To keep my L plates on a bit longer?

[2fast2upset]

I passed by driving test recently (1 minor fault) and have been learning over 2 years with lots of private practice. I am not perfect. I am a new driver. But I am not overly hesitant or nervous.

I have been amazed by the hideous driving behaviour I have experienced since taking off my L plates. People pulling out straight in front of me into very unsafe gaps and making me slam my breaks and cutting me up on lanes. I hadn’t experienced behaviours like this before.

Would I BU to keep my L plates on for another week just whilst I get a bit more used to driving solo? From what I understand the worst that can happen is the police will pull me over, ask for my license and ask me to remove them. There are no points or fines attached to doing this.

I am displaying P plates at the moment but it’s not making a blind bit of difference.

There’s another plate that you can get I think it’s green with a P that indicates a new driver there’s also stickers that you can put on the back of the car

I think YABU. You’ve put in for your test & passed so I think any special concession should stop. Driving on the roads will always need you to be ultra-responsive as some people do drive like dicks.

People drive badly, that is something you need to get used to. I'm honestly surprised you haven't experienced it with L plates too. Many don't care about those either. Keep driving and you will get used to it. I don think you may have just been unlucky too.

I have these, I’ve mentioned it in my post.

Get a P

Leave the P plates on.

Are you driving a small car? People think you have no right to be on the road and will just pull out in front of you in their oversized polluting SUVs. Just get used to keeping a close eye on them! I also don't think putting the L plates on would make any difference, some drivers are horrible to learner drivers. I have a friend who's a driving instructor and sometimes get a lift with him to places and it's an eye opener!

Please read my post

I’d take the P plates off, I think some people like to intimidate new drivers. My son’s instructor advised him not to use them.

The first rule of driving. Everyone else is an idiot.

Take the P plates off! They make people drive like twats around you for some reason.

I don't see any reason why not but, if you display L plates and drive alone, you may get stopped by police as learner drivers cannot drive alone. And also, echo PPs. It won't make any difference - some people just drive like idiots.

I can’t see he leaving the L plates on is going to help, if you are driving by yourself then you are clearly not a Learner anyway. Keep the P on for now. You need to get used to rude drivers, although I am surprised that you have found that many in such a short space of time!

I’ve obviously been lucky and have encountered a lot kind drivers in the past 2 years. The difference in not having my L plates on has been absolutely stark. Or it might be because I have been with my dad or my husband so people have been better behaved, I’m not sure.

I actually found it better without L plates. I'd be tempted to take the P plates off too! I think people sometimes cut you up as they worry you will be slow as a new driver.

Oh come on, you know that's a ludicrous suggestion. You'll be driving on your own, so any other road user is going to recognise you're not a learner if they care enough to target only those who've passed their test.

You can’t have the L plates on now. Keep the P plates on until you get used to driving. I don’t think there’s a time limit for the P plates.

No I wouldn't - use the P plates - this is part of actually learning to drive, which you do after you pass your test!

You are supposed to remove them once you aren't a learner, but I think YANBU to leave them on till you get more confident. As long as that's weeks rather than months!
You could also have a lesson that focuses on your confidence, I'm sure instructors would offer that.

If there aren't any penalties for driving with L plates when you aren't a learner driver and potentially wasting police time pulling you over, there ought to be.

I'd take the P plates off. She how you are treated with no plates. I think there's a type of driver who considers new drivers fair game to intimidate and think if you've passed your test but are new you need to have harsh lessons about the roads.

So I would try no plates before you regress to L plates.

You can't put your L plates back on. They should only be used if a learner is driving the car and should be removed when they're not driving. I would just rake the P plates off. There's something about L & P plates that turns other drivers into utter dicks.

Take the p plates off. As a driver, they won't make me treat you any differently to drivers without them. You were competent enough to pass your test, so you don't need any concessions.

I found that there were more issues with drivers with my P plates were on then when I took them off. Anecdotal, but I think some drivers are them and use it as an invite to be an asshole. I took them off after my first week with them on and it was much better after that

You could get pulled over for driving solo with L plates on. Happened to my DF when he used the car that we were all learning to drive on, and had forgotten to take them off.

I've heard this is quite common.