P Plates & Di*kheads
Discussion
My son passed his test in August last year, and has only just started driving our old Civic. We got him P plates, and today I went out with him in town for a bit of practice after picking him up from work. A reasonable amount of traffic around, and a couple of notorious roundabouts.
As far as I’m concerned he did fine, not yet as fluid as someone with more experience, but certainly nothing concerning. It’s an automatic, but he passed his test (first time) on a manual with no issues with an average number of lessons. He’s careful and has no interest in speeding, just getting from A to B.
We’d only done about 2 miles before some di*khead blasted the horn for about 20 seconds because - I think - he wasn’t far enough over to the right while slowing to drive into a bike shop car park. They even stopped to gesticulate, and caused the car behind to blast them in turn, before tailgating them through the next two sets of traffic lights. This all despite it being a wide road (transitions to 2 lanes just after the car park turn off) with plenty of room to pass on the inside.
Also, early on while learning (with a professional instructor), he said someone had taken the trouble to stop and tell him he’d never pass his test.
I always see an L or P plate and assume inexperience, so make allowances.
Is it common these days for folks to be dicks for the sake of it? Never noticed this kind of thing before. It must be a bit demoralising, although so far he’s taken it in good spirit.
As far as I’m concerned he did fine, not yet as fluid as someone with more experience, but certainly nothing concerning. It’s an automatic, but he passed his test (first time) on a manual with no issues with an average number of lessons. He’s careful and has no interest in speeding, just getting from A to B.
We’d only done about 2 miles before some di*khead blasted the horn for about 20 seconds because - I think - he wasn’t far enough over to the right while slowing to drive into a bike shop car park. They even stopped to gesticulate, and caused the car behind to blast them in turn, before tailgating them through the next two sets of traffic lights. This all despite it being a wide road (transitions to 2 lanes just after the car park turn off) with plenty of room to pass on the inside.
Also, early on while learning (with a professional instructor), he said someone had taken the trouble to stop and tell him he’d never pass his test.
I always see an L or P plate and assume inexperience, so make allowances.
Is it common these days for folks to be dicks for the sake of it? Never noticed this kind of thing before. It must be a bit demoralising, although so far he’s taken it in good spirit.
When I read the title I thought it was going to be a cringe worthy thread from one of those self-important PHers. I was expecting a rant about new drivers not being good enough/fast enough etc. Quite pleased to see it wasn't that. If your lad can manage to give the pillocks the attention they deserve (none) he's doing well.
People will try to bully me while driving my car which has a Pink coloured "new driver" sticker with a cutesy panda on it. Most people are lovely, but this sticker seems to be a red rag to a bull for a certain sort.
I've been driving for 20 years, but my wife has recently passed her test. I take it as a personal attack when they try to bully me, so will happily reduce my speed to a crawl if they are tailgating (if safe to do so) etc until they get the hint.
I refuse to let anyone bully me, as I see it as an attempt to bully my wife.
Most of the time I'm making sufficient progress that the opportunity doesn't present itself, but if traffic ahead is slowing progress, then occasionally someone will decide I am a target.
I've found quite often the sort of people that will try it are those who generally don't look like they would say anything if you were outside the car, while the "hardman" looking sort seem to give space.
I've been driving for 20 years, but my wife has recently passed her test. I take it as a personal attack when they try to bully me, so will happily reduce my speed to a crawl if they are tailgating (if safe to do so) etc until they get the hint.
I refuse to let anyone bully me, as I see it as an attempt to bully my wife.
Most of the time I'm making sufficient progress that the opportunity doesn't present itself, but if traffic ahead is slowing progress, then occasionally someone will decide I am a target.
I've found quite often the sort of people that will try it are those who generally don't look like they would say anything if you were outside the car, while the "hardman" looking sort seem to give space.
Edited by johnsmith222 on Tuesday 7th April 01:53
dr_gn said:
My son passed his test in August last year, and has only just started driving our old Civic. We got him P plates, and today I went out with him in town for a bit of practice after picking him up from work. A reasonable amount of traffic around, and a couple of notorious roundabouts.
As far as I m concerned he did fine, not yet as fluid as someone with more experience, but certainly nothing concerning. It s an automatic, but he passed his test (first time) on a manual with no issues with an average number of lessons. He s careful and has no interest in speeding, just getting from A to B.
We d only done about 2 miles before some di*khead blasted the horn for about 20 seconds because - I think - he wasn t far enough over to the right while slowing to drive into a bike shop car park. They even stopped to gesticulate, and caused the car behind to blast them in turn, before tailgating them through the next two sets of traffic lights. This all despite it being a wide road (transitions to 2 lanes just after the car park turn off) with plenty of room to pass on the inside.
