accident de ralentissement en avant or files d'attente en avant or perhaps

What about a sign in German: Unfall voran
or Warteschlangen voran

Perhaps even in italian

code avanti

What would you do?

Re: Question about none English speaking people
 

They don't. Watching something like Road Wars, UK Street Crime or any of the other fly-on-the-wall shows will show you that.

It also shows you how many of the people they arrest get away with a slap on the wrist :mad:

Re: Question about none English speaking people
 

In my experience, the only reason a foreign plate or rental cars gets stopped is because of some kind of dangerous driving. In which case, you'll be escorted to the local civil guard station, where you should be able to arrange fotr someone who speaks english to help you.

Re: Question about none English speaking people
 

If I saw those signs I would imagine there would be something ahead of me that required caution and slow down accordingly.

Re: Question about none English speaking people
 

This should be covered in their driving lessons with their instructor, and of course they're going to have read the highway code as well to familiarise themselves with all road signs which require explaination ;)

Re: Question about none English speaking people
 

Well judging by other threads many posters on CF can speak English but still struggle to understand road signs. Why else would they be whinging about getting stung by speed cameras? :D (Note smiley!).

Re: Question about none English speaking people
 

In my experience it pays a foreigner to pretend they dont speak English even if they can.

My ex-GF's Japanese boss used that one, especially after drinking alcohol.

My Zulu ex-GF threatened the copper with a racism comlaint when stopped for her very bad driving, she had been drinking alcohol and caused such a fuss by using the race card that she was left to go on her way.