I saw an L driver on the M50 today

Ronanom

Isn't this illegal

zAbbo

You saw a car with L plates ?

Could be an oversight of a shared car.

jhegarty

Ronanom wrote: »

Isn't this illegal

which M50 have been using ?

C_Breeze

Ronanom wrote: »

Isn't this illegal

only if youre heading southbound

SligoBrewer

if it was a L driver yes.

but it could also be the father, mother, brother of an L driver who shares the car but couldn't be arsed taking down the plates

Ronanom

Young lady peering over the steering wheel on her own with L plates displayed...I'm guessing she was a L{earner}

Stark

Ronanom wrote: »

I saw an L driver on the M50 today

And in other non-news...

Ronanom wrote: »

Isn't this illegal

Yes, but isn't all road traffic law in Ireland a mere technicality?

Dave!

I saw someone speeding today. What's your point?

Ronanom

DaveMcG wrote: »

I saw someone speeding today. What's your point?

I already made my point in the first post... put on your reading glasses

Keith186

Holy moly will someone think of the children.

Pherekydes

DaveMcG wrote: »

I saw someone speeding today. What's your point?

Less of the sarcasm. Ronanom just passed-his-test/had-his-first-trip-to-the-big-smoke and spotted an L driver on the M50.

Ronan, L drivers have been on the M50 (and other M-ways) since it opened.

Dub13

SligoBrewer wrote: »

but it could also be the father, mother, brother of an L driver who shares the car but couldn't be arsed taking down the plates

This is also illegal.

MarkR

Pit Manouever for the win. Or if you can hand signal two other drivers you could organise a rolling roadblock while calling the fuzz.

Of course it is illegal. You should know that from the huge signs saying no Learner drivers allowed. Unless you weren't paying attention to road signage. Tut tut.

Barlow07

Ronanom wrote: »

Isn't this illegal

Let me guess because it had L plates? There are hundreds of cars on the M50 with L plates, but that does not mean they are learner drivers.

If you are right and it was a Learner driver, then i think come June 08, they will clamp down on the M50 and learner drivers quick enough.

Stark

SligoBrewer wrote: »

if it was a L driver yes.

but it could also be the father, mother, brother of an L driver who shares the car but couldn't be arsed taking down the plates

Dub13 wrote: »

This is also illegal.

Not in the Republic.

Dub13

Stark wrote: »

Not in the Republic.

A couple of years ago I was driving MrsDub13s car,she was a learner at the time.I was stopped at a checkpoint and had the L plates up,I cop told me it was an offense for a full license driver to drive with L plates.He was fine about it and just said I could get another cop in a bad humor and could be done.

star-pants

As far as I was aware - you didn't have to take them down. I was on my dad's car for a while & when mother asked if he was going to remove the Ls to drive (on the M50), he said he didn't have to - because even if he was stopped -he's a full license.

wil

Dub13 wrote: »

I cop told me it was an offense for a full license driver to drive with L plates.He was fine about it and just said I could get another cop in a bad humor and could be done.

Word of a garda on the street is not necessarily confirmation that something is genuinely illegal.
I think its only illegal in UK

Aside - Amusing to hear interview with an Australian police recruiter on radio, they are currently actively recruiting gardai in to their police force, cant get enough of their own. While explaining some of the differences (they carry guns for a start) he said gardai were well respected, good at defusing difficult situations without weapons, but as many gardai cant drive, we teach them. Far be it for me to concur but...

Esel

wil wrote:

..he said gardai were well respected, good at defusing difficult situations without weapons, but as many gardai cant drive, we teach them. ...

Would these be the colour-blind ones? :eek:

omega man

Used to drive the wifes car with L plates on the motorway from time to time so doesnt mean they were an L driver. The majority of peolple i know who are L drivers use the motorway all the time but i can honestly say i never did and i commuted from sandyford to the airport! Would your insurance pay out if you had an accident on a motorway as an L driver???

daedalus2097

I know of cases where they did pay out... Seemed not to care when a friend ran into the back of someone, and she was a learner at the time. Her insurance didn't even question it, they just paid out for the car in front and hiked her insurance up...

