Like Tree45Likes

My experience of learning to drive in Hong Kong...

Closed Thread
Page 2 of 5 FirstFirst 1 2 3 4 5 LastLast
  1. #11

    Join Date
    Aug 2017
    Posts
    369

    Good post, and should be a great resource.

    I'm really surprised that there are designated 'test routes' - why not just drive wherever (like in the UK, or I'd imagine most countries)? Is it because of traffic? Even if in Happy Valley, why have a designated route? Curious..

    MerMer likes this.

  2. #12

    Join Date
    Oct 2016
    Posts
    243
    Quote Originally Posted by Flapster:
    Good post, and should be a great resource.

    I'm really surprised that there are designated 'test routes' - why not just drive wherever (like in the UK, or I'd imagine most countries)? Is it because of traffic? Even if in Happy Valley, why have a designated route? Curious..
    My thoughts exactly. Unless the learner driver is only ever going to drive the test route and never venture onto any other road in their driving lifetime, then the whole process of teaching to pass the test is flawed.

    ... but what is that thing about rote learning in HK again???
    MerMer likes this.

  3. #13

    Join Date
    Nov 2007
    Location
    Wanchai
    Posts
    5,063

    This post makes me want to buy a car but ive got nowhere to park it.

    6 years I've been back and I've not once driven a car in HK.


  4. #14

    Join Date
    Aug 2017
    Location
    Kowloon
    Posts
    296
    Quote Originally Posted by Firemin:
    My thoughts exactly. Unless the learner driver is only ever going to drive the test route and never venture onto any other road in their driving lifetime, then the whole process of teaching to pass the test is flawed.

    ... but what is that thing about rote learning in HK again???
    It's Hong Kong - they're teaching to the test.
    Firemin and TheBrit like this.

  5. #15

    Throttle Pulsing

    Quote Originally Posted by i-am-si:
    I'm curious to know if they promoted the idea of pulsing the throttle when driving along motorways? It seems to be a very Hong Kong thing that is widespread amongst the taxis I've been in. They seem to surge the throttle a lot.

    Given how wide spread it is I have to believe they're taught that? Maybe they think it saves gas? (it doesn't).

    For passengers you're rocking back and forth and for some can make you feel a bit motion sick.

    Was there any emphasis on driving smoothly/throttle control or was it just completing the tick boxes?
    YES! While I have seen that here in Taiwan rarely, in HK it seems as if it was taught in drivers training it is so
    prevalent. It is almost as if someone has said this is the correct way to drive, because it surely does not seem like
    a good idea. Having driven hundreds of thousands of miles in all conditions I had never run across this phenomenon
    except in HK.
    shri likes this.

  6. #16

    Join Date
    Dec 2015
    Posts
    151

    $680 for a double lesson. Pretty steep but it's HK :/


  7. #17

    Join Date
    Dec 2015
    Posts
    151

    I think it's leftover from before the handover. From what I understand, there used to be designated test routes in England, or at the very least, routes which all the instructors knew were test routes.

    It doesn't make much sense to me either. I won't lie, it's easier to pass the test knowing the routes but when it comes to 'real' driving, it isn't that practical. It does explain the piss-poor driving here though.


  8. #18

    Join Date
    Oct 2005
    Location
    Clearwater Bay, Hong Kong
    Posts
    267

    Heey... great thread! The wifey is about to learn how to drive. I think we will take the private route based on your experience. And it seems cheaper also.

    I just wonder which private instructor to take. We are in Clearwater Bay!


  9. #19

    Join Date
    Dec 2015
    Posts
    151

    Hey bud, depends where your wife wants to learn. I did mine on HK Island and I went with Leekin. My instructor was cool but I did speak to a Scottish lady on my test date who was also with Leekin and she said her instructor was kinda crappy. I also took a lesson with a Ryan Chow who is an independent instructor. Google his name and you will find his details.

    Bear in mind, if your wife decides to do her test in HK Island and she is designated Happy Valley as her test route, there are only 3 routes to learn (in reality just 2 because the third is rarely used). If she chooses Kowloon, there are about 11 routes to learn I think, or it might be 9.


  10. #20

    Join Date
    Oct 2005
    Location
    Clearwater Bay, Hong Kong
    Posts
    267

    Thank you for the info!

    At this point, we are still undecided if we should go with Kwun Tong (near us) or go independent. But through my research, if you go independent or 3rd party, the waiting time for a test is almost 8 months!