You’ve probably seen student driver signs on regular cars around London, but what about on an armoured military vehicle? That’s exactly what had local residents reaching for their phones when they spotted a Tactical Armoured Patrol Vehicle (TAPV) cruising through the city with a bright yellow “Student Driver” sign attached.
The unusual sight was captured and shared on the London Ontario subreddit, where it quickly gained traction with locals expressing everything from amusement to genuine curiosity about what they were witnessing.
Turns out, there’s actually a perfectly logical explanation for this head-turning moment. According to military personnel who chimed in on the Reddit thread, every single vehicle in the Canadian Armed Forces requires specialized training and certification to operate – yes, even the heavy-duty armoured ones.
One commenter revealed that their sister was actually the one behind the wheel of the TAPV, explaining that these vehicles are officially called Tactical Armoured Patrol Vehicles and require specific courses for qualification. The student driver signs are mandatory during training periods, just like they would be for any other vehicle.
The military training process is no joke either. Unlike civilian driving where you might just need a regular licence, operating military vehicles requires extensive specialized training. These aren’t your average Sunday drive vehicles – they’re complex pieces of equipment that demand serious skill and knowledge to handle safely.
What makes this particularly interesting is that you don’t actually need a civilian driver’s licence to operate these military vehicles. The training is completely separate and specific to each type of vehicle in the military fleet.
The Reddit thread also revealed that these training exercises aren’t uncommon around London, with the vehicle likely connected to the First Hussars, a local reserve unit. Military personnel mentioned that seeing armoured vehicles with student driver signs during training periods is actually standard practice.
Some commenters shared their own experiences spotting military training vehicles in other parts of Ontario, including armoured personnel carriers with “student driver” banners strung across the back. It seems like these training exercises happen regularly, but most people just don’t notice them or realize what they’re seeing.
The whole situation sparked some lighthearted commentary from locals, with one person joking about feeling sorry for anyone who might honk at the vehicle, only to see the turret spin around and point at them. Others noted that it makes perfect sense when you think about it – everyone has to learn how to drive every vehicle, even military ones.
For those curious about the timeline, military personnel indicated that TAPV training typically comes a bit down the road from basic training – usually at least two years into service. So while the original poster called them a “new recruit,” the reality is that operating these vehicles requires significant military experience first.
The vehicle spotted was accompanied by a military G-wagon, suggesting this was likely part of a coordinated training exercise. These training runs help military personnel get familiar with operating heavy vehicles in urban environments, which is clearly an important skill set.
London residents seemed to take the whole thing in stride, with most expressing genuine interest in learning more about military training procedures. The consensus was that while it’s definitely not something you see every day, it makes complete sense that military drivers would need proper training and certification.
The TAPV itself is quite a sight to behold – these vehicles are designed for reconnaissance and surveillance missions, and they’re significantly larger and more complex than regular civilian vehicles. They feature two front seats in a layout similar to passenger vehicles, but that’s where the similarities end.
Military training protocols require these student driver signs to be displayed during all training periods, which explains why locals occasionally spot them around the city. It’s actually reassuring to know that military personnel take vehicle training seriously enough to follow the same safety protocols we’re familiar with from civilian driving instruction.
The Reddit thread became quite educational, with military personnel sharing insights about vehicle training procedures and helping curious locals understand what they were witnessing. It’s not every day that a simple photo of a military vehicle generates such an informative discussion about military training practices.