Cars with N and L plates?

Toots

Has anyone else seen this around?

I'd say over the last fortnight I've seen about 10 cars driving around with both N plates and L plates on the car at the same time. The only possible reason I could think of for having this would be if the car was shared and one driver was a learner while the other one had recently passed their test. It's a long time since I was learning to drive but I always remember having to take the L plates off after I'd been out in the car - I learned to drive on my mum's car.

Surely aside from looking stupid, having both sets of plates on at the same time is also obscuring a fair chunk of the front and rear windscreens? Has anyone else come across this, or is it just unique to several weirdos that live around my area?

allthedoyles

I seen it in waterford recently -

pablo128

I've seen this too. I've no idea why, but I'll guess at people thinking they need both when they are on a learners permit.

Pov06

I have seen it once or twice.

It makes sense why they do it. Most L/N-plates are not really removable as you have to use tape and stuff to hold them down. I remember having magnetic L-plates and they just flew off...

Everything was grand until they put in those stupid N-plate laws which make no sense whatsoever. If I drive to Northern Ireland with my N-plates I will most likely have to take them off whilst crossing the border?

my3cents

Yes seen plenty of these. I'm sure some will say whats your problem with that but to me having both plates up indicates an idiot.

How is anyone to know if a car with both N and L plates displayed is driven by a Novice, Learner or by an experienced driver?

It just defeats the whole point of the system.

mhackett102

Lets say if I just passed my driving test, then I must display N plates. If I then go for my trailer licence, then I must display L plates along with the N plates (front windscreen has L and N plate, rear windscreen has N plate, rear trailer has L plate).

Also the most common reason is that there may be two in the family who are driving that car in particular and one of them passed their test recently and the other is still a learner. Therefore both L and N plates must be shown.

Toots

But by rights the L/N plates should only be displayed when the applicable driver is driving the car. When my husband was learning to drive on my car I used to just leave the L plates on because the whole issue of getting them to stick back on properly was a complete pain. One day I was stopped by the Gardai on the way home from work because I was unaccompanied in the car. When I produced my full licence, they told me that unless the learner is driving the car, the L plates are not to be used. As for learning to drive a trailer, that's fair enough, only the cars I've seen this on would be little cars that you'd never hook a trailer up to! :pac:

colm_mcm

So driving instructors need to remove all their l plates and roof signs when they're not instructing. Fair enough.....

Noccy_Mondy

How did you not know this colm?! I'm surprised at you.

Yes I've seen cars with L and N plates, often see a mk4 mondeo with them. Family car, little Mary has her full test and potters away, whereas little johnny is still learning. Looks stupid, but that's the way the rsa or whoever want it.


What do they take people for, taking on/off plates all the time?

my3cents

I did check and there is no requirement to remove the N and or L plates when driven by an experienced driver so its the system thats dumb as well as the families that have both displayed on their cars.

Noccy_Mondy

my3cents wrote:

I did check and there is no requirement to remove the N and or L plates when driven by an experienced driver so its the system thats dumb as well as the families that have both displayed on their cars.

How are families that have both on their car dumb? How do you expect children etc to learn? It's not every family that can afford to buy a second car for their kids to learn on.

my3cents

Noccy_Mondy wrote: »

How are families that have both on their car dumb? How do you expect children etc to learn? It's not every family that can afford to buy a second car for their kids to learn on.

You are saying they'd need a second car all I'm saying is they need the intelligence to take the plates down when not in use.

Noccy_Mondy

my3cents wrote:

You are saying they'd need a second car all I'm saying is they need the intelligence to take the plates down when not in use.

But that's just a pain in the arse. Forget to put them up, meet a checkpoint and then you're in trouble. Penalty point offense I think?!

allthedoyles

They stick on and nigh impossible to take off - you can't be doing this every time a learner gets behind the wheel

thesimpsons

I don't see confusion at all, and to be fair, they aren't really designed to be taken off and reapplied regularly. Plenty if my friends now have kids at both stages. I know my 19yr old full licenced child hates driving round with the L plates uplease, , but that's the trials of having the one family car for them all. just give the driver bit of time and space on the road. Whether it's the learner or novice, it'd be nice for them if bit flustered.

ethernet

I've seen this too. It might be best to use the least common denominator in this case - so the L plates.

Del2005

colm_mcm wrote: »

So driving instructors need to remove all their l plates and roof signs when they're not instructing. Fair enough.....

When I was doing my EC if we had to bob tail the instructor would turn the L plate around on the front window, so some do.

Noccy_Mondy wrote: »

But that's just a pain in the arse. Forget to put them up, meet a checkpoint and then you're in trouble. Penalty point offense I think?!

You can get ones that are designed to be applied and removed frequently and it doesn't take too much extra time from the daily checks to stick the plates up when the person needs them.

kerry4sam

Toots wrote: »

Has anyone else seen this around?
...Has anyone else come across this, or is it just unique to several weirdos that live around my area?

Seen a few vehicles with both N & L-plates up simultaneously, don't see a big issue. Find Life has far bigger problems & concerns than something like this tbh. I don't think it fair to refer to anyone who does this as weirdos either.

I remember with my Late Loving Dads last car he left the l-plate up from when my sister was learning. He left it up in event she ever turned to him for another lesson or wanted to drive it.
This car was sold on after Dad passed away but I still know the reg-plates. The 1st time I saw this car driving towards me I thought I was seeing things. The new driver oblivious but my heart skipped a few beats as found it so strange to see. I've seen him a few times since and he, this new owner, still has the l-plate up in same spot as was in when sold.
I remember one day trying to take it down for someone to borrow but it was leaving t's print on the glass it was up so long so we just left it up. Maybe that's why the new owner left it up also, a big L now blazzened into his glass window.

Anywhoo, yeah seen a few with both N & L-plates but don't see the issue. Just treat them as you would anyone on the road.

Thanks,
kerry4sam

LilRedDorcha

I've seen loads of these around Limerick. I just always assume it's the learner driving the car so keep my distance. I was talking about it with my friend recently and they couldn't comprehend the idea of taking them off when not being used.

I keep my N plates up since my dad doesn't care, but having both plates up defeats the purpose of the place since as mentioned, how do you know if it's the learner or novice driving the car? They look so ridiculous.

We have L plates and N plates that can be removed and reapplied so I really don't understand the issue. You can also buy them with suction cups so they won't be leaving marks on the windows and are easy to put on and take off.

colm_mcm

Saw a pug 107 with this today . There was no way they could see out the back with them both up!

On an unrelated note. I also saw someone with one of those children's blinds in the windscreen and another in the front side window....

rizzodun

colm_mcm wrote: »

Saw a pug 107 with this today . There was no way they could see out the back with them both up!

On an unrelated note. I also saw someone with one of those children's blinds in the windscreen and another in the front side window....

Not to mention that a 107 has passenger side airbags too... Idiots.

On a slightly related note, I always give learner drivers plenty of space and benefit of doubt when it comes to the road as they are still learning, it boils my blood however to see N drivers fail to use roundabouts correctly or hog the overtaking lane on a dual carriageway, I mean, they just passed their test ffs. They should know better than anyone.