That will probably all change next June though

green123

omega man wrote: »

Used to drive the wifes car with L plates on the motorway from time to time so doesnt mean they were an L driver. The majority of peolple i know who are L drivers use the motorway all the time but i can honestly say i never did and i commuted from sandyford to the airport! Would your insurance pay out if you had an accident on a motorway as an L driver???

yes you are covered
just like driving alone on a provisional is covered
but you might only be covered 3rd party

Jumpy

esel wrote: »

Would these be the colour-blind ones? :eek:

No, these would be the irish taught ones. The aussie police are trained to the nines in pursuit and tactical driving.
They also drive beasts of cars (most of the time). Of course a little investment could have them in Lancers or Rexs' rather than the 5 litre pig heavy V8's. But, each to their own.

whosedaddy?

What happens if the gards stop an L-Driver on the M50? (should happen under the law)

I can't find it in the penalty points list, but the RoTR say its a "serious offense".

unnameduser

If a full licensed driver was sharing a car with a L driver, it is a bit much to ask them to keep putting up and take down 2 L plates. Sure the fecking things will stop sticking to the windows.

On another note, for some there is a stigma attached to driving a car with L plates and they would yank down those L plates before you know it.

Stark

unnameduser wrote: »

If a full licensed driver was sharing a car with a L driver, it is a bit much to ask them to keep putting up and take down 2 L plates. Sure the fecking things will stop sticking to the windows.

You can get magnetic plates or plates that stick to the inside of your windows using static.

Marcus.Aurelius

whosedaddy? wrote: »

What happens if the gards stop an L-Driver on the M50? (should happen under the law)

I can't find it in the penalty points list, but the RoTR say its a "serious offense".

You are not licensed to drive on the M50, it should be treated as such. some Gardai will issue a summons for it, but judges are quite lax. Some though, are very harsh and put them off the road for 6 months to a year or two. It's a mug's game. L plate drivers should not be let on the M50, it's a bit of a kick in the teeth to the rest of us who actually passed the test so we could drive on these roads properly.

Mitch Connor

maoleary wrote: »

You are not licensed to drive on the M50, it should be treated as such. some Gardai will issue a summons for it, but judges are quite lax. Some though, are very harsh and put them off the road for 6 months to a year or two. It's a mug's game. L plate drivers should not be let on the M50, it's a bit of a kick in the teeth to the rest of us who actually passed the test so we could drive on these roads properly.

The thing that annoys me about the motorway rule is the fact it is easier to drive on a motorway then a DC imo, as there are no right turns and thus no reason to be in the overtaking lane if not overtaking (ie. if you don't want to travel at the sppedlimit, you can trundle along in the driving lane and take your exit, which will always be on the left.

If it is considered safe enough for an L Driver to be on a DC, I don't get why a motorway is a big 'no-no'.

JohnCleary

Ronanom wrote: »

Isn't this illegal

Tut tut, good things you're a perfectly law abiding citizen who never ever ever breaks the law

cjt156

Tauren wrote: »

If it is considered safe enough for an L Driver to be on a DC, I don't get why a motorway is a big 'no-no'.

Because SPEED KILLS! didn't you know? That extra 20 km/h means we're all living on a knife edge every second, even though these roads are statistically the safest in the country.

nice1franko

maoleary wrote: »

L plate drivers should not be let on the M50, it's a bit of a kick in the teeth to the rest of us who actually passed the test so we could drive on these roads properly.

"L plate" does not mean the driver is a learner.
It means the car is used by a "learner" (who, in many cases, may be a seasoned driver).

edit-

maoleary wrote: »

it's a bit of a kick in the teeth to the rest of us who actually passed the test so we could drive on these roads properly

By passing the test you automatically knew how to go on the motorway properly?

Stark

Tauren wrote:

If it is considered safe enough for an L Driver to be on a DC, I don't get why a motorway is a big 'no-no'.

Motorways have a higher speed limit than most dual carriageways, and the whole point of a motorway is to remove as many hazards as possible for motorway users. This means no crappy junctions for cars to pull out without warning, no right-turns, full grade separation etc.. It also means no road users that could pose a hazard to vehicles travelling at 120km/hr. This includes pedestrians, cyclists, animals, tractors and L-drivers. An L-car trundling along at 25km/hr on a motorway would pose a hazard when the bulk of the traffic is doing 80-120km/hr. It's not about the learner's safety, it's about everyone else's safety.

