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Post by UnfairBear on May 15, 2010 19:06:57 GMT -5
This is an L Plate: I don't know how many countries they have them in. They're used to signify that the driver is a Learner Driver. Now, in theory they're a good idea. They alert people to the fact that your driving may be unpredictable or erratic and let them know they should be more careful around you. In practice however... I'm learning to drive at the moment. I've been driving for about 2 months now. I've noticed some things happening that I think are caused by having an L Plate. People definately treat you differently. This happens in two ways: 1: People are assholes. They overtake you really dangerously, even when you're doing the speed limit. They cut you off. They do stupid unsafe things that they wouldn't do to another driver, because they don't want to be on the road with a learner. 2: People are really nice. Sounds like a good thing, right? Wrong. People sometimes do things they wouldn't usually do to any other driver, such as letting you go when THEY have the right of way. Today I was turning across a road at a traffic light. It was green both ways. They guy coming in the opposite direction who was going straight stopped at GREEN LIGHT and let me go. I didn't know wtf was going on. But while people are trying to be nice, they end up confusing learner drivers who are trying to figure out what the right thing to do is. That can be pretty dangerous too. So basically my point it, since people know you're a learner, they treat you differently and this can actually cause more damage than people not being more careful around learner drivers. What do you think? Are L Plates a good idea or a bad idea? Do they have L Plates in your country?
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Post by Trey on May 15, 2010 19:20:14 GMT -5
I'm a United Statesan. we don't put L plates like that on our vehicles, but sometimes we'll put bumper stickers or whatever to alert the other drivers. It's unfortunate that you've experienced these things. I've never experienced anything like this (For me, it's the other way around). Is it law that you must attach an L plate while you're learning to drive? If so, there's really nothing you can do about the problem because you can't really extract measurable data that you can bring to court. "He was an asshole on the road!" doesn't really cut it. The L plates are designed to warn others. Apparently, it grabs their attention more than you might think
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Post by Johncoyne on May 15, 2010 19:20:37 GMT -5
I've never heard of L plates. I'm not sure how necessary they are. It's like the baby on board signs. Does anyone really care that there's a baby on board? To quote Horton the Elephant, "A person's a person, no matter how small," I've never seen anyone drive particularly carefully a car like that. It just seems stuck-up. Wait... What was I talking about? Oh yeah, L plates. They're like Baby on Board signs, they're not necessary and they aren't useful.
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Post by UnfairBear on May 15, 2010 19:36:51 GMT -5
Trey: Yeah you have to have them by law. And they could always compare the stats with other countries that dont use them john: My friend actually used the argument of BOB signs as an example of people being more careful. I shouldve just said what you said >.> But I totally agree.
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Nakor
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Post by Nakor on May 15, 2010 20:30:15 GMT -5
It's worse in Canada. Even after you've passed your test, you're upgraded from an L plate to an N plate, and you have to take another test later to get your full licence. Oh, and there's a 2-year minimum with the N before you're even allowed to take the test for a full licence (what we call Class 5). (When I took the test it was a 6-month minimum with L, but I think it's 9 or 12 months now.)
Oh, and just to add to the stupidity, N drivers have a few bonus restrictions, the major pain in the ass being that you're only allowed to have one non-family passenger in your car. Carpooling = banned. ~_~
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Post by Trey on May 15, 2010 20:32:57 GMT -5
It's worse in Canada. Even after you've passed your test, you're upgraded from an L plate to an N plate, and you have to take another test later to get your full licence. What's da N plate?
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Post by Ryan on May 15, 2010 23:08:56 GMT -5
As "L" in L-plate stands for learner driver, I would assume that "N" in N-plate stands for new driver, they aren't learning, but they aren't experienced. Just guessing though, could be wrong.
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Nakor
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Post by Nakor on May 15, 2010 23:19:56 GMT -5
Stands for novice. You have all the privileges of a full driver's licence except zero tolerance for any alcohol and a 1 passenger limit (immediate family exempt) and you have to drive with a black-on-green "N" on the back of your vehicle. Most people here figure it was just another way of grabbing extra cash in the name of promoting safety. www.icbc.com/licensing/lic_getlic_undglp.asp
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Post by Sypher on May 16, 2010 1:53:14 GMT -5
We have a few different types of plates here in Australia, L plate for learner, P plate for provisionary (you go on this for 2 years after your L plates) and E plates for people that have lost their license but are allowed to drive for work purposes. I'm currently on my P plates, finish them in 13 days . People definitely act different here around L and P plate drivers, people expect L plate drivers to be very bad drivers which causes people to become bad drivers themselves because they take any means necessary to avoid learners. But when it comes to P plate drivers people expect them all to be hoons and assume that they all speed and drive recklessly... which is not always the case... Police are also much harsher on P plate drivers, you are more likely to be pulled over as a P plate driver and there are different laws..
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Post by UnfairBear on May 16, 2010 7:06:49 GMT -5
We have a few different types of plates here in Australia, L plate for learner, P plate for provisionary (you go on this for 2 years after your L plates) and E plates for people that have lost their license but are allowed to drive for work purposes. It's worse in Canada. Even after you've passed your test, you're upgraded from an L plate to an N plate, and you have to take another test later to get your full licence. Oh, and there's a 2-year minimum with the N before you're even allowed to take the test for a full licence (what we call Class 5). (When I took the test it was a 6-month minimum with L, but I think it's 9 or 12 months now.) Oh, and just to add to the stupidity, N drivers have a few bonus restrictions, the major pain in the ass being that you're only allowed to have one non-family passenger in your car. Carpooling = banned. ~_~ Wow, that really sucks =\ Guess it's not so bad here. It's a minimum of 6 months before you can take your test to get your full license here and then you dont need any plates at all. But that N/P Plate thing sounds ridiculous. How are people supposed to get used to driving if people are treating them differently to other drivers?
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Post by Sypher on May 16, 2010 7:24:15 GMT -5
I also forgot to mention that we have 2 types of P plates, red plates and green plates, once you have passed your L plates and go onto your P plates you start on red.
The red plates are for the first 6 months of your probation, with these plates you can not drive between midnight and 5:00AM, if you do and get caught its classed as driving without a licence and you get fined $200 and lose 2 demerit points.
The green plates allow you to drive at any time of the night but if you get caught without them on your car then the same fine and demerit loss apply.
Over the entirity of your P plates you are not allowed to drive if you have consumed any alcohol, which is a really good idea since it stops drink driving... Although it means that you cant even have 1 drink and then drive..
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Post by Trey on May 16, 2010 7:27:11 GMT -5
As for learning how to drive in the US, each state is different. Here in VA, you have to take an extensive Driver's Ed course that lasts for a couple of months, you have to wait 9 months, and you have have to pay for insurance on the way. It costs roughly $490. When you turn 19, you don't have to take the driver's ed course and you only have to wait 3 weeks. In VA, it's HARD to get a licence as a kid xD
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Nakor
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Post by Nakor on May 16, 2010 12:59:37 GMT -5
To be honest, in BC people don't really treat N plates any differently than other drivers so far as I noticed. I think it comes along with the sentiment that we all think the whole system is pretty ridiculous to begin with.
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nutterz13
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Post by nutterz13 on May 17, 2010 13:51:53 GMT -5
I also forgot to mention that we have 2 types of P plates, red plates and green plates, once you have passed your L plates and go onto your P plates you start on red. The red plates are for the first 6 months of your probation, with these plates you can not drive between midnight and 5:00AM, if you do and get caught its classed as driving without a licence and you get fined $200 and lose 2 demerit points. The green plates allow you to drive at any time of the night but if you get caught without them on your car then the same fine and demerit loss apply. Over the entirity of your P plates you are not allowed to drive if you have consumed any alcohol, which is a really good idea since it stops drink driving... Although it means that you cant even have 1 drink and then drive.. im gonna guess this is Western Australian specific... cause im on a New South Wales license and on my green P's but im going to convert to a Tassie licence soon (which means im a P plater but i dont have to display plates) cause Tasmania (and South Australia) have different laws to NSW. (basically every state has its own rules). Do other countries have engine restrictions on their provisional/learner licenses? because the NSW are the following: Vehicles – You must not drive any vehicle with: Eight or more cylinders (except Diesel). A turbocharged or supercharged engine (diesel powered engines exempt). Modifications that increase engine performance. Any other vehicle identified by the RTA – further details available on the RTA website.(which basically means any high powered 6 cylinder car, eg any Porsche post 1984, and BMW M3's) but yea i had a license before i got my Australian learners permit. whilst I was living in China I bought my license when I was 14 (handed the guy 900RMB) and got my license, which is ridiculous because the age at which u can get a license in china is like 23.
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Post by zAkAtAk on May 17, 2010 14:16:21 GMT -5
In America, some cars that are for Driver's Education are marked with usually a bumper sticker. When you get your temps you get a little sticker you are supposed to put on your car to signify that you are a beginning driver.
I think it's a good thing so that way I know to stay away from you.
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on May 17, 2010 14:32:54 GMT -5
They have L-plates in England, it's a legal requirement that they should be displayed on the front and back of any vehicle when the driver doesn't have sufficient qualifications to remove them.
We also have P-plates, which new drivers sometimes put on their cars (though this is not required by law).
When I was a learner driver I definitely noticed some people react to the L-plates by driving closer to the rear of my car than normal, presumably so that they could overtake at the first opportunity. Even when my practical driving test was booked and it was extremely unlikely that I would slow them down in any way.
I never used the P-plates, because I thought that there would be similar reactions to the L-plates by other drivers.
Still, L-plates are completely necessary. I don't behave differently to learner drivers, but obviously I am just more alert around them (as is the actual purpose of the L-plates).
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Post by erin132 on May 17, 2010 14:42:18 GMT -5
I had to drive with L plate as well until I got my full license and i did find alright that people were a lot more impatient, but I've gotta say I much prefer people to have L plates because I have a severe sense of humour failure if someone's screwing around and driving badly without them. I'm much more likely to lay off the horn if they have L plates
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Post by evethor on May 17, 2010 14:43:47 GMT -5
Yes we have them in Norway as well.
But people are NEVER nice to a L driver. They actualy make it harder and act like giant a-holes.
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Matthew
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Post by Matthew on May 17, 2010 14:56:28 GMT -5
I'm presuming I'm in the same place as you, because your case is exactly like a lot of learner drivers are treated in my country.
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