In a long-standing change, foreign drivers from China, India and other selected countries will now have to take the appropriate driving test before driving in New South Wales during the period. longer than six months on a foreign license from 1 July.
So far, a loophole has allowed foreign drivers on a student visa or temporary to use their foreign driver’s license to drive on Australian roads even after they have accumulated 13 deductions over a three-year period.
Drivers from these countries will now have to take the same knowledge and practice test as New South Wales locals. Additionally, if a driver exceeds 13 license allocation points, their ability to drive in Australia will be forfeited – currently if they reach that limit there is nothing stopping them from continuing to drive later. disqualification period.
Talking to auto expert “Sometimes we will be given a piece of paper that the driver claims to be their license,” said one highway patrol officer, anonymously. We don’t know if this is true or not… sometimes it’s not even possible to tell who the person is on the document. The system is completely flawed when it comes to foreign drivers coming from these countries,” the official said.
Based on Daily telegram around 2000 foreign drivers have been stripped of their ability to drive since 2020. It is also likely that 120,000 of the 220,000 eligible visa holders in New South Wales will have to undergo driving tests.
Drivers from recognized countries such as Germany, Singapore and Japan can convert their licenses without having to take a driving test.
