L plates

Ronnie Beck

I've been driving around galway city for the last few weeks with L-plates as the missus is learning to drive. I think I am more likely to be involved in an accident with them on, due to other drivers complete loss of patience and their I'll show you how to drive attitude. I've been driving ten years so it's only irritating but it must be horrible for people on the road a few weeks.

Do you change you driving behaviour if your near a car with L plates?

For example a car travelling about a busy town at 50 in a 50 zone would you sit back if it had no L plates and drive on their exhaust if it had them up?

I'd stay well back, you never know when they're going to brake for any reason

Muckie

I always see them as L = Leave alone....stay back...

Redhairedguy

Anyone that harasses an L plate driver by riding on their bumper, blowing them out of it, or whatever else, is a scumbag.

When I see someone with L plates, I always reduce my speed and take extra caution, as I remember what it's like being a nervous new driver and making loads of mistakes. It's how we learn.

corktina

you have to take them off when the L driver isn't at the wheel

corktina

corktina wrote: »

you have to take them off when the L driver isn't at the wheel

I don't think that it true. If that was true, then every learner car would have to take L plates down when not on a lesson.

majnus

corktina wrote: »

you have to take them off when the L driver isn't at the wheel

No, this isn't true.

ABajaninCork

Sorry, but I agree with Corktina. AFAIK, the 'L' plates have to be removed if the learner isn't at the wheel.

paddyland

In nine out of ten cases it is an unaccompanied learner driver. There may be someone in the car with them, but most likely not an experienced driver, and either way, most likely not instructing the learner how to drive. These unaccompanied learner drivers are basically 'teaching' themselves how to drive, and coming to the erroneous conclusion, that once they master moving the car without constantly making kangaroo jumps, that they have 'learnt' how to drive, and that anything after that is an inconvenience, at best.

These drivers have no concept of the obstruction and hazard that they pose to everyone else, and further, if challenged, will counter the challenge with the argument that they are 'entitled' to drive.

I give every other driver due space and courtesy on the road, but if it is not returned, either deliberately, or by nature of being a learner driver who is quite evidently not 'learning,' then they get short shrift from me.

corktina

I can't prove it's true but you SHOULD take them off certainly,otherwise they tend to lose their message

mathepac

bluewolf wrote: »

I'd stay well back, you never know when they're going to brake for any reason

Fixing lip-stick, adjusting hair / eye-lashes, to allow qualified supervising driver to get in, etc.

I stay well back, like Mayo or even Cork, if I can.

OP is there any chance you're just a crap driver and are only noticing now what everyone else had concluded ages ago?

ABajaninCork

mathepac wrote: »

Fixing lip-stick, adjusting hair / eye-lashes, to allow qualified supervising driver to get in, etc.

I stay well back, like Mayo or even Cork, if I can.

OP is there any chance you're just a crap driver and are only noticing now what everyone else had concluded ages ago?

Did you read the OP? It clearly states the L plates are on the car for his WIFE who is learning to drive. He did not take the plates off when he was using the car.

mathepac

mathepac wrote: »

Fixing lip-stick, adjusting hair / eye-lashes,

Yeah, it's only women who are bad drivers, ever

mathepac

ABajaninCork wrote: »

Did you read the OP? ... .

Bed and wrong-side occur to anyone? I was responding to this post -

bluewolf wrote: »

I'd stay well back, you never know when they're going to brake for any reason

... and not directly to OP's, although ...

ABajaninCork

mathepac wrote: »

Bed and wrong-side occur to anyone? I was responding to this post -
... and not directly to OP's, although ...

Not according to this...

mathepac wrote: »

Fixing lip-stick, adjusting hair / eye-lashes, to allow qualified supervising driver to get in, etc.

I stay well back, like Mayo or even Cork, if I can.

OP is there any chance you're just a crap driver and are only noticing now what everyone else had concluded ages ago?

