L plate suggestion

[CookMySock]

We have had four L-Platers from our family over the last few years, as well as a few local mates, and we also have read in this forum about problems L-Platers face. But specifically addressing the problem of cagers intimidating unsupervised newbies ;

There are loads and loads of situations when actions taken against newbie bikers have them consider breaking the law and removing the very thing that was intended to protect them - the L Plate.

There are mechanisms to protect us on the road such as *555 and the procedure of filling out a complaint form at the police station, but still cagers seem to forget this.

Getting to the point, I wonder what would happen if there were additional legal protection for riders displaying an L Plate. Perhaps if they filed a complaint, the police and the courts might act on it without having a witness, or some other thing that made cagers think twice about doing dangerous shit around newb bikers.

Summarising, the idea is to offer some additional rights in law to L-Platers so cagers actually fear and respect the rider, not the other way around. L-Platers then get to relax and continue with learning, and not struggling to manage others' hostile activities.


Steve

[NDORFN]

Attach the L-Plate with nut and bolt, break L-Plate off leaving enough of it attached to make it evident that there was one on there. The law specifically states that an L-Plate must be "attached" to the bike, but nowhere does it state that one must be "displayed". So when the filthy pigs pull your kid over it's a simple case of "Oh darn. It seems kind officer that some unruley youth have sabotaged my bike at the last stop". Even the greediest of porkers wouldn't have the audacity to serve an infringement notice. You should teach your kid instead how to pull off the "Attitude test", which I believe consists of displaying complete and utter subordination toward the road Nazi.

[CookMySock]

"Oh darn. It seems kind officer that some unruley youth have sabotaged my bike at the last stop".

Hehe, we already got that.. you see, the L-Plate swings around under the rego plate so it cant be seen - I can go from L-Plate to no L-Plate in about, oooo, 2 seconds. Afixxed, but not visible.. bugger!

You should teach your kid instead how to pull off the "Attitude test", which I believe consists of displaying complete and utter subordination toward the road Nazi.

ohhhhh don't worry about that. I plan to teach them ALL aspects of biking.

Steve

[Leyton]

I like the idea dude!

[The Baron]

I hear what you are saying But the problem is with tailgaters. We don't need more new road rules! We do NOT police the ones we have now.

So police the tailgate problems as the dangerous driving that they are.

But its not going to happen is it?

Speeding 10km over or drink driving and thats it.

[Hiflyer]

Sorry to be the twat that does this but...

'L' (learner) plates
All riders on a motorcycle learner licence must have an 'L' plate attached to the rear of their motorcycle.

You can get an 'L' plate from a driver licensing agent. It's also acceptable to make one yourself, to the dimensions shown.

The 'L' plate must be clearly visible to all other road users. It must not restrict your front or rear vision.

But the idea of new, tougher laws sounds brilliant to me!

[CookMySock]

I hear what you are saying But the problem is with tailgaters.

Tailgaters don't ACTUALLY AFFECT you. It's all in your head. Ignore them, and nothing will happen. Try it.

What the problem is, are morons throwing empty beer bottles at bikes, cars trying to lane-split with bikes, asshole cagers pulling alongside pointing at the L-Plate and hurling abuse, and the like, and other outright intimidating and dangerous activities.

Anyway, its just an idea.

Steve

[miSTa]

Tailgaters don't ACTUALLY AFFECT you. It's all in your head. Ignore them, and nothing will happen. Try it.

You're kidding right? There's no way you be serious, what happens when a hazard appears and you can't slow to avoid it because someone is up your date? FFS put some thought in to your comments.

[CookMySock]

You're kidding right? There's no way you be serious, what happens when a hazard appears and you can't slow to avoid it because someone is up your date? FFS put some thought in to your comments.

The road code says if someone is following too closely you are to increase the space in front of you for the exact purpose you mention. There are many other steps you can use also, such as pulling over and letting them pass.

The problem is, irate cagers thinking they can bash newbies because they are small, scared, and weak.

Steve

[Squiggles]

"Oh darn. It seems kind officer that some unruley youth have sabotaged my bike at the last stop". Even the greediest of porkers wouldn't have the audacity to serve an infringement notice.

If you actually think they'd believe any such excuse you're fooking deluded.

I think alot of it (alot, not all) is in the head, you think it makes you more vulnerable to idiots so you're more aware of them.

