Driving with R Plates

tight_arze

They should scrap this law and give learner drivers some motorway driving experience before they pass their test. If speed is still a concern then limit their speed to 55/60 when they pass.

Also sorry to go off topic but old people should get a retest every few years as I have found them more dangerous and careless on the road than R drivers 90% of the time.

SnowyOwl_2

When I go out on the road I assume that everyone is a sh*t driver and give them sufficient space and leeway. There will always be rubbish drivers regardless of experience, age, male/female, nationality, religion, colour, inside leg measurement etc etc etc. At least the Rplate system allows new drivers to get a bit of experience and allows other people to know that they are inexperienced on the road.

R drivers really need some formal compulsory lessons on motorway driving - only then should they go on the motorways. The slow speed limit for them rather contradicts the idea that motorways are for efficient transfer from A to B.

If only there were some sort of system for publically displaying which drivers are on their phone and thus driving one handed and unable to indicate or steer properly around corners or at junctions, and which are drunk, so tired they are as coordinated as a drunk or high on dope.

Tasha70

Kayteehee wrote: »

I live in England and I recently visited N.I and was told about the R plates - I had no idea that they were only allowed to do 45mph even on the motorway - that is sooo dangerous!!!!

Yep from what I hear the R Plate is to be scrubbed in the near future in Northern Ireland.

Personally speaking I think the R Plate is a good thing to the fact we know who is new on the roads, however I don't agree with the 45mph rule at all. Either let them do upto 60mph or don't let them use the motorway at all. One or the other. 45mph is dangerous! :eek:

Janesays

Is it not 45 on all roads but motorways, 60 on them?

Ahhh days of youth and cutting down my friends R plates to make them smaller tehe.

caz2703

Back when I did my test it was 45 on all roads including motorways. I remember my first trip up the M3/M2/M5 to Jordanstown and ****ing myself and cars flying past me. I also remember a very hairy moment when I was trying to get from the Westlink slip road across onto the M3 but no-one would give way to let me move lanes. I was almost into the crash barrier and at 18 years old I had very little experience to know what to do.

I agree that 45 on a motorway is dangerous and the law should be changed to allow L drivers to use the motorway and have that included in the test as it is in England. I appreciate that in England especially it's hard to get to most places without using motorways and that there are ways around it here but a motorway is a very nerve wracking experience when you've never done it before.

hbloomers

It is terrifying driving on the motorway at 45 mph. My sister was driving on the M1 to Belfast after evening rush hour, and that was awful enough. I'd like to see it raised to 55mph for the motorway, at least that's a slightly more reasonable speed.

There was something a few years ago about if the Conservatives got into office, they would raise the speed limit on the motorway to 80mph. Can you imagine trying to drive at 45 with cars flying past at 80? Scary biccies

lazer

Money_Grabber13579 wrote: »

Surely it would be much better to make motorway driving a compulsory part of driving lessons?

Thats not a practical suggestion for Northern Ireland given the small number of motorways.

Eg: Where is the nearest motorway to Derry - M22? over 50 mile away
South Down Direction - Travel to Lisburn to get to a motorway?

I think the R plates should be kept but the limit increasing to 55 on motorways and DCW as the national speed limit increases from 60 - 70 for these roads.

explosivo153

Robothell wrote: »

You can definitely drive on the motorway with R plates in the left hand lane only. Apparently you aren't even allowed into the overtaking lane if you're stuck behind someone going under 45. It's a hazard to those doing 70 in it coming behind you.

That bit of advice only cost me 3 penalty points a few years back! Weren't even my bloody R plates!

I'm very sceptical of this I can't find any reference to restrictions for R plate drivers using the right lane of a motorway, nowhere in the description of the restrictions for R drivers from DVANI or anywhere on the fixed penalty offences from PSNI.
Any chance the points were just for incorrect use of an overtaking lane, i.e. sitting in right lane not overtaking.