Do Guards REALLY enforce this?

HairyJim

I want to drive to blanch every day and I have a learner permit, getting a full soon. I wouldn't go M50 till I get the full though. I'm a good safe driver as well.
Do the Guards really enforce that there has to be someone sitting beside me with a full licence? If so what is the usual thing that would happen.
Would using L plates only attract them or would you be better of with them, then they might say "ah well at least ya have ur plates".
Thanks

OldNotWIse

I did this for 2 years and got away with it, but I think they are clamping down now and afaik there are a lot of points heaped onto you if you are caught. I took my plates down after about 3 months as I didn't want to draw attention to myself... and I was tired spitting on them...

SteelyDanJalapeno

It's illegal, dunno if they enforce it, but the risk is there.

whiskeyman

HairyJim wrote: »

I want to drive to blanch every day and I have a learner permit, getting a full soon. I wouldn't go M50 till I get the full though. I'm a good safe driver as well.
Do the Guards really enforce that there has to be someone sitting beside me with a full licence? If so what is the usual thing that would happen.
Would using L plates only attract them or would you be better of with them, then they might say "ah well at least ya have ur plates".
Thanks

http://www.irishtimes.com/life-and-style/motors/unaccompanied-learner-drivers-escape-serious-fines-1.1721004

L plates would probably attract them IMO, but if you're in an accident or random checkpoint, you'd probably be in bigger trouble.

Caliden

Will they enforce it? Maybe.

At the end of the day the decision is up to you to make and also god help you when the high horses arrive.

OldNotWIse

Caliden wrote: »

Will they enforce it? Maybe.

At the end of the day the decision is up to you to make and also god help you when the high horses arrive.

They asked me to let you know they just have to finish up some pontificating about slow drivers on the motorway and they'll be over as soon as they can

HairyJim

Thanks lads, I'd chance it for about a month or so and do this driving test to hell, at least I don't have to go through that bloody 12 lesson thing before doing it, I'd do maybe 2 or 3 in the evening in navan.
L plates would probably attract them though.

Lucena

Well, technically you're not allowed to drive alone, so if you're ever in an accident, you could have a lot of problems.

You need to decide if you need to drive to Blanch (no other way of getting there for example, and it's for a job and you really need the money) in which case maybe it's worth the risk.

If it's because you don't fancy taking the bus, best wait until you have your full licence.

coolbeans

Look, once high horses are mentioned you're done. It wins all arguments on here. Kinda like Godwin's Law but exclusive to the Boards Motors form. The reasoning is infallible don't you see!
You're forgetting also that the OP is, by his own reckoning, "a good safe driver".

hoodie6029

Just get the bus. Blanch is well served especially from Navan.
The law is there to protect you from more experienced drivers and them from you. I've seen unaccompanied learners in very sticky situations. Its just not worth it.

coolbeans

hoodie6029 wrote: »

Just get the bus. Blanch is well served especially from Navan.
The law us there to protect you from more experienced drivers and you from them. I've seen unaccompanied learners in very sticky situations. Its just not worth it.

Ah get off your high horse! :pac:

OldNotWIse

OSI wrote: »

****ing high horse label be damned. Hope people remember this thread the next time they bitch about how high their insurance premium is. You don't get to pick and choose what laws you follow and I'm tired of this forum being flooded with threads of people advocating flagrantly flouting the rules of the road.

Actually you do. Of course, you run the risk of getting caught but you can pick and choose to do whatever the hell you like. I fragrantly tout the law all the time

kona

HairyJim wrote: »

I want to drive to blanch every day and I have a learner permit, getting a full soon. I wouldn't go M50 till I get the full though. I'm a good safe driver as well.
Do the Guards really enforce that there has to be someone sitting beside me with a full licence? If so what is the usual thing that would happen.
Would using L plates only attract them or would you be better of with them, then they might say "ah well at least ya have ur plates".
Thanks

Translation: Rolling Road block.

Peanut2011

OP, if you are considering driving unaccompanied and with the L plates down, you might as well not bother with insurance. After all, if you do that your insurance is void as you are driving in breach of your licence limitations.

And saying that, don't bother with motor tax or NCT (if needed). Sure the only time they will enforce that is if you are caught!

Lucena

OldNotWIse wrote: »

Actually you do. Of course, you run the risk of getting caught but you can pick and choose to do whatever the hell you like. I fragrantly tout the law all the time

Lynx or Hugo Boss!!

OldNotWIse

Lucena wrote: »

Lynx or Hugo Boss!!

Good, someone's paying attention. You missed the "tout" instead of flout - that was intentional too

oldyouth

HairyJim wrote: »

I want to drive to blanch every day and I have a learner permit, getting a full soon. I wouldn't go M50 till I get the full though. I'm a good safe driver as well.

I've yet to meet a learner driver here who didn't profess to be a good driver, yet every day, dozens if not hundreds of learner drivers fail to meet the standard which would judge them to be capable of driving unaccompanied.

Peanut2011

oldyouth wrote: »

yet every day, dozens if not hundreds of learner drivers fail to meet the standard which would judge them to be capable of driving unaccompanied.

And biggest issue of all, they are still allowed to drive home after they failed!

oldyouth

Peanut2011 wrote: »

And biggest issue of all, they are still allowed to drive home after they failed!

Nope, breaking the law doing that too, if unaccompanied

Zubeneschamali

Peanut2011 wrote: »

OP, if you are considering driving unaccompanied and with the L plates down, you might as well not bother with insurance.

Not true, your insurance will still pay third parties, you are not driving without insurance.

They might come after you for it afterwards, though (if they thought you had a few bob).

oldyouth

Zubeneschamali wrote: »

Not true, your insurance will still pay third parties, you are not driving without insurance.

They might come after you for it afterwards, though (if they thought you had a few bob).

He is not saying his insurance is invalid, just that you might as well break a variety of motor laws by not bothering with a policy in the first place

uptherebels

oldyouth wrote: »

I've yet to meet a learner driver here who didn't profess to be a good driver, yet every day, dozens if not hundreds of learner drivers fail to meet the standard which would judge them to be capable of driving unaccompanied.

That's funny cause I see loads of qualified drivers everyday that think they are good drivers as well. But they can't park properly,overtake safely,obey speed limits and seem to have severe dislike for learner/elderly/slow moving or otherwise cautious drivers. The standards of driving In this country are shocking and its not learner drivers that are the problem.

biko

The answer is don't do it.