Melbourne: Drivers from India, Pakistan, China and Nepal will face tougher rules in Australia as the local government in the state of New South Wales (NSW) has made it mandatory for them to sit a driving license test with effect from July 1. According to the information, temporary visa holders from these countries who have lived in NSW for at least six months will be required to take the same knowledge and practical tests as locals. Under the new arrangement, temporary visa holders will need to convert to a NSW license if they have been living continuously in the state for six months and wish to continue driving, a Transport for NSW spokeswoman told the website.
The move will plug a loophole in the transport system that enabled some drivers to retain their licenses despite having received 13 demerit points, or been convicted of a serious road offence. The report added that these drivers can continue to drive using their foreign licenses after serving any relevant suspension or disqualification periods. But with the new rule, offenders will need to apply for a NSW driving license if they want to drive in NSW again.
You can’t have a situation where someone has demonstrated very serious bad behaviour, and be able to drive on their foreign licence,’ Peter Khoury, spokesman for the National Roads and Motorists’ Association, said via the Daily Telegraph. Exceptions have been made for drivers from Japan, Singapore and Germany, who will need to convert their license but will not have to take the test.
The new rules, announced in August 2022 and expected to come into effect in November, were delayed due to the COVID-19 pandemic. According to the Daily Telegraph, more than 2,000 foreign drivers have had their driving privileges withdrawn since 2020 due to poor behavior on the roads. There are approximately 220,000 people living in NSW driving on foreign licences.
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