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Original poster

Am I the only one that has just clocked this

254 replies

iwantavuvezela · 24/01/2022 21:08

that front numberplate on most cars are white, and the one at the back is yellow.
Just bought a car and thought perhaps the dealer had made a mistake until I noticed that all cars had this!
Am I the only one who has only just noticed this.

OP posts:
LoseLooseLucy · 25/01/2022 07:30

How weird (that so many didn't know) 😳

RaininSummer · 25/01/2022 07:43

Still puzzled as to why not knowing the colour of plates is terrifying. Driven for more than 40 years without an accident so far so I don't think there is any correlation with observation really. Fully aware of the highway code changes too.

LoseLooseLucy · 25/01/2022 07:47

I'm not sure there is a correlation between not having an accident and being observant?
I do find it very odd though that so many posters haven't noticed it before, especially those who drive.

SaltedCaramelHC · 25/01/2022 07:49

yes I knew this, but I can totally understand why people wouldn't; it's not relevant to the task, and so you can observe things and still not notice or remember something like that.

Just think of how many people read sentences with a particular word spelled one way, and still consistently spell it wrong themselves - it's similar idea; you can just not remember the details, yet the basic task is ok.

VanGoghsDog · 25/01/2022 08:34

As to the Highway Code being guidance not law - some of it is, some of it is guidance, depending on whether it says should or must. If anyone has passed their theory test you should know this.

Of course I know that, and it's exactly, word for word, what I told the woman who said it isn't law.

I also didn't do a theory test.

Ourlady · 25/01/2022 08:37

Been driving for decades and I didn’t know this. It’s no big deal and doesn’t make me a shit driver. I can read the plate very clearly and that’s what matters.

Octomore · 25/01/2022 08:42

@DontBuyANewMumCashmere

Have you also noticed we all tend to keep to the one side when we're driving? Top tip...
GrinGrinGrin

I'm wondering what else you haven't noticed OP!

Octomore · 25/01/2022 08:44

@LoseLooseLucy

I'm not sure there is a correlation between not having an accident and being observant? I do find it very odd though that so many posters haven't noticed it before, especially those who drive.
I would imagine that 'being observant' and 'noticing and responding to hazards on the road' are highly correlated, for pretty obvious reasons.
JesusMaryAndJosephAndTheWeeDon · 25/01/2022 08:48

And she's correct. The highway code contains elements that are law (and it states which law it is) but most of it is advice on best practice and not legally enforceable.

It is a big problem for vulnerable road users as they report close passes or motorists ignoring hand signals to the police and the police can't act because a law hasn't actually been broken.

HoliHormonalTigerlilly · 25/01/2022 08:50

@DontBuyANewMumCashmere

Have you also noticed we all tend to keep to the one side when we're driving? Top tip...
🤣🤣🤣
ErrolTheDragon · 25/01/2022 08:57

I would imagine that 'being observant' and 'noticing and responding to hazards on the road' are highly correlated, for pretty obvious reasons.

Up to a point. Noticing too many details which aren't important to the task could be counterproductive. Our brains tend to edit out 'noise', and be more aware of either things we're specifically concentrating on, changes in state, or things which are somehow 'off'.
I'm sure some peoples thresholds vary - but 'too low' is maybe more at the level of not noticing road signs or speed cameras rather than not noting something ubiquitous but unimportant.

WitchWithoutChips · 25/01/2022 09:02

@RaininSummer

Still puzzled as to why not knowing the colour of plates is terrifying. Driven for more than 40 years without an accident so far so I don't think there is any correlation with observation really. Fully aware of the highway code changes too.
Because it rather suggests that those drivers don’t take responsibility for basic awareness of the one-ton piece of machinery that they operate every day.

I wonder what the correlation is with people who don’t know how to open their bonnet.

BarbaraofSeville · 25/01/2022 09:03

But whether or not it's important, it is still astonishing that anyone who has been a UK resident for more than a few days and has functioning eyes and sufficient capacity to post on an internet site, whether or not they drive, does not know what colour car number plates are. It's like not knowing what colour grass is.

I remember watching an episode of Pointless where the number of people who'd correctly identified a clear photograph of a lion was 98/100.

This thread has now taken over as my top example of 'surely there can't be people who don't know that'.

