R-Plates coming soon to a restricted rider near you?

[nzspokes]

The mistake (and it's an easy one to make) is to assume that the tailgater is acting in response to the L-plate. Wrong. He was going to tailgate you anyway. Arseholes will always be arseholes.

I'm an old fart. An old fart with a difference - I enjoy teaching youngsters how to drive. I'm quite good at it, using methods passed on by my dear old dad. The result - I've taught lots of people how to drive. Not just my own kids, other people's kids. I taught my wife how to drive (her dad had given up on teaching her years earlier). I even taught an employee.

The upshot is - I've spent many hundreds of hours in my car with learners, with the L-plates on display. I can confirm that I'm not aware of any agressive or antagonistic driving by others, in response to the L-plates. On the contrary, most will be more courteous and patient (and perhaps cautious). A stalled hill-start at the traffic lights is unlikely to result in an angry response from behind, with that L-plate on display.

L-plates work well. They don't get rid of the dickheads on the road, but they don't create any more.

From that point of view, I'm in full agreement with the P-plate proposal.

Try it in Auckland next time, roads are a wee bit more busy......

[Akzle]

Bullshit. If they were meant to be able to ride/drive as skillfully as someone on their full licence ... there wouldn't be a restricted class of licence.

ahuh. huh.
i think you missed the bit about how the government is in the profitable business of fleecing money off the sheep....

what can a restricted driver not do? - drive at night. how does this help the population? - ____. (and how are they supposed to develop their night-driving skills and awareness?)
what else can a restricted driver not do? - carry his mates around (unless they're 'dependants') - how does this help the population? - _____. and given that you can call anyone without a vehicle or a job a dependant... huh.

so for everyone who gets a licence instead of the one-two whammy (L, F) at about 600$, we get the one two three whammy (and many people will fail on stupid shit, so repeating the test and paying the 180$ again...) for 800 odd$ for every new driver and 200$ every 10 years from EVERY driver.
what, you want to ride a bike?! get your visa out... truck?! uh oh.
and this doesn't include the some hundreds on vehicle licensing. phew.

huh, wonder if they mentioned that in the budget ><

[SMOKEU]

ahuh. huh.
i think you missed the bit about how the government is in the profitable business of fleecing money off the sheep....

what can a restricted driver not do? - drive at night. how does this help the population? - ____. (and how are they supposed to develop their night-driving skills and awareness?)
what else can a restricted driver not do? - carry his mates around (unless they're 'dependants') - how does this help the population? - _____. and given that you can call anyone without a vehicle or a job a dependant... huh.

><

People on a 1 or 6 R can travel at night, up until 2200. On a 1R they can also carry their mates around as long as the person in the front passengers seat, or if the vehicle lacks a front passengers seat, sits in the nearest practicible seat to the driver has held and currently holds a 1F license for at least 2 years.

[Parlane]

I think you guys are missing the point here. If they actually did this, there would be NO DIFFERENCE between your learners and your restricted.. Retarded as at the moment the only difference is being able to take your L Plate off

Only true if they get rid of the 70km rule like they plan to.

The thing with the L plate is that you are on it until you are comfortable to drive by yourself, aka can pass the test.

With a bike, you don't ride with anyone else anyway so you have to be comfortable from the get go. I don't understand why I need the L plate on the bike when I've been through the whole car process already. I'm not a new road user, I may be new to the bike but I know the roads, and that is what I believe the L plates show, is a lack of wisdom in regards to the roads.

[Asher]

Only true if they get rid of the 70km rule like they plan to.

The thing with the L plate is that you are on it until you are comfortable to drive by yourself, aka can pass the test.

With a bike, you don't ride with anyone else anyway so you have to be comfortable from the get go. I don't understand why I need the L plate on the bike when I've been through the whole car process already. I'm not a new road user, I may be new to the bike but I know the roads, and that is what I believe the L plates show, is a lack of wisdom in regards to the roads.

The speed limit for learners is long gone. The only difference between learners and restricted is the L plate now.

[Parlane]

The speed limit for learners is long gone. The only difference between learners and restricted is the L plate now.

When did that become law? Haha I missed that...

[Swoop]

Stickers save lots of lives.

It must be true!

[FJRider]

ahuh. huh.
i think you missed the bit about how the government is in the profitable business of fleecing money off the sheep....

It's profitable in the licence system because people keep ridind/driving outside their licence conditions. The new sticker will make it easier for plod to spot a rider/driver outside his licence conditions. You break the rules ... you pay for the privilege. How much you pay extra depends entirely on you.

what can a restricted driver not do? - drive at night. how does this help the population? - ____. (and how are they supposed to develop their night-driving skills and awareness?)
what else can a restricted driver not do? - carry his mates around (unless they're 'dependants') - how does this help the population? - _____. and given that you can call anyone without a vehicle or a job a dependant... huh.

