Can You Take The Learner's Theory Test and Then Later The Practical License Test if You Can't Read? (SA)

AustriaBargain on 09/04/2024 - 15:46
Last edited 09/04/2024 - 15:47

Asking for a friend. They are a permanent resident, they are married to an Australian. They speak Thai and speak very poor English. Well the English isn't all that bad, but you basically need to be familiar with their Engrish to talk to them properly, which takes time. They also can't read any language, not English or Thai. They have a Thai scooter license so though that's no good in Australia it is encouraging.

Anyway I've been Googling and can't seem to find info on whether they can take the theory learner's test, let alone the VORT or CBT.

I do see this page https://www.dit.sa.gov.au/ontherighttrack/your_licence/getti…. mentions that a translator is provided for free on the first learner's theory test attempt, but guessing this is only for Indigenous drivers?

Also wondering if getting a license if you can't read is folly or not. Info out there suggests you don't need to read, you just need to be able to understand the road signs.

My hunch is that this person with enough practice and lessons, maybe many thousands of dollars of lessons if a Thai instructor can be found, could get their license. Their Thai friends here seem to think it's impossible. I know a lot of people who married Thai people 🤷‍♂️

Being illiterate is probably the biggest barrier really..

Automotive Driver's Licence

Comments

    • JediNite77 on 11/04/2024 - 06:21

      After seeing the roads in some South East Asian countries and the way people drive on them, I think I would be happy to not have a license. I think my stress levels would be through the roof, attempting to merge into traffic and the like over there. Compared to Australia, road rules look optional over there. LOL

      • mskeggs on 11/04/2024 - 07:16
        +1

        My first ever overseas trip I rented a car in Rome. Exciting times!

        • rumblytangara on 12/04/2024 - 10:51

          I've driven in loads of places where I don't read the language (including Rome, definitely exciting but come to think of it, it's easy to read signage- placenames and compass directions).

          I wouldn't drive in Thailand though, nor would I drive in a bunch of other Asian or African countries, where the drivers are crazy, right of way is determined by size of vehicle, and sometimes because licenses are granted on the ability to pay a bribe.

          A tourist coming in and picking up a temporary hire car is one thing- they don't stick around for long. The person described in the OP sounds quite different- they will be practically unable to learn road rules, they will be regularly confused by or oblivious to signage.

          Haven't really paid that much attention, but when travelling in Thailand many if not most of the major road signage includes English under the Thai.

    • TheFreaK on 11/04/2024 - 11:48
      +2

      A surprising amount of road signs and information boards have both Thai and English on them in Thailand, likely accommodating to their large tourist base.

  • soan papdi on 09/04/2024 - 17:34
    +2

    Ask the English speaking partner to set up flash cards for these signs. Even anki decks.
    https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Road_signs_in_Australia

    Thai translators should be available from NAATI
    https://www.naati.com.au/online-directory/

    Well worth for the Thai person to join an IELTS college, they’re everywhere in the capital cities. Plenty of international students come to learn English.

  • morse on 09/04/2024 - 18:35

    Lessons with a Thai driving instructor.

  • AustriaBargain on 09/04/2024 - 21:20

    This is interesting, it's been a long time since I ever had to look at this so I didn't know, but apparently in SA you can do the learner theory test online now? According to this https://service.sa.gov.au/news?a=923021 and https://www.sa.gov.au/topics/driving-and-transport/licences/… which links to https://www.sa.gov.au/topics/driving-and-transport/licences/…

    So you can do the test online now, by yourself?

    • CascadeHush on 10/04/2024 - 09:18

      Or have someone else do it for you, I guess. Why even bother having the test then?

      • AustriaBargain on 10/04/2024 - 10:10
        +1

        The test says it takes four hours and has unlimited attempts, so it must be involved enough that even if you didn't know the answers, by the end of it you will. But yeah someone else could just do it for you.

  • orangehead911 on 10/04/2024 - 08:03

    If you can’t read you shouldn’t be driving in Australia at all. Most signs have text on them.

    I wish Australia would adopt the road signs of Europe. They’re all symbols except for the stop sign which has text on it, but also a unique combination of shape and colour.

    • SlickMick on 10/04/2024 - 08:29

      The text is for those who aren't good with shapes and colours.

      If you didn't recognise a sign (usually by shape and colour, but sure read the text if you like), you'd have to lookup the definition of it anyway. This is best done before getting a license rather than carrying a rule book when you drive.

  • tabitha731 on 10/04/2024 - 08:40
    -1

    Don't u think your "friend" is more of a danger on the roads given their inability to read and determine what road signs are? Especially if they're trying to navigate new roads. I would hope common sense prevails and they stay off the road or remain a passenger. There's enuff incompetent drivers on the road without adding to it.

    • altomic on 10/04/2024 - 11:36

      your logic - Person who can't read english - "help!! what does that red octagon sign with the letters S-T-O-P in it mean?….. I better drive super fast through it".

