Hard road in Japan - Long process to driver's licence for Jamaicans

Sheldon Williams, Gleaner Writer

Some Jamaicans now living in Japan, who aced the driving test at home, are finding it hard to do so in the Land of the Rising Sun, forcing them to give up on getting a driver's licence there. Claiming frustration with the Japanese driving exam, they have resigned themselves to the bicycle or train.

"You can decide not to do the test and don't drive. If you want to drive you have to follow the rules, but the test is unnecessary because we drive on the same side of the road as them, while in other countries that drive on opposite side of the road (Jamaicans) are exempt from doing a road test," a Jamaican who sat the Japanese test five times before passing complained. The Jamaicans in Japan with whom Automotives spoke preferred not to be named.

Another Jamaican who has given up on being a licensed driver in Japan explained that "If you don't have your licence three months prior to arriving it's even more difficult, because you have to do everything from scratch. And from that process you have to do a 30-question test, I think in 30 minutes. If you pass that you have to get somebody who already has a licence to give you 10 hours driving on the road, then you have to do a 100-question test after and then the driving test with them."

She claimed that the failure rate is high among Jamaicans and Indians. "Maybe Americans, Britons, Canadians and Ausssies have it easier, but for Indians and us it is harder, because they fail us a lot," she said.

An alternative to that process is to do formal lessons. "If you decide not to go that route, you can opt to go to driver's school and pay 300,000 yen, which will automatically guarantee your licence after," she said.

Koji Tomita, counsellor/deputy chief of mission at the Embassy of Japan in Jamaica, explained the driving examination process in Japan. "Under the Road Traffic Law of Japan, for a person with foreign driver's licence to drive a car in Japan they are required to have international driving permit (up to one year from the date of arrival in Japan), or to have a Japanese driver's licence by exchanging their foreign driver's licence," he said. "For them to exchange their foreign driver's licence, most of them are required to take a test on knowledge and practical driving skills in Japan."

Tomita noted that nationals of some countries are exempt from the process, but not Jamaica. "Holders of driver's licences issued by 25 countries and a region are exempt from the test under the Road Traffic Law. Jamaica is not on the list, because it has never been requested by the Government of Jamaica. For Jamaicans to be exempted from such exam, the Government of Jamaica may request the Government of Japan through diplomatic channels to consider to take necessary procedures. If that will be the case, the Government of Jamaica is, of course, obliged to provide necessary information and answer questions in timely manner during the process," he explained.

The exemption applies to Australia, Austria, Belgium, Britain, Canada, Czech Republic, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Holland, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Korea, Luxembourg, Monaco, New Zealand, Norway, Portugal, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, and Taiwan.

According to the website japandriverslicense.com, the Japanese driving test is not difficult. However, there are many simple sequences and processes that those administering the test look out for. Because of this, it is not uncommon for foreigners to take the driving test six times or more, but this is not because of a deficiency in their driving skills. Passing the first time, unassisted, is therefore the exception rather than the rule. The average pass rate for Tokyo (unassisted) is 35 per cent, and for another city, Nagoya, it is 20 per cent.

According to the website for the Embassy of Jamaica in Tokyo, Japan, www.jamaicaemb.jp, some foreign nationals (including Jamaicans) are eligible to drive in Japan on an International Driving Permit/Licence for a period not exceeding one year. Jamaicans should obtain this permit from the Inland Revenue Department in Jamaica prior to going to Japan. Jamaicans residing in Japan may also obtain a Japanese driver's licence by applying to the Driver's Licence Centre of the prefecture in which they reside. Applicants must possess a valid Jamaican driver's licence and be able to prove that they continued to live in Jamaica for at least three months after obtaining it.

Applicants should obtain a Japanese translation of the driver's licence and submit it along with the following documents to the relevant Driver's Licence Centre in the prefecture of residence:

• Valid Jamaican driver's licence
• Valid passport
• Resident card (with registered domicile information) or alien registration card
• One photograph (3.0 cm x 2.4cm);
• Application fee of 4,150 yen

Translations of Jamaican driver's licences may be done by the Japanese Automobile Federation, or by an official translation company. In the case of the latter, the translation should be submitted to the Embassy of Jamaica in Tokyo for authentication. It is recommended that applicants contact the Driver's Licence Centre in their area for guidance prior to making an application.