"P" plates, opinions please
Discussion
Hello all
Daddies little 18 year old sweetheart passed her driving test yesterday.
She has taken 11 months to do it (on the road), failed her first test, passed her second, and she certainly isn't what you'd describe as a "natural", although I'm happy with where she is now.
During the 11 months she's also done some A levels, and learnt to fly.
She has been taught by an ADI who is also a senior observer in my group, and myself (a little bit)
She is off on her first pass plus lesson today, and will be undertaking her IAM advanced course in three months time.
Now the "P" plates, she's a lovely young thing (biased daddy lol), and will generally do as I suggest where cars are concerned.
She has fitted P plates.
Her ADI has suggested that he doesn't consider they are such a good thing, and are viewed as suggesting she isn't competent to be on the road.
Your thoughts ?
Daddies little 18 year old sweetheart passed her driving test yesterday.
She has taken 11 months to do it (on the road), failed her first test, passed her second, and she certainly isn't what you'd describe as a "natural", although I'm happy with where she is now.
During the 11 months she's also done some A levels, and learnt to fly.
She has been taught by an ADI who is also a senior observer in my group, and myself (a little bit)
She is off on her first pass plus lesson today, and will be undertaking her IAM advanced course in three months time.
Now the "P" plates, she's a lovely young thing (biased daddy lol), and will generally do as I suggest where cars are concerned.
She has fitted P plates.
Her ADI has suggested that he doesn't consider they are such a good thing, and are viewed as suggesting she isn't competent to be on the road.
Your thoughts ?
Deva Link said:
One of my daughters thought the idea was insane, the other insisted on using them and felt other drivers would give her a wider berth.
You might find instead, like with L plates,some people are desparate to overtake you as soon as the slightest gap appears so as not to be 'held up' as they think they'll be going slowly/hesitating etc, which can often make matters worse. If you don't draw attention to you ability level, they'll have to treat you like any other road user, for better or for worse.IMO they are potentially a good idea. It's one thing to be perfectly competent and have passed a driving test but yet another to have built up years of driving experience.
Having said that, there are far too many numpties out there that pass and then never learn a single thing for the rest of their lives...
Having said that, there are far too many numpties out there that pass and then never learn a single thing for the rest of their lives...
HRG. said:
I cut drivers on P plates a bit more slack. Personally I think they're a good thing.
Of course, but I do wonder how many other drivers notice them. Most other drivers are thick.You often see people hassling cars with foreign plates on when they're obviously unsure of which lane to use at roundabouts etc.
Both of my kids didn't want them having been fed up of being at the end of a load of stupid driving by others seeing L plates!
Good in concept, helps good drivers giving them info so they can plan accordingly. Makes many drivers drive like idiots. On balance I wouldn't recommend.
I don't agree with the pass test=competent, get on with it idea. All new drivers learn a *lot* more in their first weeks and months of unaccompanied driving. They will make more mistakes and errors which will be larger in magnitude on day 1 of driving than on day 30.
BErt
Good in concept, helps good drivers giving them info so they can plan accordingly. Makes many drivers drive like idiots. On balance I wouldn't recommend.
I don't agree with the pass test=competent, get on with it idea. All new drivers learn a *lot* more in their first weeks and months of unaccompanied driving. They will make more mistakes and errors which will be larger in magnitude on day 1 of driving than on day 30.
BErt
I'm surprised by the comments, or some of them so far, but thanks.
I've had her speak to me already !
Frightened to death she'd gone through a static scamera above the limit (she hadn't its in a nsl and is there to shut poxy residents up), so were going back through how you know what the speedlimit is.
A lot of the kids are frightened of this 6 points in two years rule.
Why had a car with lads in it pulled alongside her on a dual carrageway with his hazards on signalling her to stop ? ( I've no idea why, but told her I want the redg number if she experiences that again), she says they just sped up and went.
And she stalled on a hill this morning, with a van close behind her, apparently she stalled again, panicking, and the van driver shouted at her, told her she was a stupid cow and to get out of the effing way, so P plates don't seem to work, (once again, I've told her redg number if it happens again, or the company name on the van etc), and of course, try not to stall !
Some of her friends don't inspire me with confidence :
One has written her moms car off within hours of passing her test by pulling out of a junction, and has been reported for dwdcaa
Two have gotten six points, one within the first two weeks !
One has had his licence revoked for a single offence (I don't know what), but apparently he's decided he'll still drive!
And the last one I know of, has rear ended four other cars in a month !, all minor so no police involvement ........ yet
I've had her speak to me already !
Frightened to death she'd gone through a static scamera above the limit (she hadn't its in a nsl and is there to shut poxy residents up), so were going back through how you know what the speedlimit is.