    • SpainKing on 10/04/2024 - 12:21

      Why have you put quotation marks around friend? It seems to imply that you think OP is trying to cover for themselves when they obviously can read (and write) English

  • pollopollo on 10/04/2024 - 09:30

    I know someone who did the knowledge test with a translator (although not in SA). The test was in english and the translator (who was there in person) read each question and answer and translated it orally to her. So, even if she hadn't been able to read, she still could have taken the test.

    • AustriaBargain on 10/04/2024 - 10:09
      -4

      The theory test can be done online now. I'm guessing because of covid. So I'm thinking that is the path to getting a license. Do the theory test at home with the help of a family member that speaks Thai, or then find a driving instructor and testing person that speaks Thai, or see if it's possible for a family member to sit in the back seat and interpret. I'm guessing maybe not because they could give extra tips in Thai and the testing person wouldn't know. But I see a path to getting a license anyway, even if it's expensive.

      • wyrmy on 11/04/2024 - 12:46

        A lot of tests moved online but most likely it would be a proctored test which is monitored via webcam for signs of other people or cheating aids.

        • AustriaBargain on 11/04/2024 - 12:48

          For the $35 setup fee you can attempt it as many times as you want over 12 months. Does $35 buy you unlimited proctor wages to look at webcam footage?

  • netjock on 10/04/2024 - 10:04
    +1

    Know a Chinese translator that attends driving tests. I believe it means they must have translators for Thai too. Good luck.

  • 2esc on 10/04/2024 - 11:20
    +3

    My brother lives in Thailand his Thai wife speaks a little english and is hard to understand so in anticipation of coming to Australia in 3 years time she is currently taking English lessons both verbal and written.

    She doesnt want language to be a barrier for her raising their kids in Australia to give them the best opportunities.

    • AustriaBargain on 10/04/2024 - 11:25

      Smart. Smart to learn English I mean, not smart to avoid coming to Australia for three years, it would have to be better to learn English here than there.

      My parents learned fluent English, they didn't know English when they got here and were sounding out sentences from a phrasebook. They spoke fluently by the time I was born, though with an indistinct Australian accent. They never taught me their native language, kind of annoying, but also it's a pretty useless language to know in Australia. My whole life would probably be different if I spoke with the fatherland accent. Maybe.

  • eddyah on 10/04/2024 - 12:23

    In NSW they let you pick the language to do the test

  • Morphio25 on 10/04/2024 - 12:29
    +1

    They also can't read any language, not English or Thai.

    Yeah, I don't want that person driving on our roads if they can't read!

  • factor on 10/04/2024 - 13:20

    The way the Chinese administer the traffic theory test for foreigners is pretty fair — the questions are in your native language, but any traffic signs shown in the test are the real Chinese ones with Chinese characters. There's no need to be able to speak the language to be safe on the roads.

  • R4 on 10/04/2024 - 14:21

    No English, no licence.

    Stop dicking around.

  • yamahamoto on 10/04/2024 - 19:40
    +1

    There is audio component in the test. You can’t read but you can listen. My dad didn’t go to school in Vietnam due to the war and he passed the test using audio component.

  • jason101 on 10/04/2024 - 21:00

    Serious question: Can you migrate to Australia as a Thai illiterate who can't speak English?

    • AustriaBargain on 10/04/2024 - 21:16

      Probably, if you marry an Australian.

  • billy72 on 10/04/2024 - 21:20
    +2

    LOL many people in this thread can't read as well
    It's not that OP's mates can't read English, they can't even read their speaking language.

  • Hansi on 11/04/2024 - 08:05

    Similar situation when I did my Motorcycle Ls many years ago. Multiple internationals who could hardly understand the instructor. One got booted because it was deemed unsafe. Another relied on visuals and his wife translated the instructions for the final Ls test.

    If you can’t read English, you are risking the lives of other road users in my opinion.

    • AustriaBargain on 11/04/2024 - 10:17
      -2

      If you can’t read English, you are risking the lives of other

      Like if you were driving along and a terrorist slapped a magnetic bomb to your car, and someone warns you by shouting "there's a bomb on your car! Don't drive towards the school or you'll kill all the kiddies!"?

  • Butt Scratcher on 11/04/2024 - 10:56

    Weird that SA doesn't bother interpreting the test, but expect a personal interpreter to help out. I would've imagine that it would be more cost effective to have it translated, rather hiring an interpreter for everyone

    I'm pretty sure in Victoria and NSW, the test is interpreted and you can just select the language you speak.

    But having an interpreter helps a this situation, since they are illiterate in thai as well… so the interpreter can basically read the test for them.

    A lot of the major road signs are designed so that you don't necessarily have to read them to understand them. I'd suggest at least try reading an information booklet on it though.

    NSW seems to have one for thai. A lot of the road rules/signs are the same across states

    https://www.nsw.gov.au/driving-boating-and-transport/roads-s…

  • tooblue on 11/04/2024 - 12:36

    TIS

  • Pidapipo on 11/04/2024 - 16:21

    INFO: why didn’t your friend learn how to read? Sounds like they have time and put in an effort to find ways navigating life without that skill, which must have been difficult.

    It’s only understandable if they have a disability.

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