P plates - who is BU?

[FoofFighter]

I passed my driving test yesterday I've got the insurance sorted and hoping to go out solo for the first time at the weekend I might or might not be shutting myself at the prospect

Here is the AIBU though. I think I should put P plates on for the first while so in the event I'm a little hesitant or cautious that other drivers will see why rather than get all impatient and beepy.

Partner however says I absolutely shouldn't wear P plates although doesn't really state why, I think maybe he thinks that I will attract the wrong kind of attention.

Who is U!?

Did you wear P plates?

How do you respond to P plates on other drivers?

Sorry I agree with petty If you feel that you need other drivers to give you special consideration and you're making mistakes through nerves then get some more driving experience before going out on busy roads.
P plates won't give you extra "protection" or prevent you having an accident so perhaps they're a false security.

I also agree that the twats that think they own the roads will see the P plates and try to overtake, pull out before you and show even less consideration.

I used them. Very helpful when I was stopped by police for driving without my lights on at night while lost in a complicated one way system (in a very well lit city centre!) I had to produce my ID at a police station but they quickly established I wasn't drunk or over tired just inexperienced and lost. Incidentally I was stopped by an entire minibus full of policemen as there was an event on in the city, while driving my Mum's car with her permission while she was on holiday.

I think twatish drivers will be like that if you have P plates or not - I regularly get overtaken in my local area because I keep to the speed limit.

I wouldn't use them but I am not you and neither is your DP. If they feel they will help you then use them. You can always take them off if they're not adding benefit. Twattish drivers are out there and you will encounter plenty whether you have P plates or not.

I used them for several months and I was 46 when I passed my test so don't worry about your age, OP. In fact, in your situation they are v useful as someone who sees a teenager driving a car knows they are relatively inexperienced but is quite likely to assume that a 44 year old has been driving for twenty years.

I drove without P plates the first few times I went out alone and definitely noticed that other drivers were more considerate after I started using them. I would recommend you use them based on my own experience.

I don't really have an opinion on the plates themselves, I am just annoyed by some of the reactions on here, not surprised sadly, I see these people on the road all the time.
Of course you wouldn't expect a new driver to be fully confident, and frankly they should be careful. Passing your driving test is great, but it's only the beginning, no way will you have enough hours behind you to be a very good driver. Admitting that you need to pay more attention is a very good thing.

We are confronted by horrendous drivers all the time - there's another thread about that right now, people who think they are skilled and own the road. I have so much more respect for a young driver, who is a bit cautious, take time and think than one of the muppets who think they know everything, that being confident means they are good drivers. I am so bored of aggressive drivers, who end up causing real damage.

My DD used P plates until she grew confident. I think they were a big help. She had one unpleasant incident when a group of lads in a bigger car were messing around, tailgating, catcalling and overtaking her repeatedly but that could have happened anyway as she was a pretty young thing and they were stupid arses.

DS, almost 18, carried P plates for about 3 or 4 months.

Personally, when I see a P plate, I know to cut that driver a tad more space than I otherwise might, both for their and my sakes.

I didn't use them as I felt I'd get more hassle with them than without, judging by the sort of twattish behaviour you encounter driving around in a car with L plates. I think that was the right decision for me, I like to blend in and not draw attention to myself generally. Try with and without and see what works out best!

You'll be better off without them. You're a qualified driver now so you don't need plates anymore. They'd just tempt idiot drivers into trying to bully you.

I passed end of January and I’m 39 and use P plates after making the same considerations. I can’t prove that people are more courteous although it feels like it and as pp say idiots are idiots regardless of whether you’re a new or experienced driver.

However what has been lovely about them was a couple of weeks ago a guy lost his temper in the supermarket petrol station and came screaming backward into the road swung around in a screech of brakes out the car park. Both I and the car coming the other way had to slam our brakes on even though we were going slow. As I pulled into the car park and parked up the man behind me followed and parked next to me to check I was ok, which I though was lovely. He said his son had only passed his test six months ago and would have been mad as hell if his son had been through the same. So I guess it proves decent people do notice them for the right reasons.

