L plates are dangerous!

[musicman]

No.

Mr Ixion has pointed out the law that prevents doing this... unfortunately.

Why? I see cars around with L-plates and only driver alone (so obviously NOT a learner) so why can't bikes have L-plates past the learner stage??

[PrincessBandit]

Why? I see cars around with L-plates and only driver alone (so obviously NOT a learner) so why can't bikes have L-plates past the learner stage??

Because cars are special, their drivers are "special needs" ooops i mean have special needs.

Also, because the family car is more likely to have multiple drivers at different levels and it;s sooooo easy just to leave them there when the young daughter or son has been out for their driving lesson.

[Tank]

Not so sure about that. However, anyone in/on an L plated conveyance may be constrained by the learner rules. So definitely illegal to place one on a 1200. etc

Its the rider who must have the plate - not the bike.

So when I had my exemption I had a L-Plate on a 800cc bike - and had to as part of the requirements.

[Ixion]

Why? I see cars around with L-plates and only driver alone (so obviously NOT a learner) so why can't bikes have L-plates past the learner stage??

Not so sure about that. However, anyone in/on an L plated conveyance may be constrained by the learner rules. So definitely illegal to place one on a 1200. etc

linky ?

No.

Mr Ixion has pointed out the law that prevents doing this... unfortunately.

The law :

Driver Licensing Rule 1999 S 104

Prohibition on display of L plate except in appropriate circumstances
A person must not drive, on a road, a motor vehicle that displays an L plate as specified in clause 66 unless that person—
(a) Holds a learner licence of the class that relates to that vehicle in accordance with Schedule 3; or
(b) Immediately prior to driving has been, or is about to be, accompanying the person in paragraph (a) in accordance with clause 16(1)(a); or
(c) Holds a driving instructor or testing officer endorsement and is driving a vehicle used for purposes connected with that endorsement.

The number of times I've posted that, it ought to be made a sticky.

[The Pastor]

The law :

Driver Licensing Rule 1999 S 104



The number of times I've posted that, it ought to be made a sticky.

is there a fine for it tho?

[mattian]

I tend to agree with renegade master. You are going to encounter assholes like this on the roads with or without your L plate. If you ride a bike you need to get used to it. If you're going to tap on people windows to have a little chat expect them to see that as provocation. Stay calm and keep a level head. If you feel like your life has been put in danger then go straight to your nearest police station..... what happened to you was assault and its a pity you didnt get the number plate.

[quickbuck]

(c) Holds a driving instructor or testing officer endorsement and is driving a vehicle used for purposes connected with that endorsement.

So, IF I was a licenced motorcycle instructor.....
And I had an L plate on my bike I used to instruct on..... and heading off to a students house/ or area of instruction... I can get away with the L plate?

OR, the law doesn't say anything about riding though.... (unless there are definitions in the said publication that I can't see from here).

Then again, not really worth loosing the licence to instruct for.

[moT]

I'm utterly fuming at the moment.

Why is it that cagers have such a desire to kill any motorcyclist displaying a L-Plate?

This morning coming down Greenlane Rd, I filtered through the traffic stopped at the light and pulled away. As normal, good traffic speed and everything fine. Coming down to the second set of lights just before the roundabout, I see the gold SUV that was behind me racing up at a rate of knots. He swerved into the left lane, saw the bus just down the hill and then basically cut across into my lane, missing me by less than a ruler's length.

Thank #@$! I had anticipated this type of lunacy and swung wider to the right, otherwise he'd have taken me out. And looking at his speed, he must have been doing somewhere in the 80+ km/h region. In a 50 zone.

I suspect he got annoyed that a small, L-plate motorcycle had the good fortune to filter through traffic and generally have an easier time in traffic than he does.

But, I stopped next to him and knocked on his window. This was a mistake, but I wanted to ask him to be a bit more careful around motorcyclists. And what does he do? Leans out and smacks me across the face with his forearm, before racing off. He wasn't bright enough to realize that smacking a helmet has little effect on the rider.

I only caught part of his license plate (CH something), so I'm going to have to go file a police report and hope they can catch him. But this is starting to get ridiculous. I want to take that L-plate off and just ride around, because it seems that as soon as a motorist sees an "L" plate they assume it's a learner / slow vehicle that will be holding them up / annoying them / in their way / whatever and just start driving like idiots.

Okay. Rant and vent over. Deep breaths and all that. And maybe time for a smoke as well.

I really sympathise with you but your one off incident does not convince me that your claim of L plates are dangerous to be true. Your arguement lacks facts and statistics that L plates are dangerous. eg: Do statistics point to more deaths or accidents with L plates than none? Personaly I dont think L plates make you crash more, or make you more prone to dangerous encounters, or make car drivers want to kill you. Until you can display facts and reserch done by credable sources to back up your claim that L plates induce homicidal behavior, I will not be convinced. This story on the other hand would make a nice attention grabber for a pursuasive speech.

[Slyer]

I don't know I'm always more careful around L platers, but the number of dicks I see driving their cars with them and clearly aren't learners annoys me...

[sunhuntin]

you get to pick the ones that are and that ones that arent. so far, to my recollection, ive only encountered one genuine l plate driver, and it was obvious due to the youth of the driver. i just hung right back, mainly to keep the cars behind me from getting to close to her. gave her heaps of room and all the patience ive got to make her smooth move from the give way at one of the worst RAB's in town. i figure ill do my part to make someones l plate time easier, even if only for a few seconds.