Beware. There are many 'nuances' that must be learnt if you are to drive and stay alive here!
Here's what I've observed so far:
1. Drivers often don't indicate. They just pull out in front of you.
2. Drivers use their hazards for pretty much everything. My favourite is when they just stop at the side of a busy road. Sometimes they bother to pull over. Sometimes they don't.
3. Roundabouts. Often you'll have people indicating right in the left lane. Or they might not indicate at all (see 1).
As an expat you need to know a few things about converting your driving license:
1. You are able to drive on your foreign license for 12 months after you first arrived in Singapore. If you want to continue driving after 12 months, you must convert to a Singapore license. It is best to apply for a license conversion at least 3 months before your first year is up, as it can take that long to get an appointment and test done.
2. Book your conversion test at any of the Driving Centres around town (you have to go down there in person to register and pay). Your conversion test is two things: an online theory test (called The Basic Theory Test) and watching a safety video (which truthfully, scarred me for life it was so graphic)!
3. Revise. It is worth getting a Basic Theory Test book, which you can buy from any book shop (suggest Times or Kinokuniya book shops), and reading it.
There are some questions in there that are relevant to driving in Singapore specifically and although your own knowledge will help you answer most questions there will definitely be a few you won't have ever heard of. Here's a good example - what does this road sign mean?
Yup. I guessed you've never seen this one before! It alerts motorcyclists to the fact that there is a shelter up ahead in the event of a heavy downpour.
Safe driving!
Rebecca
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