Hey @FoofFighter congratulations 🚘🎉🎊.
We were chatting on a thread I started about learning to drive 30yrs + I started a while back. Was wondering how you were getting on .

I haven't worn them but only because I'm a forgetful mare and didn't order any. I passed my test 10 days before giving birth to my new ds so my mind is a bit absent!!
I'm loving driving and don't regret not wearing p plates.

So pleased for you!

I passed my test in Australia at a similar age to you. As a PP said the P plates are compulsory and you don’t get a full licence until 2 years on ‘Ps’. I got so many comments about drink driving as if you lose your licence you go back on Ps once the disqualification is over. Aussie drivers tend to be really impatient with ‘bloody P platers’ rather than give them more space. But you have the choice so try both ways and see if it makes any difference.

Also congratulations

Not the case in all the UK. NI requires new drivers to display P plates for a year amongst other restrictions.

At least they did when I was there 20 years ago and I haven't looked it up so I may be out of date.

I think they should be compulsory, especially for young drivers, as should speed restrictions and restrictions on passengers ie no passengers except relatives. I know a rural headteacher who says he has been to car related funerals for former or current pupils every year for the last ten years and he is fed up with the waste of young lives and the devastation it brings to friends and families. Other countries restrict new driver activity and it is seen as acceptable.i don't know why we don't do it here.

I think the idea of putting them on the back but not the front is great.

I passed 2 years ago aged 32. I used them for maybe 2 weeks. It made me feel better, as did having a dash cam.

The first few solo drives can be scary, even if you are a safe and confident driver. If it's not at least a tiny bit scary then I think you are probably over confident! I took them off when I cleaned the car and didn't put them back.

Where I live there are lots of 20 zones. Almost everyone does at least 30 in them. It can be very intimidating as a new driver having people abuse you for sticking to speed limits. The P plates made me feel like people were more likely to overtake rather than tailgate.

My driving instructor (SIL) told me categorically NOT to use them, of course though she said it was ultimately my choice.

She said they’re a red rag to a bull. Going on to say drivers are a “pack mentality” and if they see someone who doesn’t conform to the pack (L or P plates), they will just take the piss, whereas perhaps they wouldn’t always with other drivers.

She did say this wouldn’t be true of every driver, some would give you more consideration and time, and not every driver will take the piss with any driver, but in the main, in her opinion, they were never worth it.

If this was just her being more honest with me as I am family, I suspect it was?

I don't beep at anyone (never used my horn). But then again I am not a twat. I don't think it will make any difference. Good drivers are patient regardless.

I would not use P plates. Other drives act like absolute wankers when they see L or P plates, when otherwise they might wait.

You're more likely to have a crash IMO.

If the world was black and white, I would say that if you have passed your test then you are deemed proficient enough to drive solo on the road and therefore if you feel you need to tell people you've just passed your test and to please be kind to you, should you actually have passed the test?!!!

However, in the real world, if they give you confidence then what harm to they do? I feel that if other drivers are going to be arses about you being hesitant then they will be the same whether you have P plates or not so they aren't worth the hassle!
Have fun driving

There’s a mum at our school who’s had P plates on her car for about 2 years now. She’s a really shit Parker too.

You can’t use “P’s” to warn people you might be indecisive for more than a few days. I treat P drivers like any other. They’ve passed the tests, therefore they don’t get any special treatment, and if they’re slow/fast/do something stupid, they’ll get a fist gesture like anyone else.

It's up to you. I used them for a bit when I passed my test but then took them off as a) I felt more confident and b) I couldn't see they were making any difference to anyone else on the road.

TBH I would do what makes you happy but given there are so few drivers out there with them on, I suspect they are not a widely known about thing and some drivers will take the piss seeing them just as they do out of learners.

I wouldn't be surprised if the attitude in drivers in general varies from area to area. I have noticed huge differences in various parts of the country, some places seem to have a lot more stressed and idiotic drivers than others.

Use them. They are there for a reason