A lot of the kids are frightened of this 6 points in two years rule.
Why had a car with lads in it pulled alongside her on a dual carrageway with his hazards on signalling her to stop ? ( I've no idea why, but told her I want the redg number if she experiences that again), she says they just sped up and went.
And she stalled on a hill this morning, with a van close behind her, apparently she stalled again, panicking, and the van driver shouted at her, told her she was a stupid cow and to get out of the effing way, so P plates don't seem to work, (once again, I've told her redg number if it happens again, or the company name on the van etc), and of course, try not to stall !
Some of her friends don't inspire me with confidence :
One has written her moms car off within hours of passing her test by pulling out of a junction, and has been reported for dwdcaa
Two have gotten six points, one within the first two weeks !
One has had his licence revoked for a single offence (I don't know what), but apparently he's decided he'll still drive!
And the last one I know of, has rear ended four other cars in a month !, all minor so no police involvement ........ yet
Good news Nigel. Glad she is taking father's advice and continuing to learn.
I am in the same place as you. Youngest (17) has recently passed, and is also wise enough (or well enough indoctrinated) to accept that she did not instantly become a fully-fledged driver by passing.
Mine have not used P (or even green L) plates. My experience when driving briefly myself with L plates on was that though some drivers cut you more slack others were more than usually pushy. I am sorry that this is so, but since it is I see no advantage in using P plates.
I am in the same place as you. Youngest (17) has recently passed, and is also wise enough (or well enough indoctrinated) to accept that she did not instantly become a fully-fledged driver by passing.
Mine have not used P (or even green L) plates. My experience when driving briefly myself with L plates on was that though some drivers cut you more slack others were more than usually pushy. I am sorry that this is so, but since it is I see no advantage in using P plates.
I think the use of P plates is quite a good idea, if it leads other drivers to be a bit more understanding, along the lines of: "here is a new driver, passed the test and all that, but they will still be a bit uncertain in some situations and may get flustered if things get a bit tricky, so I'll give them a bit more time and space and be patient. Speaking for myself I'm always ready to do that.
Yep, the idea has merit IMHO, but we just need to respond sensibly.
Best wishes all,
Dave.
Yep, the idea has merit IMHO, but we just need to respond sensibly.
Best wishes all,
Dave.
Edited by p1esk on Tuesday 17th November 22:12
pdV6 said:
IMO they are potentially a good idea. It's one thing to be perfectly competent and have passed a driving test but yet another to have built up years of driving experience.
Having said that, there are far too many numpties out there that pass and then never learn a single thing for the rest of their lives...
Oh, you've been following me around, eh? Having said that, there are far too many numpties out there that pass and then never learn a single thing for the rest of their lives...
Best wishes all,
Dave.
hadenough! said:
Bad idea, if you are competent, then you are competent. If you feel the need for P plates you shouldn't be let loose on your own.
There is no need for them, but it gives other road users a hint that they are encountering somebody who might need a bit more tolerance and accommodation. That's fine by me. If we're not happy with that, I think it's more a criticism of ourselves than the P plate users, and indeed those who initiated the scheme.Best wishes all,
Dave.
I would never have thought of that, but you're obviously a more imaginative thinker. 
Nigel Worc's said:
Some of her friends don't inspire me with confidence :
Both my girls passed second time - the instructor said that it seems to be almost completely random, kids who are fine will fail and those who are hopeless will pass. One thing my more cautious (yet if anything, the more natural driver) daughter did was to go out a couple of times for a couple of hours with her instructor after passing. With the pressure off she just drove around - did some motorway stuff etc.
It's certainly true that many of the lads of her age crashed within a short space of time. The son of some friends of ours has just written of his mum's car for the second time in 4mths. He was doing 25MPH and skidded on a roundabout "because of the rain". Hmm...OK. You generally don't get that kind of thing with girls. The only girl I can recall crashing just drifted off a straight road for no apparent reason and was killed.
Came across a "wee s
te" with P-plates yesterday ... small Kia or something, car full of mates, doing about 45 in a 30, music as loud as the crappy stereo can go, squeezing by me dangerously close on wrong side of the road - sod giving way when there's a parked car on his side of road.
Something tells me this boy's mummy's insisted he needs P-plates on to drive her car.
In principle I thing they're an OK idea - but someone driving like an arse with em on is looking for a SLAP.
te" with P-plates yesterday ... small Kia or something, car full of mates, doing about 45 in a 30, music as loud as the crappy stereo can go, squeezing by me dangerously close on wrong side of the road - sod giving way when there's a parked car on his side of road.Something tells me this boy's mummy's insisted he needs P-plates on to drive her car.
In principle I thing they're an OK idea - but someone driving like an arse with em on is looking for a SLAP.
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