Driving in New Ingerland

A vespa scooter

For the average New Ingerlander, driving a motorcar or scooter is a daily part of life. The majority of New Ingerlanders are capable of driving a motorcar of some kind or another, and usually do so from when they become legally eligible at the age of sixteen. Despite having a very low car usage rate, many people still own a car to serve as means to transport when the trains or buses are not available or suitable. Driving is regulated by the New Ingerland Road Code, by which all motorists must conform to by law.

The highest level of ownership and use is for people aged between 25 and 45, which corresponds to age that most people choose to have a family. The most popular brands of car are Asian or American, although with a deregulated import market, brands from all over the world can be found. Cars older than twenty-five years cannot be registered or driven by law as they are considered unsafe and too dirty. Once a car becomes too old, it is sold for scrap and recycled.

Many younger New Ingerlanders own a scooter (as pictured right) as opposed to a car which is far more expensive to refuel and maintain. The cost of running a scooter is about 10% of the cost of running even a small car. Scooters are particularly popular amongst university and polytechnic students and trade apprentices.

Driving licences

BY law, restricted licensees must display plates on their car indicated which restricted licence they hold.

By law, all motorists must have a valid Driving Licence before they can control a motorcar or scooter in New Ingerland. Depending on what level of licence they have, certain restrictions are placed on a driver that regulate the size of the vehicle they can drive and what maximum speed they can drive at. The minimum driving age is 16 (except bicycles), when learner driver may apply for a L1 Licence. From than on, motorists can apply for more unrestricted licences until they reach the level of D2. The licence categories are:

• A1 - Bicycle Licence (Must be over 10 years of age, and can ride any unmotorised bicycle)
• A2 - Scooter Licence (for motorised cycles under 100cc)
• A3 - Motorbike Licence (for motorised cycles over 100cc)
• B1 - Open Licence (Can drive any vehicle under 7,500 pounds (3,400 kg), 4.0 litres and cannot exceed 70 miles per hour (110 km/h))
• B2 - Utility Vehicle Licence (for utility vehicles over 1 tonne)
• B3 - Agricultural Vehicle Licence (for tractors and harvesters)
• B4 - Emergency Services Licence (for Ambulance, Police, Fire and Civil Defence vehicles)
• B5 - Ministry of Defence Licence
• B6 - International Driver's Licence (for any driver from overseas who wishes to drive in New Ingerland)
• B7 - Diplomatic Licence (for any member of the Diplomatic Corps)
• C1 - Minibus Licence (under 25 passengers)
• C2 - Open Bus Licence (over 25 passengers)
• D1 - Small Goods Lorry (under 16,500 pounds (7,500 kg))
• D2 - Large Goods Lorry (over 16,500 pounds (7,500 kg))
• L1 - Learner Driver (may drive any vehicle under 5 seats, 2.0 litres and cannot exceed 50 miles per hour (80 km/h))
• L2 - Restricted Learner's Licence (may drive any vehicle under 8 seats, 2.4 litres and cannot exceed 55 miles per hour (89 km/h))
• T1 - Taxicab Licence (may drive a Taxi Cab)
• T2 - Ministry of Transport Bus/Tram Licence (may drive for the Ministry of Transport)

As a rule, the higher the licence category, the more difficult it is for someone to obtain the licence.

Road rules and signage

Main article: Road signs in New Ingerland

New Ingerland's road rules and signage are based loosely on the road code New Zealand, with distinct influences from the United States and the Ingerland. Most road signage is also identical to that used in New Zealand, although are some exceptions exist where the signage tends to be more American or Ingerish in appearance.

Some points of note:

• New Ingerlanders drive on the left
• Seatbelts are compulsory
• Driving under the influence of alcohol and drugs is illegal, with the blood alcohol limit set to 0.02 for all drivers.
• By law, cars can be no bigger than four cylinder for "A" Class drivers. Those needing larger vehicles (4WD's and lorries) are required to sit for a different licence.
• Speed limits vary. The speed limit for most roads is 50 kph in urban areas and 90 kph in rural areas. The speed limit for trunk routes is 70 miles per hour (110 km/h), with some exceptions such as in road tunnels, which have a speed limit of 90 kph.

Vehicle registration plates

Black on white (front) and black on yellow (rear) number plate scheme in New Ingerland

Introduced in it's current form in 1975, the New Ingerland system follows a roughly European model. There are no personal plates and an individual cannot request a specialist plate and no exceptions are made. The plates are also devoid of meaningless mottoes and slogans.

All plates are issued to all cars, lorries, motorbikes and bicycles regardless of class or the owner. Plates are set out as one of the following:

Category	Text/background colour	Format
General plates	black/white (front) black/yellow (rear)	a·nnn·aaa a·nnn·aaa
Diplomatic Corps plates	whire/red	DC·aa·nnn
Transport vehicle plates	white/green	TX·aa·nnn
Emergency services plates	black/white (front) black/yellow (rear)	EX·aa·nnn EX·aa·nnn
Government plates	black/white (front) black/yellow (rear)	GV·aa·nnn GV·aa·nnn