What Americans Need to Know About Getting a Driver's License in Sweden

Public Service for Americans Getting a Driver’s License in Sweden:

First of all, if you are new to this process, you need to know that Sweden aims for zero road fatalities and keeping inferior drivers off the road. This means a higher bar for safety than American drivers are used to. I was looking for and could not find tips that distinguish Swedish driving from American. As most Americans (and very few foreigners) realize, there is no one "American" way. Each state has different laws and styles and manners. Well, in Sweden, driving is still quite different than in most if not all the States. Swedes told me simply that Sweden has a ‘different style,’ but no one explained it. The bottom line is go slower and more carefully, with a lot more use of mirrors and head-checks. Also YOU NEED LESSONS. I had been driving 41 years with only one fender-bender and still needed to discover what is different in Sweden through 7 behind-the-wheel lessons, on top of studying what we call the "Rules of the Road book" carefully and taking the "Theory Test" following the driving impairments and stopping on slippery surfaces [Risk I & II] courses. The testing process is very rigorous in Sweden.

Secondly, every state in “The Union” has slightly different laws and even customs and expectations. I have lived in six states, and each move required an adjustment to my driving. For example, in Chicago, people drive a bit wildly and aggressively, cutting one-another off and tailgating. Few people signal when changing lanes – they just “nose in”. But police are very diligent, so you better not break any laws or miss a sign. Pedestrians are inconsiderate, and there is a lot to pay attention to. Speeding, going 10 MPH over the limit is always punished. In Wisconsin and Iowa and a few states, expect to be ticketed if you go even 5 MPH over. In Dallas, people drive impulsively but a bit more kindly. They are in a hurry and sometimes crazy, but not quite as aggressive. In L.A., people are very aggressive and FAST and almost no one ever gets ticketed for speeding. Revenge is common. Sometimes, the roads have 5 or 6 lanes moving in one direction, and people might change across many lanes in one quick motion. These are all strange behaviors, from an outsider perspective. In the Southern states, drivers are very courteous and use directional signals and never honk unless it is very very important to save lives. People will stop to let you pull out in front of them. Now that you are living in Sweden, you have even bigger adjustments to make than these inter-state expectations. For starters, in Sweden you can never turn right on red and the speed limits and distances are in kilometers. Those are minor issues compared to some other differences, equally enforced in the testing process:

1. Before getting into the car, check the tires and tread for air and depth of tread before getting in. This is not enforced at all testing stations, but my instructors advised me to at least ask if they wanted me to do that. In the U.S., one does this occasionally, but not every time one drives. If the tires are low on newer cars, the electronic warning system will tell you, and you can turn your attention there.

2. Always put your purse or packages - anything you are carrying - on the floor of the back seat, not on the passenger seat or the floor in the front. Your cell phone has to be fastened into a tight-gripping holder. This is because they could become projectiles and go through a window or into you or a passenger, in a crash. I was used to putting things on the passenger seat, or if a passenger is there, my purse goes under my legs on the floor and phone in the center console. Not in Sweden.

3. Always use and deactivate the manual parking brake, even if there is no slope. I was taught that we use the parking brake in a manual transmission car or when parking on a slope. Use it always in Sweden.

4. To back up, check all mirrors and turn head both ways (360 check) before putting car into reverse and backing up. I used to just look in the rearview mirror and then, when pulling into traffic, turn in that direction to look over the shoulder and in the mirror. They do it all before putting it into gear. Keep looking around as you go backward slowly. You have all the responsibility here. In the U.S., I was taught that if you see someone with backup lights on, you should stand still and let them back up, as they may not be able to see well. In Chicago, we were taught that was a courtesy extended to someone backing up. But in Sweden, you are supposed to drive right past them, because they have all the responsibility (which they also do in the U.S.). When I asked my instructor why, I was told that someone behind you might not be able to brake, if you stop (which I think is where the responsibility should lie). Anyway, just go with it. We are not here to assess which way makes more sense or is safer. Customs differ.

