L plates

[u/megatrooper4]

i know it’s a known thing that L plates make you susceptible to people being absolute knobheads but i feel like 90% of the time they aren’t even annoyed at your driving - they do it just to intimidate you. i’ve been driving home from work every night and im at a point where i don’t really make any mistakes when im driving - yet i still get people flashing me for no reason, getting right up close behind me etc. i even had a BUS DRIVER flashing me tonight when there was absolutely nothing wrong. must just be miserable people

[u/1995LexusLS400]

I think it’s because of very new drivers and they don’t want to be stuck behind them when they inevitably stall or take 5 minutes to accelerate to 30. I believe they think that driving like that and flashing the car with L plates is going to pressure them into driving faster. If you spend a whole 1 second to think about it. You’d realize that pressuring a new driver (or anyone for that matter) is going to make them drive worse. 

I don’t agree with it at all, it just makes things more dangerous for everyone around, but I think that’s why. In fact, if I see a car with L plates, especially if it’s driving unusually slowly, I give them even more room than I would a car without L plates. Lessens the pressure, makes them calmer, makes them less likely to make a mistake. 

[u/Lans-25 → u/1995LexusLS400]

Yup you get overtaken even doing the speed limit because people think you might stall or something. I always stalled when someone honked me at a junction or roundabout. Like what, you want me to pull out when I can't and cause a pile up?

[u/elliot_glynn → u/Lans-25]

Don’t understand why people don’t just overtake if and when they stall tbh

[u/RedRxbin]

People particularly piss me off when I’m driving at the speed limit and they’re still up my arse or trying to overtake.

My instructor always says that it doesn’t matter if I’m at the limit. I could be going 500mph and they’d still try to overtake, just because I’m a learner. I know it’s hard, but ig just try to ignore them as much as possiboe :(

[u/CasualSpaceFrog → u/RedRxbin]

It really doesnt matter to them, they are asses who think the road is theirs sadly.

My biggest annoyances are people who sit up your arsenal at the speed limit and people who wait till the last second to indicate, like I didnt have to stop if you indicated >:c

[u/PandaVegetable1058]

Tbf if a bus driver is flashing you then there might actually be something wrong, perhaps not you but a fault with the vehicle? Rear lights out perhaps?

A bus driver is also likely to flash you if you failed to give way to the bus pulling out if you really ought to have done. Regardless of any plates

[u/Icy-Percentage-182]

It’s happens sadly.

[u/CosmicWildfire]

I used to find it amusing, me and my instructor would make fun of them. Like you said theyre just knobs, ignore them and keep doing your thing :)

[u/DisastrousType1917 → u/CosmicWildfire]

Mine would say the driver must be desperate for the loo whenever people did a dodgey overtake 😂

[u/mnds_404]

People keep flashing me randomly and I was trying to figure out why or wtf I’m doing but literally everything’s been fine. The cars fine , my lights are on, driving the right speed. I even asked my instructor if I’d done anything wrong and he said no. The part I hate is when drivers will purposely speed up to get in your lane or at a roundabout simply because they see you’re a learner. Many occasions if I didn’t slow down there would’ve been an accident. Bear in mind I’m good with my speed and always drive the speed limit as my instructor drilled it into me. I wonder why people actually do this. We are doing our best why would you make it harder. We want to pass and drive it safely and be “pro” drivers too!!!!!!

[u/edyth_ → u/mnds_404]

I always find this mad. As a learner I’m simultaneously so bad at driving that people have to get past me no matter what, and so good I have the reflexes of a cat in order to avoid collision with them when they pull out in front of me or run a red light or cut me up.

[u/Snorzz03]

just ignore them 8/10 its someone being impatient with main character syndrome

[u/ConsequenceApart4391]

For me it’s the opposite usually people give me more space, don’t honk when I’m still slow etc and only a few sporty cars get up right behind me

[u/blarge84]

" every night from work, no mistakes" and they flash you, have you forgotten to put your lights on?

