The idiotic Northern Ireland "R Plate" law

[Cuchulain]

This probably won't be of any interest to anyone outside of Northern Ireland (but you never know).

When learning to drive in Northern Ireland you are restricted to driving at 45mph, when you pass your test you have to display an "R" plate for the period of 1 year and you're still restricted to 45mph throughout that time.

I was thinking how ridiculous this law is:

1) Motorway driving, a maximum speed of 45mph is potentially dangerous.

2) National speed limit roads, a friend of mine who's recently passed his test normally ends up creating a massive tailback on the main road from Derry to Belfast, usually resulting in irate drivers overtaking, flashing and tooting him.

3) It doesn't prevent road deaths as there's still countless accidents involving new drivers (normally boy racers) who've caused fatal accidents killing themselves and normally other road users through speeding.

4) If drivers were trained prior to taking their practical test on either motorways or national speed limit roads to handle the vehicle at higher speeds it might prevent more accidents.

The NI assembly should be pushing to have the speed limit for new drivers either abolished or at least raised to 60mph (even if it's just for motorway driving). Alternatively as most accidents appear to be caused by teenage driving they could always raise the legal driving age.

And the obligatory petition which will probably do no good is here: http://petitions.pm.gov.uk/rdrivers/

 

[lolism]

I thought R plate laws applied all over the UK?

 

[jamief]

I thought R plate laws applied all over the UK?

No.

 

[SteveB_NI]

I agree with what you said, and have experience of creating long tail backs due to staying within the legal speed limit.

Its amazing how many more miles I put on the car after my 1st year on R plates - once I came off them my mileage increased so much due to actually being able to get somewhere in reasonable time without infuriating everyone on the road!

On a related subject, I think there should be a heavy clampdown on the people who drive around with "L" plates up, when not instructing anyone, or those with "R" plates up who do not need them - i.e. borrowed car.

I have a neighbour that rotates between "L" and "R" plates, depending on factors like their mood I reckon. I wonder what one it's meant to be....

 

[Muffin`]

I thought R plate laws applied all over the UK?

Nope.

 

[Dave M]

Good intentions but wrong.

They'd do better requiring 100 hours of professional instruction before letting them take the test, a percentage of those hours being at night and on high speed roads (sustained 70mph).

Don't know why they don't really, perhaps there just aren't enough instructors to cope?

 

[a1ex2001]

That is possibly the most ridiculous law in existence, who can possibly think it is both safe and sensible to drive 45mph on a dual carrigeway or motorway. Sometimes the powers that be baffle me!

 

[lolism]

Woah, we get screwed

 

[Dolph]

Another example of failure to distinguish between speed and inappropriate speed. 45mph on a motorway or dual carriageway is inappropriate and hence dangerous if the road is fairly clear and moving at the normal limit for everyone else....

Morons.

 

[Rossmac]

Tell me about it! I stuck with the R plate on the car when I passed 2 years ago, never kept to the 45mph speed limit as it really is senseless.

Got a motorbike with a 600cc engine in it and am meant to be on a R plate too, but have yet to purchase it, and let's just say 45mph is rarely kept to.

 

[Cuchulain]

Good intentions but wrong.

They'd do better requiring 100 hours of professional instruction before letting them take the test, a percentage of those hours being at night and on high speed roads (sustained 70mph).

Don't know why they don't really, perhaps there just aren't enough instructors to cope?

I think 100 hours is a bit excessive, not everyone has 2 grand to splash out on driving lessons.

They should definately apportion a large section of the training to driving at speed though considering it causes the most fatal accidents.

The main problem is that the people they're trying to target with "R" plates are going to ignore the speed restriction and risk the consequences of 3 points/a fine and an extension to the restricted period. They don't think they're going to get caught and they've had no experience driving at speed and without a doubt they're the highest contributer to road deaths in NI.

 

[Cuchulain]

Another example of failure to distinguish between speed and inappropriate speed. 45mph on a motorway or dual carriageway is inappropriate and hence dangerous if the road is fairly clear and moving at the normal limit for everyone else....

Morons.

Yet the police enforce it rigourously on the motorway stretch near Belfast.

 

[commited]

I hate this rule, it's ridiculously dangerous.

 

[kirbrot]

The Isle of Man is very similar.

50mph restriction to L & R plate drivers.

R plates must be displayed for 2 years after changing you license to "full" after passing you test.

This was originally 12 months but following the amount of R platers turning saxos & clios on their roofs into fields they changed it to 2 years. That extra 12 months really makes a difference to all the R plated drivers who still drive aound like their hair is on fire.

I suppose the gov (our IOM gov) have to be seen to be doing something to prevent road accident in new drivers, however this, like many of their schemes is a load of crapola.

 

[kirbrot]

Oh yeah, we dont have motor ways (in fact only 1 dual carriage way!)

We do have certain roads with no speed limit whatsoever and quite a few 60mph zones

 

[Scania]

1) Motorway driving, a maximum speed of 45mph is potentially dangerous.

Doing a maximum of 45MPH with one of your countrymen in his HGV bearing down on me scares the life out of me!

Extremely dangerous, That kind of enforced maximum is an accident waiting to happen, especially with regard to HGV's.

 

[barnettgs]

Extremely dangerous, That kind of enforced maximum is an accident waiting to happen, especially

Not sure it has ever happened but there are many accidents with young drivers in N Ireland, especially on main and rural roads.

With the number of accidents, I don't think the 'R' law is going to be dropped.

 

[Muffin`]

Speed kills.

Ya Rly.

2k is a bit excessive to learn to drive, longer test periods covering everything would be desirable. Some people would have to travel quite a way to get to a Motorway.

 

[kaiowas]

I have a neighbour that rotates between "L" and "R" plates, depending on factors like their mood I reckon. I wonder what one it's meant to be....

Maybe his indicators don't work

 

[Iamzod]

Personally i wouldn't dare go on an NSL road if limited to 45MPH, it's just asking for someone to try silly overtaking maneuvres to get past, wouldn't want to be involved in the collision that results from it either.

And 45 on the motorway?? Being overtaken by a HGV on the motorway every 30 seconds in heavy rain wouldn't be particularly fun .