ARMY DRIVERS (Training and tests)

Mr Ng Kah Ting asked the Minister of Defence what is the duration of training and what tests are conducted for a National Serviceman before he is allowed to drive heavy vehicles on public roads.

Mr Howe Yoon Chong: Mr Speaker, Sir, this is a continuation of the debate. As far as the SAF is concerned, we have a seven-week Basic Drivers Course. This means that we put our national servicemen through a seven-week driving instruction period. During this course, each driver is given a minimum of 60 hours' practical driving on a three-ton truck. At the end of the course, the trainee driver is given a test conducted along the same lines as that for the ROV Class IV (heavy vehicles/lorries) driving licence. The test includes knowledge of highway code, practical road driving, parallel parking, reversing and three-point turn, After passing the driving test, the trainee driver is given a further week of experience driving a Land Rover before he is posted to a unit as a qualified driver for motor vehicles.

In the unit he is given a further one-month continuation training course before he is allowed to drive three-ton trucks to carry SAF personnel from one point to another.