Mauritius vs UK Driving Test Comparison

Every country has their own set of rules and laws for the welfare of their citizens and sometimes those regulations may be significantly different from other countries. The procedure to obtain a driving licence in Mauritius is not that different from the UK though but still it is not entirely the same.

Here's how it works in England

You need to sit for a theory test (that's divided into 2 sections, a multiple choice part and a hazard perception test).

You will be given 50 questions for the multiple choice exam on traffic signs and the Highway Code and you will need to get at least 43 questions right to pass. You have 57 minutes to answer all questions and you can flag questions for review, that is, come back to a question later if you're not sure about the answer.

For the hazard perception test, you will be shown 14 clips and you'll have to click where you see a hazard (danger). You need to score 44 out of 75 points to pass.

Failing in any one of the tests will result in failing the whole theory part of the driving test.

Once you're done with the theory, you can go on the practical driving test which starts with an eyesight test followed by a general assessment of your knowledge regarding your vehicle and then it includes 40 minutes of driving with the examiner. 10 minutes will be reserved for independent driving where you won't be receiving step by step instructions but rather be told where to go and you'll have to show your ability to drive safely.

You will be allowed up to 15 minor faults during the driving test but anything above that will result in a fail. Serious or dangerous driving faults will be an immediate fail.

Here's how it works in Mauritius

You start by taking the Mauritius Oral Test (Audio Visual Test) where you're given 40 questions but only the 35 questions which follow the first 5 carry points. It is in multiple choice format about road signs and general Highway Code regulations and you need to get 30 questions right out of the 35 to secure a pass. You cannot go back to a previous question and you only have 30 seconds to answer a question. Have a look at this thorough guide for the best tips to pass the oral test to guarantee that you pass.

Once the theory side of things is out of the way, you can move onto the practical test which involves driving for about 20-30 minutes with a police examiner who will give you instructions on where to go and what to do. You will not be doing any turn in the road (3 point turn) or emergency stop during the test and upon successful completion of the test, you will be awarded your driving licence.

Conclusion

As you can see, the driving test in the UK in much more complex and difficult than that in Mauritius. The British government has not done this to make it impossible for learners to get their license but to make them better drivers by raising awareness on all aspects of driving. I'd like to see the Mauritian government adopt a similar strategy to reduce accidents on our roads and integrate the hazard perception and independent driving sections to better prepare new drivers and make it safer for everyone.