Also, early on while learning (with a professional instructor), he said someone had taken the trouble to stop and tell him he d never pass his test.
I always see an L or P plate and assume inexperience, so make allowances.
Is it common these days for folks to be dicks for the sake of it? Never noticed this kind of thing before. It must be a bit demoralising, although so far he s taken it in good spirit.
You’ve done the right thing by putting the p plates on but in today’s society there are far too many selfish nasty people so it just isn’t worth it. As far as I m concerned he did fine, not yet as fluid as someone with more experience, but certainly nothing concerning. It s an automatic, but he passed his test (first time) on a manual with no issues with an average number of lessons. He s careful and has no interest in speeding, just getting from A to B.
We d only done about 2 miles before some di*khead blasted the horn for about 20 seconds because - I think - he wasn t far enough over to the right while slowing to drive into a bike shop car park. They even stopped to gesticulate, and caused the car behind to blast them in turn, before tailgating them through the next two sets of traffic lights. This all despite it being a wide road (transitions to 2 lanes just after the car park turn off) with plenty of room to pass on the inside.
Also, early on while learning (with a professional instructor), he said someone had taken the trouble to stop and tell him he d never pass his test.
I always see an L or P plate and assume inexperience, so make allowances.
Is it common these days for folks to be dicks for the sake of it? Never noticed this kind of thing before. It must be a bit demoralising, although so far he s taken it in good spirit.
I get a similar experience when I’m driving my old Honda jazz but when I’m in my slower bigger xc90 no one’s bothers me ever. It isn’t you or your son it’s the absolute Tossers we as a society have to tolerate.
Super Sonic said:
Ham_and_Jam said:
Take the P plates off.
Respectful and courteous drivers will still be respectful and courteous.
Knobs tend to be more aggressive and disrespectful to anyone they perceive to be inferior. The P plates will just highlight them.
Exactly. Well put.Respectful and courteous drivers will still be respectful and courteous.
Knobs tend to be more aggressive and disrespectful to anyone they perceive to be inferior. The P plates will just highlight them.
One thing I would say is that having just passed the driving test you are more up to date with the rules than most people and only lack the arrogance, complacency and optimism that driving for a few years without incident brings.
I think P plates are worth keeping. Part of the reason that some drive like tossers is that don't understand who is in the far in front. Older person, new driver, and a lot of anger is generally due to it being just an unseen and random car in the way
I'm not defending anyone driving badly, but there a whole thread here about slow drivers - which I face endlessly and it's extremely frustrating.
So to then see a big P sign on a car, I'd likely immediately have some background or reason why the car is being driven with less confidence
You can all day we should be nice, patient, courteous and calm but it doesn't work like that. People do drive too slow, too fast, annoyingly don't indicate, brake suddenly for no reason, don't check mirrors etc
I had P plates for about a month after driving and felt better with them
I'm not defending anyone driving badly, but there a whole thread here about slow drivers - which I face endlessly and it's extremely frustrating.
So to then see a big P sign on a car, I'd likely immediately have some background or reason why the car is being driven with less confidence
You can all day we should be nice, patient, courteous and calm but it doesn't work like that. People do drive too slow, too fast, annoyingly don't indicate, brake suddenly for no reason, don't check mirrors etc
I had P plates for about a month after driving and felt better with them
I agree with some of the above, take the P plates off, it only encourages them.
What you are seeing is the inner chimp, that we all have, waking up and doing its thing, some have little to no control over him once he's excited hence the aggressive behaviour, they could well be quite nice people whilst the chimp is asleep.
What you are seeing is the inner chimp, that we all have, waking up and doing its thing, some have little to no control over him once he's excited hence the aggressive behaviour, they could well be quite nice people whilst the chimp is asleep.
Hugo Stiglitz said:
I would but there's a sector of society that when they get on the road finally see the chance that a exo-skeloton on wheels finally gives them power over walkers, cyclists, horse riders and the likes of new drivers...
When I was teaching my kids to drive, sticking L plates on the Fiat 500 would instantly cause apoplexy in a certain kind of SUV driver. Utter bellends.
heads out there, there are also a lot of people who are courteous and will make allowances for your kid, as well as being extra aware that they might make the odd mistake.After reading this thread, I've just come across a P plated car on the road.
Single lane road, splits into 2 lanes at a roundabout, got in the left lane with right indicator on and went right and then at the next roundabout stopped dead even though there was nothing coming, I'm on a motorbike so got better visibility... mobile phone in left hand.
Single lane road, splits into 2 lanes at a roundabout, got in the left lane with right indicator on and went right and then at the next roundabout stopped dead even though there was nothing coming, I'm on a motorbike so got better visibility... mobile phone in left hand.
Gassing Station | General Gassing | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff