P plates

TestTransmission

Tesco in Coonagh Limerick are selling P plates alongside the L plates.
Similar to this.



Who are these for?Ive never seen any car with these.Im guessing its an error by Tesco?

Midnight_EG

It means the person is a newly qualified driver.

congo_90

I thought we were gonna have 'R' as in restricted licence?

Midnight_EG

People use them to say they've passed their driving test, but still are quite wary of the road and other drivers, so give a small bit of warning to other motorists via the green P.

Glico Man

And also to hopefully try to make other road users a little more patient when following a "P" driver

It *drove* me mad when people used to beep like lunatics when I wouldn't get away at the lights at a pace suitable to them like a drag race

*pardon the pun

congo_90

*Not trying to cause a flame war here.*

That suggests the motorist has enough experience to drive and pass the test but is not confident in their observation skills and confidence as a driver?
Two key things in motoring? Makes sense for maybe old people driving who tend to relax a bit in their driving.
It just seems a bit contradictory that the modern driving system includes mandatory training to encourage confidence.

Naturally i'll give them some patience, like I would for 'L' platers. We've all been there.

Madness.

Anan1

aaronh007 wrote: »

And also to hopefully try to make other road users a little more patient when following a "P" driver

It *drove* me mad when people used to beep like lunatics when I wouldn't get away at the lights at a pace suitable to them like a drag race

*pardon the pun

Surely anyone who's passed their test should be able to move off smartly when the lights change to green?

slimjimmc

Midnight_EG wrote: »

People use them to say they've passed their driving test, but still are quite wary of the road and other drivers, so give a small bit of warning to other motorists via the green P.

They're not much use when the vast majority of drivers don't know what they mean. And why would they, after all a P-plate is an unofficial sign unlike the L-plate. Most likely somebody saw it used while on their holidays abroad and thought it would be nice to have (or sell).

Glico Man

Anan1 wrote: »

Surely anyone who's passed their test should be able to move off smartly when the lights change to green?

Of course yes but not wheels spinning, cloud of smoke fast surely?

That is the pace people in the cars that beeped wanted me to do.

I'm not going to sacrifice the risk of hitting someone crossing the road late so some impatient buffoon can get to their destination 3 seconds earlier

Anan1

aaronh007 wrote: »

Of course yes but not wheels spinning, cloud of smoke fast surely?

That is the pace people in the cars that beeped wanted me to do.

You're saying that this happened to you regularly?

aaronh007 wrote: »

I'm not going to sacrifice the risk of hitting someone crossing the road late so some impatient buffoon can get to their destination 3 seconds earlier

I'm sure i'm getting this wrong - you wouldn't wait for three seconds after the lights turned green before moving, would you?

milly4ever

i think P plates are only valid as an option in GB. In the north R plates are compulsary for a year after passing your test.

congo_90

So in essense it's for people who don't know the rules of the road?
Or those who still wanna have some plates :rolleyes:

Alanstrainor

milly4ever wrote: »

i think P plates are only valid as an option in GB. In the north R plates are compulsary for a year after passing your test.

In the north and the UK "R" plates are compulsory, but not "P" plates. Unless i've missed something, it sounds very odd to me!

milly4ever

From wikipedia:

After learners in Great Britain pass their driving test, they may opt to display green P-plates (for "probationary") to show their lack of experience; this is entirely voluntary however. Some new drivers use green L plates (the pre-test colour being red), however as the L usually stands for Learner it is more common to use P Plates.
In Northern Ireland for one year after the passing of a driving test, the driver is defined as a "restricted driver" who must not exceed 45 mph and must display an "R-plate" consisting of an amber sans-serif R on a white background. L-plates in Northern Ireland commonly have an R-plate as a reverse side. "R-plate" drivers are often viewed as a nuisance on motorways, due to their limited speed, resulting in many restricted drivers not displaying their "R-plates" or not keeping to the restricted speed limit.

TestTransmission

milly4ever wrote: »

From wikipedia:

After learners in Great Britain pass their driving test, they may opt to display green P-plates (for "probationary") to show their lack of experience; this is entirely voluntary however. Some new drivers use green L plates (the pre-test colour being red), however as the L usually stands for Learner it is more common to use P Plates.
In Northern Ireland for one year after the passing of a driving test, the driver is defined as a "restricted driver" who must not exceed 45 mph and must display an "R-plate" consisting of an amber sans-serif R on a white background. L-plates in Northern Ireland commonly have an R-plate as a reverse side. "R-plate" drivers are often viewed as a nuisance on motorways, due to their limited speed, resulting in many restricted drivers not displaying their "R-plates" or not keeping to the restricted speed limit.

So,what the hell are Tesco down here selling them for?

milly4ever

i've seen them up in belfast too- no one uses them here either!:pac:

zilog_jones

jackncoke wrote: »

So,what the hell are Tesco down here selling them for?

For the same reason that Argos have jewellery with Union Jacks in their Irish catalogue, i.e. they're idiots.

congo_90 wrote: »

Makes sense for maybe old people driving who tend to relax a bit in their driving.

They have a plate for elderly drivers in Japan: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Koreisha_mark

Glico Man

Anan1 wrote: »

You're saying that this happened to you regularly?I'm sure i'm getting this wrong - you wouldn't wait for three seconds after the lights turned green before moving, would you?

Well it would happen at least once a week for about 3 months. Boy racers and bmw and merc drivers were the main culprits.

Unfortunately the piece of junk I was driving at the time would take that long to move off anyway, but no I wouldn't wait 3 seconds.

Anan1

aaronh007 wrote: »

Well it would happen at least once a week for about 3 months. Boy racers and bmw and merc drivers were the main culprits.

Unfortunately the piece of junk I was driving at the time would take that long to move off anyway, but no I wouldn't wait 3 seconds.

Assuming the car I was driving was roadworthy, I think i'd question my own driving if people were beeping at me at the lights on a weekly basis. I mean, how hard is it to move off promptly when the lights go green?:)