Massive rise in P plates

[jwilliamsm3]

I don't know if it's just me, but has anyone else noticed the huge increase in the number of P plates being stuck on peoples cars recently?
Considering they aren't madatory after passing a test, i can't see why anyone would want one i think they make you look like a plank.

I'm seeing about 5/6 a day now, used to hardly see any

[iphonedyou]

Why do you think people look like a plank with them?

[Hoofy]

Maybe it's being encouraged because road rage has gone up and people are less tolerant than ever?

[jwilliamsm3]

It's always nervous crap drivers that put them on, like wearing a dunce cap. Why put one on when there's no law requiring you do so

[OzzyR1]

The same thought occurred to me this weekend - I went to collect something on Sat which involved a 40 min journey each way and I noticed that 3 cars with P-plates on were in front of me at different stages & another travelling in the opposite direction.

Can only recall seeing them very occasionally before now, so 4 in under 2 hours struck me as unusual.

[119]

jwilliamsm3 said:

I don't know if it's just me, but has anyone else noticed the huge increase in the number of P plates being stuck on peoples cars recently?
Considering they aren't madatory after passing a test, i can't see why anyone would want one i think they make you look like a plank.

I'm seeing about 5/6 a day now, used to hardly see any

What’s the problem exactly?

Are you offended?

[lancslad58]

jwilliamsm3 said:

I don't know if it's just me, but has anyone else noticed the huge increase in the number of P plates being stuck on peoples cars recently?
Considering they aren't madatory after passing a test, i can't see why anyone would want one i think they make you look like a plank.

I'm seeing about 5/6 a day now, used to hardly see any

It's to warn people that you've only just passed your test, so what if you look like a plonk, so is wearing a high vis waistcoat on a push bike, at least you notice them which obviously works!

[Sebbak]

jwilliamsm3 said:

It's always nervous crap drivers that put them on, like wearing a dunce cap. Why put one on when there's no law requiring you do so

As Hoofy mentioned, probably nervous due to having people steaming up their backsides at 50mph in a 30 limit the first 2 weeks they passed. I'll certainly give learners and P-plates a bit more time, as I realise they could have passed yesterday for all I know.

What we really need are D plates for all the dheads that can't drive to save their lives and have no interest in doing so either. But that's another discussion entirely lol

[jwilliamsm3]

I know exactly what they're for, my point was I've started seeing a st load more than before

[lancslad58]

jwilliamsm3 said:

I know exactly what they're for, my point was I've started seeing a st load more than before

Perhaps the covid backlogs are finally being cleared

[dontlookdown]

lancslad58 said:

It's to warn people that you've only just passed your test, so what if you look like a plonk, so is wearing a high vis waistcoat on a push bike, at least you notice them which obviously works!

I agree. But my daughter, who passed her test a couple of years ago, ditched P plates after a week or so - she said they just made her a target for a certain type of d*ckhead driver.

[Foss62]

jwilliamsm3 said:

I don't know if it's just me, but has anyone else noticed the huge increase in the number of P plates being stuck on peoples cars recently?
Considering they aren't madatory after passing a test, i can't see why anyone would want one i think they make you look like a plank.

I'm seeing about 5/6 a day now, used to hardly see any

For an explanation you could start by looking at some of the other threads on here. There is one huge one that demonstrates quite astounding levels of intolerance of other drivers - and this is on a forum presumably frequented by better than average drivers (?). It’s hardly surprising that new drivers are taking an opportunity to at least try to ‘buy’ some leeway from others.
However, my daughter, now happily on P plates herself, almost unbelievably experienced two episodes of road rage whilst in a driving school car. The instructor said he had never seen anything like it, and that she hadn’t actually been doing anything wrong or particularly unusual either time.

[Billy_Rosewood]

dontlookdown said:

I agree. But my daughter, who passed her test a couple of years ago, ditched P plates after a week or so - she said they just made her a target for a certain type of d*ckhead driver.

Like OP?

[Zarco]

jwilliamsm3 said:

It's always nervous crap drivers that put them on, like wearing a dunce cap. Why put one on when there's no law requiring you do so

Its so everyone knows they are a nervous crap driver. Personally I haven't got a problem with that.

Perhaps they should start handing them out at roundabouts or something.

[jwilliamsm3]

Billy_Rosewood said:

Like OP?

[tim0409]

Why would anyone have an issue with P plates? I ride a motorbike most days and if I see a car with one I approach it with even more caution than one without and give it a bit more room. We weren’t all driving gods the second we obtained our pass certificate.

[dibblecorse]

Sebbak said:

As Hoofy mentioned, probably nervous due to having people steaming up their backsides at 50mph in a 30 limit the first 2 weeks they passed. I'll certainly give learners and P-plates a bit more time, as I realise they could have passed yesterday for all I know.

What we really need are D plates for all the dheads that can't drive to save their lives and have no interest in doing so either. But that's another discussion entirely lol

We have those, there are two types, can be quite small on some cars ...

[Bobupndown]

Here in Northern Ireland when you pass your driving test you automatically have to display orange R plates, R for Restricted driver for a year, still limited to 45 mph the same as learners. Gives newly passed drivers experience driving on their own but still speed limited and let's other drivers be aware that the driver has limited experience. I think it's a sensible idea.

[jwilliamsm3]

dibblecorse said:

We have those, there are two types, can be quite small on some cars ...

True

[sherman]

P plate drivers do seem to be increasing.
I think it must be from the covid backlog of learners and people going back to the office and reallising the bus route no longer exists so have to now drive.

I do wonder if a few of the P plate people are just people that have not driven much at all since covid and have put P plates on until they are confident again.