You forget what you wrote....:pac:

ironclaw

corktina wrote: »

you have to take them off when the L driver isn't at the wheel

This is 100% correct. You should not have L plates showing when you have a fully licensed driver behind the wheel. I know plenty of people stopped by Garda who have full licenses and being given a stern warning for still having them up. Its complete laziness to leave them up and there's no reason to have them up.

If you do a lot of motorway driving, your just asking for AGS to pull you over anyway.

mathepac

ABajaninCork wrote: »

... You forget what you wrote....

No I didn't. That bit you bolded is a direct question, jocose in nature, obvious to most reasonable observers ...

Fair play you quoted me in full though, unlike ...

bluewolf wrote: »

Yeah, it's only women who are bad drivers, ever

Is there some point you wish to make by quoting incompletely and out of context? Here is the sentence I typed in full, in case it escaped your attention -

mathepac wrote: »

Fixing lip-stick, adjusting hair / eye-lashes, to allow qualified supervising driver to get in, etc. ...

You left out the bit in bold no doubt to try to make some obscure point, which escapes me.

Can you enlighten me please?

ABajaninCork

I'm not sure what you're trying to say here. You referred to the OP as well as Bluewolf. I merely pointed out what you wrote was at odds. Starting with the OP saying he was driving his wife's car. I was talking about the OP ONLY.

So no. No obscure point here.

pa990

corktina wrote: »

you have to take them off when the L driver isn't at the wheel

you SHOULD taken them down when a learner driver is not driving,BUT there is no law saying that a fully qualified driver cannot drive with L plates displayed.

up north and in the UK its a different story

R.O.R

corktina wrote: »

you have to take them off when the L driver isn't at the wheel

ABajaninCork wrote: »

Sorry, but I agree with Corktina. AFAIK, the 'L' plates have to be removed if the learner isn't at the wheel.

I seem to remember that you are both Sassenach's (like myself)

pa990 wrote: »

up north and in the UK its a different story

Not law here, but is at "home".

Had magnetic plates on mine so my dad could take them off when he drove my car home.

ABajaninCork

Yes - am a Sassenach! From Lahndahn geezer!

R.O.R

ABajaninCork wrote: »

Yes - am a Sassenach! From Lahndahn geezer!

Can you get a decent pint of shandy down in Cork? Or would be a wild man and go Lager top? :pac:

ABajaninCork

Ewww! Neither, ta. Give me a pint of Pride or decent Young's bitter...

corktina

can't get a decent pint at all.... everything here propelled by gas, they wouldn't know what a hand-pump was for

corktina

ABajaninCork wrote: »

Ewww! Neither, ta. Give me a pint of Pride or decent Young's bitter...

london pride , that'll do me..can get it bottled in super valu

doolox

Unfortunately an L plate is like a red rag to most drivers on the road as it marks the bearer out as different and not part pf the "tribe". In psychological terms most people do not like differences and it takes effort to tolerate and make allowances for people outside the group.

This is probably why car and bike users do not get on with each other on the road. Same probably applies to trucks and busses or any other vehicle perceived as being "slow" awkward etc......

ALthough the govt mean well by making learners drivers wear a distinguishing mark it doesn't serve the purpose intended to some drivers.

Some drivers see it as an invitation to not allow the learner out ahead of them at a junction or other such place on the fear they will be delayed or slowed down if the learner "gets ahead of them".

This hostile environment only makes learning harder and slower for the hapless learner forced to wear a badge marking them out as a soft target.

I thank my lucky stars that I learned to drive 30 yrs ago when regulations were less strict and getting a pass and a full licence was easier than today.

Ronnie Beck

doolox wrote: »

Unfortunately an L plate is like a red rag to most drivers on the road as it marks the bearer out as different and not part pf the "tribe". In psychological terms most people do not like differences and it takes effort to tolerate and make allowances for people outside the group.

This is probably why car and bike users do not get on with each other on the road. Same probably applies to trucks and busses or any other vehicle perceived as being "slow" awkward etc......