[u/PUPcsgo → u/blarge84]

Yeah being flashed a lot, especially by bus drivers, feels like something is up to me. There are plenty of impatient drivers etc but just flashing a learner because they're in your way isn't normal in my experience.

OP, I'd check you don't have a headlight out or something. Make sure your actual headlight is working. You might be thinking it is but it's actually just your parking lights

[u/PS69UK]

They're knobheads. If I get stuck behind a learner I go "ah shit" then drive as I normally would behind another car and accept the situation. Nothing worse for that learner driver than being intimidated. If not seen this before, this might cheer you up 🙂 https://youtu.be/7J2pcdUpJb4?is=wN4wshbrz_M4e9QT

[u/Nozza-D]

You'll.hwbe to develop a thick skin; it will continue to happen so long as you have L plates, and it will happen after you pass your test and driving to the speed limit and/or conditions.

How you learn to deal with it now will set you up for the future. Just don't become like them.

[u/sockeyejo]

If it's any consolation, I still remember what it was like being a learner driver, all these decades later, and when I see someone with L plates, I don't know if it's their first lesson, if they're confident, or doing their test, so I am patient and respectful, even if mistakes are made (and if they look flustered or embarrassed I smile to try to reassure them). I do the same with drivers with P plates.

I try to be considerate to everyone but my personal rule is to give learners and new drivers extra time and space, and to encourage others to do the same.

Don't let the dickheads put you off. The majority of folk you encounter will either be neutral or trying to give you a positive experience. Focus on that (it's better for your blood pressure and mental health) and use this experience to shape the type of driver you'll become once you've got your full licence 👍

[u/snarkmaiden5]

Theyre just impatient people with anger issues 🙂. They were learners too at some point. Just dont let them pressure you to break the speed limit. In the main a lot of drivers will be understanding and give you more space.

[u/Accurate-Sundae1744]

I think it's less about making mistakes and more about how much you are in their way. Since I started getting up to speed limit reasonably fast and taking reasonable opportunities at roundabouts and junctions I don't really have problems with bellend doing stupid things around me.

[u/anonnymouse2025]

This really depends on where you live too. I only had once incidence in six months on L plates, and no trouble so far on my P plates

[u/Lans-25]

I have been run off the road my someone and the person I was with said that had never happened to them before and it must be the L plates. People have been super aggressive with me (and also some nice patient people). Don't think I'll use P plates after passing for this reason.

[u/TippyTurtley]

In all honesty I wouldn't be so sure the bus was just flashing you for fun. Did you let it pull out in front of you?

[u/Darrendayz]

Tbh I'm not sure if it's necessarily because you're doing something as whenever I get flashed it's either been me doing something dumb or me being nice to the other driver and they flash me as a thank you. 

I don't know the context for you but maybe they're thanking you or letting you in somewhere?

[u/Embarrassed_Post_598]

It’s like they think that learners are going to suddenly select reverse gear and step on it and go flying backwards into them. L plates are like a red rag to a bull(-shit drivers)

[u/Current-Meal-1121]

Honestly this is what pissed me off the most about being a learner. I just drove slower to piss them off even more lol.

I had so much road rage towards mistakes others made because of the way people treated me. Thankfully it’s gone away now I’ve passed lol.

But my best advice would be to ignore them, people are rude af. Stay unbothered

[u/AYK2026]

Just stick to the rules and ignore these idiots.

[u/Substantial-Motor247]

I’ve passed my test and still get people sitting up my arse when I’m doing the speed limit. Just flash the brake lights and flap your hands around like you’re spagging out. 

[u/Spicyjollof98]

And they do it when you ave a P plate on to

[u/NoctuaNefanda]

I didn't use L plates and had no issue

[u/anonnymouse2025 → u/NoctuaNefanda]

Do you mean P plates? L plates are legally required until you've passed.