"DMV's promote safety on our roads by ensuring that those they license meet a minimum requirement of knowledge and skill to operate their vehicles on the roads."
Are you absolutely kidding me? I moved to Philadelphia from Denmark in 2014. I had never had a drivers license in Denmark, mostly because it costs like 2000 dollars to get one. Let me tell you, the DMV's might as well not exist. I answered 13 questions on a test on a computer and passed even though I hadn't studied at all. Now I had a Learners Permit which meant I could drive if someone with a drivers license was sitting next to me. For the next month I was driving all over the place with absolutely no other skill and knowledge than that, and I couldn't even remember the test because it was retarded. After one month I went to take the test for my drivers license. First a check of the car (which I brought my self), then a parallel parking test and then we drove out of the parking lot, took a right, then another right and lastly a third right back in to the parking lot, and congratulations, I had a drivers license. I took around 5 minutes. Total cost: 38 dollars.
If that's minimum requirements, you might as well not have them. And consider this: While Pennsylvania authorities will punish you for not following their rules on this matter and drive around with an expired license because "muh public safety", they let people from other states drive around Pennsylvania even though they might come from a state where people can go for a much longer time to get their licenses renewed. Safety my ass.
here in the uk it is very expensive business to obtain a driving licence. with multiple courses in the name of safety creating a whole industry of instructors examiners and no end of meaningless paper pushing. it is not uncommon for new drivers to fail our driving test multiple times.with the only option being to pay the fees again , book another appointment and keep churning through the system until you get a pass. when I moved to a small town called bear river nova scotia canada I realized the test was just a simple form to fill a few dollars and a quick drive around the block . my wife and son also paid the fee and passed the test 1st time with no traffic on the road it was too easy! as uk citizens we are required by law to get the Canadian licence if staying there any length of time and is valid for five years. the great thing is to my sons delight it is also valid back in the uk Europe and the states so now travels back there every five years to renew it having a holiday at the same time. when in Canada I hand over a uk licence if stopped by the cops when in uk show the Canadian one what ever happens I enjoy being different and gaming there own system .it,s not totally non compliance but my was of resisting the controls over me wherever I am at the time . its always handy to have one or two back ups. I have even thought you could start a whole new business flying people to easy pass places who are having trouble passing a driving test in there own over crowded city/ country who desperately need them to function. there is always a positive spin other than just obey and comply i like tossing spanners in the works legally .
In the '70s I wanted to list my name in the phone book as Donald Duck because that was my nick name. MABELL refused citing copyright infringement. I changed by request to Don L. Duck and they agreed. Also, I found a way to stop filing the income tax form that worked by gaming the system.
Thank you for your unique "outsider" perspective. My theory on why it is so hard there and EU is that this is a control mechanism. Driving is freer than public transport. For govt. freedom is to be eliminated, except the "freedom" to produce wealth for the state.