How long would you keep on P Plates

Jano

Jano

Jano

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Joined
31 Mar 2009
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Location
Basingstoke, UK
I'm a relatively old git, 31, passed my test finally back at the end of November. Bought car mid December and have only really been driving it since Christmas, due to the weather and still having a train ticket for work.

I've only put the P Plates on tha back of the car as there isn't really anywhere visible on the front to stick them, and it has seemed to mean that people behind give me a bit more room, don't tend to sit on my backside and in some cases helped me out by creating a bit of space to get onto a busy motorway (on my route to work).

I've pretty much been driving every day since christmas, certainly wouldn't say im confident, although i'm also not a nervous driver, I just think I should keep the things on to let everyone know im new to driving and likely to make an odd mistake. My question is though, how long would you keep them on?
 
I never used them, but i guess you should just leave them on until you feel truely comfortable with driving.
 
There has been a few occasions where I either forgot to put them on or purposely left them off, and have noticed a complete change in peoples attitudes towards me. Either they sit right on my backside or give me very little time to react, but its certainly noticeable, which then makes me think I should leave them on forever :P

Don't think it helps too much that my car is really not what most peoples idea of a first car is.
 
My view of them is that incompetent drivers put them on to ward off normal drivers. Not saying you are at all, but often the people with P plates on are just as bad if not worse than those with L plates.

If someone sits up your chuff, ignore them, just leave a bit more space between you and the car in front. :)
 
Thats does seem to be the general view on P plates to be honest, which in some ways I agree with. I wouldn't say im incompetent, but I also wouldn't say im as good a driver as someone who has been driving for years. I've put them on because I feel like I should be warning people, but also not sure if most people pay a blind bit of notice to them too.
 
I had them on my first car for about a month, I got totally fed up of being treated like a **** and I ripped them off. They make you a target for abuse and bullying if anything.
 
My instructor actually advised me not to put them on because some people still treat you like a learner and pull out in front of you etc.
 
Jano said:
There has been a few occasions where I either forgot to put them on or purposely left them off, and have noticed a complete change in peoples attitudes towards me. Either they sit right on my backside or give me very little time to react, but its certainly noticeable, which then makes me think I should leave them on forever :P
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That's an interesting observation. If you've noticed other drivers give you more room, maybe we should all slap P-Plates on!
 
[TW]Fox;18264148 said:
P plates, for telling everyone you passed your test by fluke.
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Have to admit I thought the tester was blind when she said i'd passed. Was the worst drive i'd had I think.
 
To me, P plates mean that you aren't a confident in your driving, which begs the question, why are you driving?!
 
Gaygle said:
To me, P plates mean that you aren't a confident in your driving, which begs the question, why are you driving?!
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I would personally say that for most "drivers", if you were confident in your driving when you've just passed your test, your probably delusional, overconfident, or rypt.
 
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