Octomore · 25/01/2022 09:13

Noticing too many details which aren't important to the task could be counterproductive. Our brains tend to edit out 'noise', and be more aware of either things we're specifically concentrating on, changes in state, or things which are somehow 'off'.
I'm sure some peoples thresholds vary - but 'too low' is maybe more at the level of not noticing road signs or speed cameras rather than not noting something ubiquitous but unimportant.

Numberplates are sort of at the same level as the different colour cat's eyes you get marking the lanes/exits on the motorways. Ubiquitous, and also pretty important.

OP (and the others) - Please tell me that you've noticed that cat's eyes on motorways are different colours depending on which edge of the motorway they are marking, and whether there is an exit?

Octomore · 25/01/2022 09:14

I'd also say that speed cameras are unimportant - or they should be if you're not routinely speeding. If your top safety priority when driving is spotting speed cameras, you're doing it wrong.

newtb · 25/01/2022 09:17

Both mine are white, but I'm in forrin parts. All are.

BillMasen · 25/01/2022 09:27

It matters because it shows a staggering lack of observation. You know how we always knew there were drivers out there who drift around totally oblivious to what’s going on around them? A lot are on this thread…

VanGoghsDog · 25/01/2022 09:59

@JesusMaryAndJosephAndTheWeeDon

And she's correct. The highway code contains elements that are law (and it states which law it is) but most of it is advice on best practice and not legally enforceable.

It is a big problem for vulnerable road users as they report close passes or motorists ignoring hand signals to the police and the police can't act because a law hasn't actually been broken.

Well, she was NOT correct, because some of it is law. She stated none of it was law.

I told her some is law, where it says "must". The fact she didn't know that is quite a worry frankly.

tearinghairout · 25/01/2022 10:58

Thank you @GiantKitten. Good to know I'm not cracking up!

ImAGummyBear · 25/01/2022 11:25

Totally agree with you @ErrolTheDragon
It is one of those white noise observations that you may have seen but not really registered because it has absolutely no relevance to your driving.

I passed my theory around 16-17yrs ago and did not have this question. On my practical test he asked me to read a number plate not tell him what colour it was or which direction a car was travelling. I had been driving a good few years when I noticed this or to be more precise it was brought to my attention. My front number plate was broken on the floor one day someone must have tried to steal it. Upon getting a new one I somehow thought aren't these supposed to be yellow? Then checked, I was like why have i not noticed before? So it must have been there in my mind subconsciously but never brought to the fore because you do not need this particular information for driving safely.
For those who are adamant you need this information to be a good driver how would you cope in countries that have the same colour plates? It's just information that you may or may not have observed, makes no difference to the actual driving.
I am not saying its not good to have observed this absolutely it is a good thing. But if you haven't... makes no difference to your driving whatsoever.

And for those who say I havent lived here all my life n even I know its actually easier to notice a difference than something that's just the norm.

DogInATent · 25/01/2022 11:39

The whole of the Highway Code is testable when you take your UK driving test, and was included in the test even before the theory test. The old style theory test was just less formal, and involved the examiner asking you questions in the vehicle during the test.

Saying you took the old test before the written theory exam isn't a valid excuse for not knowing the yellow/white number plate thing.

The old test was the eyesight test to read a number plate. One or more questions on braking distance relative to speed, and an estimate of a relevant distance to an object in view. There were verbal questions that could relate to any part of the Highway Code, and flash cards on the meaning of signage. Falling the theory was still a fail in the old style test.

How many people know you can tell which week and year your tyres were made from the markings on them?

DickMabutt73962 · 25/01/2022 11:51

Never noticed this, I need to check mine now 😂

DickMabutt73962 · 25/01/2022 11:52

@Icequeen01

DH says it's to show if a vehicle is coming towards you or going away from you. That's fine if you know they were different colours to start with, which I didn't until I read this thread!
Exactly!
DickMabutt73962 · 25/01/2022 11:52

@GreenLunchBox

This can't be real. Have you even passed your test?
Wasn't mentioned in the lessons 😞
saraclara · 25/01/2022 11:56

Icequeen01

DH says it's to show if a vehicle is coming towards you or going away from you. That's fine if you know they were different colours to start with, which I didn't until I read this thread!

DH is wrong. I was around when the change happened and there was, of course, a load of information and guidance around it (back in the day when we had government public information adverts, even on the BBC!)
It's about reflection (or at least that was the reason when they were brought in). The rear ones are yellow to make the contrast clear and the numbers readable when headlights are shining on them.