The system is based on the (theoretical) inexperienced rider/drivers on the road. Get the experience on the road ... then even limited time in the dark is available on a restricted licence.

so for everyone who gets a licence instead of the one-two whammy (L, F) at about 600$, we get the one two three whammy (and many people will fail on stupid shit, so repeating the test and paying the 180$ again...) for 800 odd$ for every new driver and 200$ every 10 years from EVERY driver.
what, you want to ride a bike?! get your visa out... truck?! uh oh.
and this doesn't include the some hundreds on vehicle licensing. phew.

huh, wonder if they mentioned that in the budget

We have the three stage licence now ... what are you on about ... ???

People fail on stupid shit now because they think they know more than they do. And with the licence testing rules ... a fail is easy to do ... and commonplace ... and you want to allow those idiots failing to be still allowed on the road ... and at night.

With the costs of licence testing ... only idiots arrive at the testing center unprepared and lacking the ability to pass. Perhaps they should red flag those that fail in the system ... as they obviously need being watched more carefully ... as all idiots should be.

[sleemanj]

When did that become law? Haha I missed that...

70K limit was dropped last October. And the restricted test became the most difficult one (swapped places with Full) in March.

So only real difference is as stated, Learners have an L plate-o-shame.

Frankly, justifying the Restricted licence at all now that the tests have swapped... is a bit tenuous really :-/

[sleemanj]

Bullshit. If they were meant to be able to ride/drive as skillfully as someone on their full licence ... there wouldn't be a restricted class of licence.

Before the tests changed, I'd have agreed.

But now we have the following testing...

Learner - basic handling + scratchie = novice, shows they are barely functional on the road, let alone safe

Restricted - long practical test, same as the full test was before March, shows they meet the requirements of a 6F before March, because they passed the same test

Full - short practical test, exactly what the restricted test was before March, shows they are as good as 6R was before March?

The 6F is a lesser test now than the 6R, demonstrably. So what exactly does the current 6F show that the current 6R doesn't?

Really, it's nothing more than a cursory "checkup" that the rider hasn't developed any early bad habits, in other words, it's nothing more than an early licence renewal type of check.

I'm not saying this is good, or bad, but that's how it is... it's a bit hard to justify limits on 6R under the new test levels when they have shown they are at the level required for an "old" 6F.

[Akzle]

i've known people to fail on not "10 and 2"ing enough, not doing 30km/h in a vacant construction zone, and speeding up before passing the speed indicatey signs... none of these is inherently bad practice or unsafe. (and certainly not uncommon)
i nearly failed a 1R (i think?) because i didn't do "headchecks" although i would watch my mirrors for a full 12 seconds before busting a maneuverer..
so the only way anyone could be in my blind spot was if they were hanging onto my vehicle, and jumped off between me looking, and moving.
i also had to back around a corner and was told "you can only go forward 3 times" i asked "aren't i supposed to be backing around the corner?" -- "yes, but if you have to, you can go forward up to 3 times"
wtf.

the current system is BS, there are plenty of people with full licenses that shouldn't be on the road.

and when did i ever imply i agreed to "the rules"?

[FJRider]

and when did i ever imply i agreed to "the rules"?

Agreeing to the rules is NOT a legal requirement ... obeying the rules (laws) of the country is.

The penalties for not doing so are known (by most) ....

[FJRider]

Before the tests changed, I'd have agreed.

The main point now is ... what used to be required for the full test is now required for the restricted. So that same knowledge/skill is just required earlier .... Not really a bad thing is it ... ???

The numbers failing the restricted test shows that many dont have it .... or have made much effort to get it.

Bugger eh ...

[GingerMidget]

Personally as someone on their learners now I'm liking the idea of a harder test first up. It should encourage people to seek more training in the early days. Then again I might be attacking this with logic. Which in the face of gubbmint policy should be thrown out the window then pee'd upon.

[wysper]

The upshot is - I've spent many hundreds of hours in my car with learners, with the L-plates on display. I can confirm that I'm not aware of any agressive or antagonistic driving by others, in response to the L-plates. On the contrary, most will be more courteous and patient (and perhaps cautious). A stalled hill-start at the traffic lights is unlikely to result in an angry response from behind, with that L-plate on display.

.

I agree with this, the L plates are good for other drivers on the road. Give you the heads up that the vehicle with the L plates may do something a little unexpected, or more slowly.

I generally give L plate vehicles more space, a bit more attention and a wider berth if possible.