[CookMySock]

I think alot of it (alot, not all) is in the head, you think it makes you more vulnerable to idiots so you're more aware of them.

You are right, but there have been quite a few really dangerous things done to newbies here.

My wife had a quart beer bottle smashed on the road right in front of here at highway speeds. This is a fucking dangerous thing to have happen.

My Learner lady friend down the road had a carload of idots pull over the centerline and right up alongside of her and abuse her at length because she was in the right half-lane. She was terrified, and rightly so. (90km/hr, clear road)

Both of these people had L plates on. I bet there are many more stories such as this.

Steve

[tigertim20]

Tailgaters don't ACTUALLY AFFECT you. It's all in your head. Ignore them, and nothing will happen. Try it.

Steve

I genuinely think that this guy needs to be hung by the testicles, and shot through the eyes. Thus improving the knowledge base of all motorcyclists who would have otherwise been influenced by this idiot, in a manner, based on his recent comments, that could VERY possibly cost them their lives on the road. Fucking unreal. I bet he wont survive half as many years on a bike as someone like our resident nighthawk has with those attitudes.

I can only hope that newbies who read his posts have either the recognition the see what crap he is talking, or enough people around them to tell them differently.

At the moment I am teaching my partner to ride, and this honestly fucking scares me, as at some point I need to send her out with other riders to get advice from them too. And I can tell you those riders will need to fulfill two requirements, they will need to have Kaylas express permission, and trust. They will also need to have been on rides with me so I am confident that they can teach her positive values, and fortunately, there are a high number of those types of people who I trust and can call upon for advice and assistance, and for that reason I feel lucky. God help those who do not have the positive influences we have on here and instead have a very 'DangerousBastard" to look up to.

[CookMySock]

@Tigertim

Since you shoot your mouth off, please point out ANY person who has ACTUALLY been hurt by a tailgater EVER, ANYWHERE, and I do not mean someone paniccing and running off the road because the BELIEVE they are GOING to be hurt, I mean some L-Plate biker who has ACTUALLY been hurt by a tailgater. Lets hear it. Bring your facts to the discussion, if you have any.

Cmon then? Facts please. I invite it. But you won't will you? You just attempt to put someone else down, for the express purpose of making yourself bigger.

Facts or lose face.

Steve

[Leyton]

The problem is, irate cagers thinking they can bash newbies because they are small, scared, and weak.

Steve

Yep, Its bully's 101. Increasing the power of the "L" by not requiring a witness might be enough to create a little distance between the bully and the "L" plater.

I too have had abuse hurled at me.. I was going 100-110km/hr.. not holding up anything.. it was a cager who thought I was an obstical to get around just becuase I had a "L" plate regardless of my speed. And yep, there was abuse in there too.

As for the correct action to to combat tailgaters. I agree with the road code completely on that one.
The reasons I agree with that is :

1. The mentality of speeding up if you are a n00b may exceed your ability thresh hold putting yourself and others at risk (Mostly yourself being the one on the bike).. its just not worth it sometimes.
2. It could start a race, the tail gater is just going to get a thrill out of being a bully anyway, so do not speed up!
3. When it is safe to so do, do pull over, signal the d!ckwad past, if they don't pass then tough, or pull over to a stop (Last resort)

In reality, I have not had problems with tailgaters for a long time... they normaly just pass, and they are more then welcome to get out of my way if they are going 140+.. better them going that speed infront of me then behind. Bikes I can live with to an extent, but cagers!

I do not normaly speed up purely for the fact I do not want to pay(a fine if cought speeding) to clear a path for some useless prat whom does not know how to pass me.

[NighthawkNZ:Me]

S please point out ANY person who has ACTUALLY been hurt by a tailgater EVER, ANYWHERE, and I do not mean someone paniccing and running off the road because the BELIEVE they are GOING to be hurt, I mean some L-Plate biker who has ACTUALLY been hurt by a tailgater. Lets hear it. Bring your facts to the discussion, if you have any.

Me... (and I aint going to go into details about it) I have been hit from behind at 120kph by a tailgater... so do not ever tell me it is not dangerous... I have also been hit and pushed into on coming traffic nearly run over by a Kenworth who was fully locked up to trying to stop... because some fuckwit was tailgating and not watching the road to notice there was a stop sign...

So don't ever ever tell me it is not dangerous...