Are P platers as bad as they say we are?

[Mr_Slim]

Being a P plater, i get a little fired up when the media makes us out to all be terrible drivers and deaths waiting to happen. According to the media its either our fault for being stupid, or its the government's fault for allowing us to be stupid.

I believe that i can honestly say i'm a good P plate driver. I am not saying im as good as someone with 10yrs experience, thats why i've already had an accident (sun was in my eyes, went through an intersection. Not speeding, or breaking any laws)

But a lot of the press these days seems to be against us, and i can feel a change in laws coming on, particularly with an election in the midst (at least in NSW)

Now while i am sympathetic to the families of the deceased, i am slightly doubtful of their child's innocence in most of these cases. The most recent one is a car of 4 travelling back from a high school formal at 7am. The car was going through an industrial estate that i know well, and was cleaned up by a truck. The media has blamed poor laws for the accident, and the father of the driver wants the law changed because he believes the law has failed him. My points are as follows.
- a school formal finishes at 10pm, why were they driving at 7am? the only reasons are either drunk, or have been driving through the night
- broad daylight and industrial estate. visibility would've been perfect
- people get distracted by others in a car

the only conclusion that i can draw from this is that 4 people decided to party on after their formal. maybe without alcohol. either way, they've gone hooning through an industrial estate (we've all thought about doing it) and they haven't been paying attention as they hit a truck legally making a turn from an intersection that trucks often turn from. i'm not saying that this driver wasn't at fault, because from my conclusions its pretty obvious they are. But i don't think laws should be changed due to the stupidity and incompetence of this (and some other) drivers.

My major gripe is that i can see this situation being brought up at election time, and the government making life harder for people like me, and many of the other P drivers on here. A curfew and other restrictions are imminent, and i don't think there is anything to do to stop it. While P platers make up an incredibly small minority of the voting population, and the media continues to make us out to be the villains, the government would be stupid not to villify us and change the laws against us.

But who knows, maybe it is all in my head. Are P platers as bad as they say we are? If i go looking for a street race (only to the speed limit in a 70 or 80 zone) i know that a P plater in a Commodore is always up for it. When i see a lot of dumb things being done, quite often there is a P plater behind it.

Stats apparently show that we are terrible drivers. But according to the media, stats also show how terribly high the holiday road toll is. However what they fail to mention is that the road toll is actually LOWER in holidays than it is normally. So using the average of about 20 deaths over a holiday weekend, and assuming that it is usually more, does this mean that P platers would make up the majority of those 20 or so deaths? I can only remember 1 this week, not 10.

But look, this is just my rant. i'm bored at work, and thought id get it off my chest. Either back me up or tell me i'm wrong and tell me all P platers are criminals. Either way im looking forward to your views.

*Note - please do not start any post with "i saw a stat" or "on the news i saw..." because both of those are about as reliable as a terrorist on a plane. Speak based on what you actually KNOW

[Mr Squishi]

P platers are no worse than anyone else, just less experienced. There are bad/ignorant/stupid drivers everywhere, and not every single one of them is a p plater. The media just hypes it up, in the same way they blame videogames for violence, even though violence as around long before video games.

IMO, a lot of the p plater accidents are probably caused by them doing the same stupid crap on the road as everyone else, and not having the same experience or skill level to recover when they get in a bad situation (slides, emergency braking, whatever else)

The politicians just take advantage of the public opinion caused by the hyped up new stories as well.

[hingo1983]

I find that old drivers are far more hazardous than P plater drivers. When I was a P Plater, I hated all the negative media because I had a great driving record and consider myself a safe driver. There is a minority of ********s out there that ruin it for the rest of us. I think the driver training should be a high school subject for Years 11 & 12. Put kids on a skid pan and scare the shit out of them.

[Mr Squishi]

Tourists are the worst here in Tassie. Bloody nightmare drivers

[Mr_Slim]

IMO, a lot of the p plater accidents are probably caused by them doing the same stupid crap on the road as everyone else, and not having the same experience or skill level to recover when they get in a bad situation (slides, emergency braking, whatever else)

good point. as i said, i've had an accident, and it was due to my inexperience driving into direct sunlight that it happened. i've been hit in the arse before too. the P plater that hit me wasn't breaking the law or driving dangerously. She was just obviously inexperienced at peak hour driving and took her eyes off the road.


and good point to the next poster (sorry mate, i forgot your name and i dont know how to quote 2 people!) about driver training in school. Having finished yr12 two years ago, i'm annoyed that i learned nothing about driving. Unlike America which at least has driver Ed in schools

[Mr_Calais]

i also being a p plate no how frustrating it can be to listen to all the media views on p platers. its not all of us that are doin stupid things but yet we're all getin bad reps. When thay say there are more p platers on having accidents they forget to mention that there are also a lot more people getting there there licence which means there are a hell of alot more p platers on the road than 5 years ago for example so of corse there are goin to be a lot more accidents.

some of the accidents that have happened with p platers could have also have hav happened to anyone and is proberly jus plain bad luck in some situations
I'm not saying we're the best drivers cause we're not but if p platers are goin to go out and drink drive and do stupid things we are goin to cop it like the media is showing

[Troy711]

note to everyone... do not turn this into ANOTHER ****ing 'P platers suck and i am king shit' thread... everyone is sick of it and it has been done to death. first time that debate starts this thread will be locked faster then a prison cell door on ivan millat.

