Scotland’s former first minister, Nicola Sturgeon, who unexpectedly resigned this 12 months and later grew to become the topic of a police investigation, made one other uncommon announcement on Monday.
“So this occurred right this moment,” she mentioned on Instagram. “On the tender age of 53, I handed my driving check (first time!!).”
The expertise took her “properly out of any notion of a consolation zone,” Ms. Sturgeon added, “however hopefully proves that it’s by no means too late in life to do one thing new.”
For Ms. Sturgeon, getting her driver’s license was little doubt a welcome respite from different latest headlines.
She resigned her put up as Scotland’s chief in February, citing exhaustion and her standing as a polarizing determine as her causes. Then in June, she was arrested by law enforcement officials investigating the funds of the Scottish Nationwide Social gathering, which she had led because it dominated the nation’s politics.
Ms. Sturgeon was launched and has denied wrongdoing.
The driving-test milestone highlighted the sheltered, chauffeured life-style of heads of state who usually journey in well-secured autos. It additionally was a reminder of simply how exhausting such exams are in the UK in comparison with different nations, together with america.
Within the U.S., attaining a driver’s license is mostly thought of a ceremony of passage for 16-year-olds, a lot of whom take a considerably simple highway check, finishing easy stops and turns and demonstrating that they’ll reverse and parallel park.
In Britain, nonetheless, the exams seem to be extra in depth, and one maneuver sounds notably difficult for any newbie: The driving force is requested to tug up on the right-hand aspect of the highway, reverse for round two car-lengths after which rejoin visitors.
Rob Harper, the chair of the Affiliation of Authorised Driving Instructors, advised The Telegraph in 2019: “I feel it’s a harmful maneuver, and so do a lot of my members.”
Through the driving check in Britain, potential drivers shall be on the highway for round 40 minutes. In California, against this, the behind-the-wheel driving ability examination takes about 20 minutes, the state’s Division of Motor Automobiles mentioned in an e mail.
The cross price for the driving check in Britain was 47 p.c from January to March final 12 months, down one share level from the earlier quarter, based on information from the British transport division. That passing price prompted a marketing campaign from the division that urged learner drivers to be test-ready or transfer their check dates again.
Driving examiners, the division mentioned, “needed to do issues akin to brake or steer the automobile in 1 in 5 failed exams.”
The division additionally really useful that learners discover an permitted driving teacher. However in america, it’s not unusual for folks to substitute as de facto driving instructors.
Nonetheless, america will not be precisely an instance for driving-test readiness. In California, the passing price for the motive force’s license data check is 41 p.c to this point this 12 months, and 67 p.c for the driving abilities check.
Stringent necessities to acquire a driver’s license are additionally the norm in different European nations. In Germany, the driving examination features a part on concept, based on Inc. Journal. Even the fee to get a license in Germany is extra prohibitive, starting from $2,000 to $3,700. In Britain, the fee is about 129 kilos in statutory charges, or about $158.
Ms. Sturgeon mentioned her driving teacher had been instrumental in her classes and somebody whom she “might belief and really feel comfy with.”
Ms. Sturgeon’s arrest had deepened the issues which have engulfed the Scottish Nationwide Social gathering, which is campaigning for Scottish independence. Ms. Sturgeon’s husband, Peter Murrell, the occasion’s former chief government, and Colin Beattie, the occasion’s former treasurer, have been arrested in April. They, like Ms. Sturgeon, have been launched with out costs. On the time of her arrest, she wrote on social media that she was sure she had “dedicated no offense.”
She clearly welcomed the change of topic and the prospect to play social media influencer on Monday. Sitting on the wheel with the booklet of an area driver coaching firm in hand, she posed in a photograph together with her “sensible” teacher, calling him “somebody I might belief and really feel comfy with.”