Anyway, what's the point in allowing a learner on a motorway? They're supposed to be on the road for learning, not for commuting and the point of a motorway is to facilitate long distance travel in a quick and easy manner. They'll learn a lot more on the "unsafe" roads.

blastman

If motorways are so easy to drive on, how come I see so many people on them who can't drive properly?

cjt156

blastman wrote: »

If motorways are so easy to drive on, how come I see so many people on them who can't drive properly?

Because the majority of drivers, that is people, ie humans (in the main) are, statistically gobshites. Scientific fact, look it up.

Pherekydes

cjt156 wrote: »

even though these roads are statistically the safest in the country.

Because there are no learners on them.

Marcus.Aurelius

nice1franko wrote: »

By passing the test you automatically knew how to go on the motorway properly?

No, but I was qualified then. Learners are not experienced, or tested in any way, at least the other drivers are (for the most part). Motorways do not allow learner drivers for several good reasons already outlined by several posters.

daedalus2097

So once they've passed their test they don't need to worry about consideration for other road users, lane discipline or distancing from other cars. The reason motorways seem the safest roads in the country is the fact that they're very easy to use. All on and off ramps, no junctions, right hand turns, traffic lights etc. Just one direction of road. Nothing to do with there not being as many learners on them as other roads. My only crash was on a motorway with 4 other cars involved, and by my estimation anyway, all had full licences for some time. I dare say someone who just passed their test or even was a learner might have left the proper distance in front of them and not ploughed into my boot.

Mitch Connor

blastman wrote: »

If motorways are so easy to drive on, how come I see so many people on them who can't drive properly?

Question, do you see more people that can't drive properly on a motorway or a DC? personally, i think it is about the same. Personally, I think there is very little difference in driving on a Motorway and driving on a DC - given the choice of routes, i would go the motorway every time, because it is an easier drive.

event

wow, call teh guards so

i drove on it many of times when i had me L plates up, so call them on me too

i suppose the OP, when s/he was learning, never drove unaccompanied?

Mitch Connor

Stark wrote: »

Motorways have a higher speed limit than most dual carriageways, and the whole point of a motorway is to remove as many hazards as possible for motorway users. This means no crappy junctions for cars to pull out without warning, no right-turns, full grade separation etc.. It also means no road users that could pose a hazard to vehicles travelling at 120km/hr. This includes pedestrians, cyclists, animals, tractors and L-drivers. An L-car trundling along at 25km/hr on a motorway would pose a hazard when the bulk of the traffic is doing 80-120km/hr. It's not about the learner's safety, it's about everyone else's safety.

Anyway, what's the point in allowing a learner on a motorway? They're supposed to be on the road for learning, not for commuting and the point of a motorway is to facilitate long distance travel in a quick and easy manner. They'll learn a lot more on the "unsafe" roads.

I suppose i base my opinion on the assumption that any L-Driver on the motorway would be capable and willing to drive at atleast 80kmh, which is reasonable enough in the driving lane. My assumption may be incorrect and therefor invalidate my opinion.

However, although i have seen loads of L-Drivers on the motorway (and to be honest, I was one of them for about 4 months) the dangerous drivers are invariably older people without L-Plates (such as the idiot who pulled out in front of me at 80 yesterday, forcing me to slam on the brakes; or the idiot who didn't pay attention to the lane changes at the roadworks by Dundrum and almost drove into the side of me).

Esel

maoleary wrote: »

You are not licensed to drive on the M50, it should be treated as such. some Gardai will issue a summons for it, but judges are quite lax. Some though, are very harsh and put them off the road for 6 months to a year or two. It's a mug's game. L plate drivers should not be let on the M50, it's a bit of a kick in the teeth to the rest of us who actually passed the test so we could drive on these roads properly.

OK for learners to use other motorways then, just not the M50?

Stark

Ah come on, you know that's not what he meant.

He's just citing the M50 as being the main commuter motorway of the country, it's the most likely to have a high proportion of learners using it daily.