ALthough the govt mean well by making learners drivers wear a distinguishing mark it doesn't serve the purpose intended to some drivers.

Some drivers see it as an invitation to not allow the learner out ahead of them at a junction or other such place on the fear they will be delayed or slowed down if the learner "gets ahead of them".

This hostile environment only makes learning harder and slower for the hapless learner forced to wear a badge marking them out as a soft target.

I thank my lucky stars that I learned to drive 30 yrs ago when regulations were less strict and getting a pass and a full licence was easier than today.

Very well put. Sums up what I've been thinking about the last few weeks while driving about. The Psychology of L-Plates . I find it alot different to driving the van where you generally don't get **** from anyone. People tend not to pull out in front of you or drive in that annoying overtaking position and give you plenty of time and room to park.


This morning I was turning left to pull into a parking space in an industrial estate. When I looked in my blind spot the van that was up me hole for a while and probably too close to have seen my indicator was trying to undertake me on the left.

Henry Ford III

Redhairedguy wrote: »

Anyone that harasses an L plate driver by riding on their bumper, blowing them out of it, or whatever else, is a scumbag.

That's a rather sweeping generalisation isn't it?

Plenty of scumbags around who are quite handy and respectful drivers.

00833827

i never notice L plates to be honest - so a no from me

Bohrio

I always take extra caution when I see a car with L plates, I try not to put too much pressure on the driver.

I am not sure if it is mandatory or not to remove the L if you are not a learner, however, I would, mainly because if the garda sees me driving on my own and with the L plate stuck at the back of my car he might stop me to check if I have a full driving license or not.

Also, I am not sure in Ireland but in other countries, L drivers are subject to different speeds limits (ie 80 on the motorways)

The_Nipper_One

Didn't take me long to notice that L drivers are treated differently by some road users.

I think there's something more though, a culture on Irish roads, at least where I live, where driving as you are supposed to is not enough for some people.

I never go slower than I need to, but I refuse to break the speed limit at any time. Yet still, there are people who will overtake me while I am doing 100km/h on a 100km/h road, and then proceed to sit in front of me, or if they do pull away (speeding) I just end up rolling up behind them in the next town anyway. Then there are the people who will overtake coming up to a change in the limit, because they think that because they see the sign in the distance that it applies from where they are.

A van overtook me today doing this, and it took him so long to pass me that by the time I hit the sign I didn't accelerate because 1. that's not the safe thing to do, and 2. he would've never made it by me and probably would've caused an accident.

I remember one day I slowed to meet a 30km/h limit, and when I looked behind me I saw a woman in a jeep shaking her head and riding about a foot off my bumper, and you could just tell she was utterly outraged that I had slowed to the speed limit, imagine that!

I've been driving on L's (sounds like I'm doing drugs when it's said like that) for about 3-4 weeks now. Initially I felt that everyone was parking in my boot when I came to traffic lights and such, but I think I was just being a bit paranoid/worried. I've been using the car a bit more lately to try and get myself in check for 'proper' observation, etc. (for when I eventually do the test) and so I've been on the road a fair bit more.

Have to say, I haven't really had any issues with anyone just yet. I'm generally quite good at keeping the car moving (not crawling along) and as I'm still 'building up' to the test, my use of indicators and such is always consistent (and correct, I hope!).

I've found that when I'm on road I'm not familiar with or where I'm moving at a snail's pace, people who come up behind you generally seem to really appreciate you making an effort to slow down and move over to the left (when possible) to let them by you. I suppose if it were the other way around, I'd appreciate a learner doing the same, too.

One thing I will say though (and I'm aware that this next sentence may have Boardsies tracking me down and smashing my windows in), I've actually found Taxi drivers to be among the best people for giving space, slowing down, letting me out at junctions, etc. so hat's off to the drivers that I've come across that have been good to me in that sense (I know they generally get a bad rep but so far I've found them to be nice and accommodating).