[azkwazere]

damn i love your humour!

close it now, no one can have this argument without it turing sour.

maybe if i use the force................ and...............

*** CLOSED ***

aZk.

[Troy711]

its still unlocked.. but dont make me do this:

[chappy]

Yer well mr P Plater they got to pick on someone and I suppose while they are picking on you they are leaving me alone.

Seriously I know that P platers arn't the best drive about but for god sake thats why they are P Platers to bloody learn.

Its like an apprentice and a tradesman you might say.

I say give the young guys a go.

Cheers

[Charg'd]

I give it ummm....till midday tomorrow and it's closed...

[Troy711]

I give it ummm....till midday tomorrow and it's closed...

current odds:

closed by midday tomorrow: $2.50
closed by midday sunday: $1.87
closed by midday monday: $1.35
closed after midday monday: $1.05
not closed at all: $50.00

[minux]

Sorry, but i wouldn't call it picking on, i would call it highlighting.

The media is putting alot of effort behind highlighting lack of experience for new drivers. New drivers are the highest risk factor of having an accident, on top of this they also carry the highest risk of death in an accident.

The more it is portrayed the more chance we have of the government stepping in and doing something. I would love to see EVERY driver have to pass defensive driving courses every 2 years funded by the government, if you fail, you lose your licence. This would cover all ages and keep people who only think they can drive off the roads. Would also like to see more points lost for speeding eg 5-10 over 3 points over 10 6 points, watch people slow down then. Ther eis so much taht could be done, but untilt he govt steps in, **** all will be done.

[hakhawk]

until they do something about driver training in schools as said above, more full on tests, learners driving, etc, p platers are always going to be less experienced. hell, even after a heap of training, theyre gonna be less experienced, its all down to how many years you've been on the road.

granted some p platers are tools, but so are open licence drivers, some will never learn.

restrictions are going to make things worse, as more p platers will break the restrictions laws

example: how about we make it so p platers can only have one passenger

before restriction: 4 people in one car, less chance of accident, as one less inexperienced driver on the road

after restriction: 2 inexperineced drivers in 2 cars, with an opportunity to have fun "playing" with each others cars and more likely to have an accident.

the biggest thing these days, is getting the tools off the roads, or making them learn and grow up. putting restrictions on everyone wont help this, it will just piss off all the more responsible p platers.

[Julie]

Put me down for $10000 for closed by midday 2moro It still counts if I close it hey troy?

As for the topic I have nothing to say that I haven't already said 100 times in this place before

[Charg'd]

Put me down for $10000 for closed by midday 2moro It still counts if I close it hey troy?

As for the topic I have nothing to say that I haven't already said 100 times in this place before

Thats cheating...

I'll start the shit fight and give you grounds to close it, but I want half the winnings.

[vlv8vic]

i find old people most frustrating to share the road with.
i find tourists the most incompetent drivers to share the road with.
i find p-platers the biggest show ponies and take the most risks.
i find traveling salesmen the pushiest road users.
i find truck drivers generally very thoughtful.
i find 4 wheel drive operators ok on the road, terrible in car parks.

just a summary of the 4 bazillion times ive answered these before.

[Bravotwozero]

I don't really think that P platers have any less skill than the average driver. There seems to be a lot of ordinary drivers on the road in every age group.

What gets P platers into trouble is moments of complete and utter stupidity. I tend to think that it comes about when you get a bunch of young bloke/girls in a car egging on the driver to drop a burnout or what have you. Peer pressure I guess you could say.

[walesy]

Thats cheating...

I'll start the shit fight and give you grounds to close it, but I want half the winnings.

haha hey can i be in on that too?? i need some $$$

[walesy]

oh and yeh i agree with bravotwozero, peer pressuse makes people do stupid things, but that goes for anyone not just p platers

[Bravotwozero]

oh and yeh i agree with bravotwozero, peer pressuse makes people do stupid things, but that goes for anyone not just p platers

Someone agreeing with me? That's gotta be a first!

[walesy]

yeh im agreeing with u... hey ive given in to peer pressure in a car and i doubt there would be anyone in here that hasnt

[Mr Squishi]

I never give in to peer preesure when Im driving. All my friends want me to slow down

[walesy]

well mr squishie your on the other side of peer pressure...you pressure your peers

[Mr Squishi]

Sorry, but i wouldn't call it picking on, i would call it highlighting.

The media is putting alot of effort behind highlighting lack of experience for new drivers. New drivers are the highest risk factor of having an accident, on top of this they also carry the highest risk of death in an accident.

The more it is portrayed the more chance we have of the government stepping in and doing something. I would love to see EVERY driver have to pass defensive driving courses every 2 years funded by the government, if you fail, you lose your licence. This would cover all ages and keep people who only think they can drive off the roads. Would also like to see more points lost for speeding eg 5-10 over 3 points over 10 6 points, watch people slow down then. Ther eis so much taht could be done, but untilt he govt steps in, **** all will be done.

I agree with you about the need for courses, but I think the media for the most part shows young drivers and p platers as stupid hoons, rather than inexperienced people who could benefit from training, and the politicians respond to pubic outcry from this by placing bullsh*t curfews and passenger/vehicle restrictions, rather than mandatory drivers ed, because it's cheaper, easier and pleases the old folk.

However I think that speed limits can be dangerous, it lulls people into feeling secure at their speed instead of being alert, and people spend more time staring at their guages instead of the road. That said, I choose not to speed, and have never got a ticket. Yet.