R Plates

Purdy

Purdy

Purdy

Caporegime
Joined
4 Jan 2011
Posts
26,822
I think it is a N.I. only thing having R plates for a year following your test but hopefully someone can answer.

Can I take my R plates down/drive unrestricted the on the date I passed my test or a year following the date I acquired my full license.

(Haven't applied for my license yet for whatever silly reasons, don't really want to be forced at the awful speed limit of 45 on a motorway for a longer period.)
 
Restricted drivers

After passing the driving test for a motor car or a motorcycle, you must display amber R plates for a period of one year from the date of passing the test.

The plates MUST conform to legal specifications and MUST be clearly visible to others from in front of the vehicle and from behind. Plates should be removed or covered when not being driven by a restricted driver.

The maximum permitted speed for any vehicle displaying R plates is 45 mph (72km/h), whether or not the vehicle is being driven by a restricted driver.

Laws RTO 1981 Art 19A & MV(PR)R
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http://www.nidirect.gov.uk/motor-vehicle-documentation-learner-and-restricted-driver-requirements

Took me 30 seconds on google ;)
 
Firstly, motors is best for this :p

Secondly, it's date you pass your test (from what I remember of when my uni mates passed) and yeah is thankfully only NI (be glad they haven't done the ban driving at night proposal)

Thirdly there isn't enough motorway in NI to annoy you at 45mph.

Fourthly, never seen anyone pulled over for doing 50 on the motorway on R plates because 45 is beyond moronic for a young driver speed limit.

Fifthly, R plates are supposed to ban you from motorways ;) (though again that is moronic as some of the alternative round are littered with sheep)

Finally, get your full license asap! The quicker you get rid of that stupid R plate thing the better for your driving development, you learn a lot more when you aren't the prime attention for the fuzz or the victim of me hanging out a car window hurling abuse at R drivers getting in the way (and not being able to drive in or out of Belfast because the lanes are hard to plan for) :p

For reference I lived in NI for uni, never driven on public roads there as the thought of a middle aged man in Belfast shouting driving instructions at me as about 5th on all time top ten of things that would be terrifying.
 
pingwing said:
Firstly, motors is best for this :p

Secondly, it's date you pass your test (from what I remember of when my uni mates passed) and yeah is thankfully only NI (be glad they haven't done the ban driving at night proposal)

Thirdly there isn't enough motorway in NI to annoy you at 45mph.

Fourthly, never seen anyone pulled over for doing 50 on the motorway on R plates because 45 is beyond moronic for a young driver speed limit.

Fifthly, R plates are supposed to ban you from motorways ;) (though again that is moronic as some of the alternative round are littered with sheep)

Finally, get your full license asap! The quicker you get rid of that stupid R plate thing the better for your driving development, you learn a lot more when you aren't the prime attention for the fuzz or the victim of me hanging out a car window hurling abuse at R drivers getting in the way (and not being able to drive in or out of Belfast because the lanes are hard to plan for) :p

For reference I lived in NI for uni, never driven on public roads there as the thought of a middle aged man in Belfast shouting driving instructions at me as about 5th on all time top ten of things that would be terrifying.
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You sure?

I drive to uni via motorway every day and occasiobally head to north coast from belfast so was annoying, isnt that an old rule about no motorway for r plates?

Also country roads are a pain at 45.

R plates shouldve been off yesterday :D, need to go get mugshot for the license now


Cheers PhillyDee (screwed up formatting), seems my googlefu is weak and just got people complaining about them on motorcycles
 
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Am I just old?? What the heck are 'R' plates?

Edit: are they for before or after you've passed your driving test?
 
Purdy said:
You sure?

I drive to uni via motorway every day and occasiobally head to north coast from belfast so was annoying, isnt that an old rule about no motorway for r plates?

Also country roads are a pain at 45.

R plates shouldve been off yesterday :D, need to go get mugshot for the license now
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I had another look at the the rules, must one of those conversations of "R drivers should be banned from the motorways when lorries overtake them at 45" :p

Jayster said:
I believe its only as a learner you are not allowed onto the motorway.
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Ah that would explain a bit there.

Turns out in NI as a learner you are limited to 45mph as well. Wonderfully counter productive way to teach people how to drive.
 
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pingwing said:
Turns out in NI as a learner you are limited to 45mph as well. Wonderfully counter productive way to teach people how to drive.
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Indeed, particularly on the motorway when you need to switch lanes it is impossible to do it at 45 in the morning, get up to 60 and hope no one sees you.

Mind you we seem to be keen on bad laws, e.g. no serving drink after 1 and out by 2.
 
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