That said, I do think L plates serve a purpose. What I disagree with entirely, are the new 'R' plates they're trying to bring in (that if you pass your test you've to display R plates for 2 years). That's absolute sh*te as far as I'm concerned! If you pass the test you're a fully licensed driver. If you haven't passed it, you're not. Making a new group of drivers that will have attention drawn upon themselves for no real reason is just outright stupid in my opinion. Albeit, that's a bit off topic.

meathstevie

pa990 wrote: »

you SHOULD taken them down when a learner driver is not driving,BUT there is no law saying that a fully qualified driver cannot drive with L plates displayed.

up north and in the UK its a different story

It's very simple up north and in the UK, if you display R or L plates you're bound by the restrictions that come with the plates; for a fully qualified driver that essentially means a 45mph speedlimit.

Having said that; there's no reason why a fully qualified driver around these parts should have L plates up. You're not a learner you so you don't display L-plates.

Supergurrier

Im normally too busy paying attention to the road and my general surroundings to notice a plate on a car that will be infront of me for 2 minutes max.

JohnBoy26

paddyland wrote: »

In nine out of ten cases it is an unaccompanied learner driver. There may be someone in the car with them, but most likely not an experienced driver, and either way, most likely not instructing the learner how to drive. These unaccompanied learner drivers are basically 'teaching' themselves how to drive, and coming to the erroneous conclusion, that once they master moving the car without constantly making kangaroo jumps, that they have 'learnt' how to drive, and that anything after that is an inconvenience, at best.

These drivers have no concept of the obstruction and hazard that they pose to everyone else, and further, if challenged, will counter the challenge with the argument that they are 'entitled' to drive.

I give every other driver due space and courtesy on the road, but if it is not returned, either deliberately, or by nature of being a learner driver who is quite evidently not 'learning,' then they get short shrift from me.

From reading that it seems you are an aggressive driver with little or no patients. People like you are more of a danger on our roads than learner drivers IMO.

If this is your true attitude towards any road users, you must of been ''teaching'' yourself as no instructor would condone or teach anyone to behave like this towards anyone on the road.

Spook_ie

Deleted User wrote: »

<snipped>

That said, I do think L plates serve a purpose. What I disagree with entirely, are the new 'R' plates they're trying to bring in (that if you pass your test you've to display R plates for 2 years). That's absolute sh*te as far as I'm concerned! If you pass the test you're a fully licensed driver. If you haven't passed it, you're not. Making a new group of drivers that will have attention drawn upon themselves for no real reason is just outright stupid in my opinion. Albeit, that's a bit off topic.

R plates serve to indicate that the driver is restricted due to his/her inexperience behind the wheel, you may well have a full license but you don't have the experience. You'll soon start to spot the difference between majority of L,R and "full" drivers without even looking for the L/R or no plate

Scortho

corktina wrote: »

can't get a decent pint at all.... everything here propelled by gas, they wouldn't know what a hand-pump was for

Totally of topic
If your in cork try franciscan well or porter house.

Now on topic.
You should drive as you normally drive. Just because a car doesn't have a plate on doesnt mean that you should drive with less caution etc.

corktina

i used to take the plates off my van after my son had driven me to cork when he was at CIT and learning, but that was in case the Boss saw them :-)

ironclaw

Scortho wrote: »

You should drive as you normally drive. Just because a car doesn't have a plate on doesnt mean that you should drive with less caution etc.

Totally disagree. If I know I'm coming up to a hill or a stop inclined, I'll give them plenty of room. The amount of times someone has almost rolled back on me. Granted the same possibility exists from an experience driver but they are far more likely not roll back in the first place and if they do, catch it early.

I also don't see how people don't notice L plates. Seems like your not paying attention if you don't. I'd be aware of the majority of drivers in front of me and the last few I passed. Situational awareness.

furtzy

Got told off by a traffic corp garda years back for driving my wifes car with L plates as a full licence holder.