5. To turn left, look in the rear-view mirror, then over your left shoulder, then if all is clear, signal left, and then turn and look right and left down the road you are turning onto for pedestrians and cyclists, then look over your left shoulder again and then turn left. Check your rear-view mirror, when you are on the road forward. Stay away from parked cars, as much as possible. There are many more steps expected in the process than in the U.S.

6. To turn right, the steps are reversed but the same: Check first before signaling, first in the right and back mirrors, then over right shoulder for motorcycles, bicycles and pedestrians. Signal right and get in the right position, closing the lane or shoulder to others, so that people know you are ready to turn. Then, check left and look down sidewalks both ways. Turn and then check your rear-view mirror (which they call “after-control”).

7. The only time you can make a U-Turn is if it is a small road with a turn-out.

a. In that case, check all around you for no cars coming either direction and turn on your right blinker and keep it on all the way around. If there are cars coming, pull into turn-out or driveway and wait for them to pass.

b. Other U-Turns are made by turning left and then backing around the corner. [Yes, that’s right:  what is not legal in the U.S. is sometimes legal here. We just have different laws.] The backing up process required a lot of checking (see above) and slow moves. You then park close to the side of the road and check carefully before signaling left. When all is clear (and you have a green light), you pull out and go through the intersection.

8. When you are stopped and plan to start moving not at a light or stop sign, but also not just when parked at the side – check for a clear space to pull out and signal left before moving, even when starting forward in a straight line. Note: even if you are not turning left or moving left, signal to show this change from stopped to motion. This is not in the traffic rules book, but two of my instructors told me to do it to signal to other drivers that my car is about to move. For example, when letting off a passenger or backing around a corner and shifting gears, you would start moving forward.

9. On country roads, if you are planning to turn right and someone is tailgating you, you may not turn right. You must go through the intersection and later make a U-turn, so that you will not be rear-ended. If someone is following you very closely, you are to pull off the road, out of the way, if possible. In short, as seen with the backing up custom above, people tailgating have more rights than in the U.S. You must do more to prevent tailgaters from rear-ending you than in the U.S. where the tailgater is more responsible for making changes.

10. You can pull onto the right shoulder if you plan to turn right. This is expected, if not law.

11. I think the rules for roundabouts are similar to the U.S. but pay attention to overhead signs regarding which lane to enter for your desired exit. Also, Sweden seems stricter when it comes to when and how to signal. You must signal if you are going right or left when you enter the traffic circle. You must not signal if you are going to eventually go straight. But you must ALWAYS SIGNAL your departure right before you leave the circle (after the previous road exit). Signaling for roundabout lane changes is quite complicated, but pay attention to your instructor. There are few margins for error in roundabout etiquette in Sweden. Many foreign drivers fail the behind-the-wheel test in roundabouts.

12. Dropping off or picking up passengers is not considered “parking” or even “standing.”  In other words, you can do this in handicapped spaces, at bus stops and places where parking and standing are not allowed. But checking your cell phone or doing something else while in the car is considered parking (not “standing” as it is in the U.S.). Take note of these important changes.

13. “Double-parking” laws do not apply to two-wheeled vehicles. Also, you can park on the opposite side of the road facing your direction if there is a railroad on the side of the road you are traveling. I've never heard of such things in the States I've lived in, in the U.S.

14. When entering a “motorway” (British for expressway or freeway), signal early that you plan to get on and check blind spot late. Get your speed up to 80 km/hr before entering. In the U.S., this tends to depend on the road and length of onramp and there is no signal in such cases, since everyone knows you are entering and it doesn't seem necessary. Do it in Sweden. When exiting the freeway, signal and check mirrors at 200-300 meters before your exit. Check your blind spot (head turn) near the exit.

15. In changing lanes, check EVERYHING FIRST. You must see that the way is clear in mirrors and over shoulder BEFORE YOU SIGNAL. That means that you are about to move. In the U.S., signaling often means that you hope to change lanes or plan to turn (“please let me in”). Do not signal until you have checked everything out and can move over, in Sweden.

16. On highways, brake on curves and check mirrors often. In the U.S., people are told to remove their foot from the accelerator when they see a curve coming, but one doesn't brake unless necessary or if the curve is quite tight. More braking around curves and checking all mirrors is expected in Sweden.

17. In tunnels, the speed is usually 90-100 km/hr. Try to keep it right on that. I was failed on a test for going too slow in a tunnel (even though there was snow and ice on the roads before and after the tunnel). The reason is that trucks cannot pass in a tunnel, and if you are too slow, you are hindering and perhaps endangering them.

18. In a parking lot, even if there are no cars parked, you cannot drive over the parking lines. This doesn't make sense to me, but the instructor said it would fail me to drive over a line, even if no cars are around. I assume this is just for the driving test, as it doesn't make sense otherwise.

19. A car pulling a trailer cannot go over 80 km/hr. There are all kinds of laws related to trailers and external cargo that you must learn – refer to the rules of the road text book, if pulling anything with a car.

20. If the speed limit is under 50 km/hr and a bus signals to pull out, you must let them go ahead of you. This is not true if the speed limit is over 50. In that case, do not slow down or stop.

21. Turn off the key ignition before you shift the car into PARK. 

In short, a lot more head-turning, mirror use and checking down paths to both sides and over shoulder. Calm, careful and steady driving.

Here are some helpful tips for everyone, not just Americans (common sense):

·      Find a good driving school – look at online ratings, not just the closest one.

·      There is an order in which you have to do things. Look on the trafikverket website for details. First, get your vision test (which is good for one year), then take the Risk I and Risk II classes, then your theory test, then the practical test in that order. The theory test expires, so if you fail the practical test and can’t get a new one rebooked for many months, this may mean trouble – retaking tests. So buckle down and do well!

·      Let the pros decide how many behind-the-wheel lessons you need to prepare for the test. Usually a “driving assessment” gives them a good idea about what you’re doing wrong that needs work. It does cost a lot, but even if you have a lot of U.S. driving experience, there is work to be done to get you into “Swedish driving” mode.

·      Read the text book on rules of the road and expectations in Sweden. Sign up for the online practice tests and take them before the date of your theory test.

·      Watch the SunneTrafikskola YouTube videos before your practical test.

·      Schedule your test for the time of day when you are at your best. You need good concentration and to be relaxed, so don’t listen to driving school professionals that say early morning is always better. Know yourself and stand your ground on that.

·      Most cars nowadays are automatic. Europe used to have more manual transmission cars than the U.S. but not really anymore. I know how to drive both, but it was easier to test with automatic, and the instructor felt that very few stick-shift options would be available in the future. So go ahead and take the test with an automatic, even though it means no future driving in manual cars. The limiting occasions will be few.

·      People advised me to go with the school instructor and use the school's vehicle for the test. For one thing, you will be more familiar with the car that you've taken lessons with. Someone also said the testing center prefers that you bring the car (with instructor). Not sure about that, but it does cost a lot more. You obviously can't bring your own, since they need the special car with passenger brakes, but I rented the testing center's car the second time, and it actually helped me to arrive at the center and focus by myself first. Anyway, do what seems best for you.

·      If you are uncomfortable speaking Swedish, ask for them to take you in English – usually they don’t mind, even if they are not confident in their English abilities. My Swedish was good enough, but due to stress, I used a blend of Swedish and English with both testers. They didn't mind and did the same.

·      There are greeting cards of congratulations for getting your driver's license. It’s not like in the U.S. where almost any monkey can drive and most people take all the lessons in school at age 15. In Sweden, sometimes, a person gets a lenient examiner who expects less, but don’t assume that if you live in a smaller town (or go to a smaller town), you will have it easier. Most examiners nationwide are VERY thorough (but kind). When I failed, mine said, “Well, we’ll have to see each other again. You didn’t pass today.” I passed on the second try, but it was not easy. Many people (80% stats say) fail, so take it very seriously. A friend who is very intelligent and well-educated failed 9 times before giving up. Many Swedes fail several times before passing. Go for it, but be diligent to adapt to the differences and be a good and careful driver.