The law regarding Front AND back L-Plates

overbooost · Two Stroke Sniffer Joined: 24 Jun 2006 Karma :

So whats the score with this. I went to the police station and asked a police officer whether you needed to have an L plate on the front of the bike aswell as the rear. He said that the rear is a must however the front isn't a nessesity. On the other hand I have read people posting on here saying that you need to have a front one aswell otherwise it's a 3 points penalty. Does anyone know the official law on this?

Thanks - Sunny.

lumphammer · Trackday Trickster Joined: 25 Aug 2005 Karma :

Vehicles. Any vehicle driven by a learner MUST display red L plates. In Wales, either red D plates, red L plates, or both, can be used. Plates MUST conform to legal specifications and MUST be clearly visible to others from in front of the vehicle and from behind. Plates should be removed or covered when not being driven by a learner (except on driving school vehicles).
Law MV(DL)R reg 16 & sched 4

Don't quite know how you would see the back one from the front. Rolling Eyes

overbooost · Two Stroke Sniffer Joined: 24 Jun 2006 Karma :

Cheers for that mate.

Ahhh bollox! The front one looks SOOOOO GAY! Rolling Eyes

Davo · Davo To The Rescue! Joined: 04 Apr 2004 Karma :

colin1 · Captain Safety Joined: 17 Feb 2005 Karma :

police wont be cross if you dont have a front one, but they will if you dont have a back one

technically you should wear a front one but hardly anyone does and the police dont care as they have better things to do
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colin1 is officially faster than god

JBurrows88 · World Chat Champion Joined: 15 May 2006 Karma :

blamchez · Scooby Slapper Joined: 12 Jun 2006 Karma :

Rookie · World Chat Champion Joined: 09 Feb 2005 Karma :

JBurrows88 · World Chat Champion Joined: 15 May 2006 Karma :

blamchez · Scooby Slapper Joined: 12 Jun 2006 Karma :

maybe you are right rookie but i was only pointing out the fact that unlike cars, bikes only have a 'identification' plate on the rear so that rule may also apply to 'identifying' that you are a learner.

and i also think that your sweeping statement

stinkwheel · Bovine Proctologist Joined: 12 Jul 2004 Karma :

If you are after the exact details they are contained in Statuatory Instrument 1999 No:2864 section 16; paragraph 2 (b) which states:

Rookie · World Chat Champion Joined: 09 Feb 2005 Karma :

blamchez · Scooby Slapper Joined: 12 Jun 2006 Karma :

controversial yes, right yes... DAMN YOU ROOKIE!!!

Embarassed

lumphammer · Trackday Trickster Joined: 25 Aug 2005 Karma :

simon1221 · World Chat Champion Joined: 28 Jul 2004 Karma :

You have L plates because you are inexperienced with no proper training and are therefore a danger to other road users and yourself in certain situations.

If because youve been riding on L plates for years or think your a safe driver doesnt mean you are.

The L plates are there to warn other drivers, not to wind you up.

If you see a driving school car you keep your distance right ??
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DNA50 (sorry) ->> TZR125l >> GPZ500S

lumphammer · Trackday Trickster Joined: 25 Aug 2005 Karma :

carvell · Scuttler Joined: 05 Sep 2003 Karma :

They are experienced at weaving in and out of 4 lanes of traffic, they have probably been doing it for years and years. An L-plate lets everyone know that you don't have as many miles and therefore experience under your belt as everyone else.
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Yamaha TDM 850

lumphammer · Trackday Trickster Joined: 25 Aug 2005 Karma :

I would agree - I stand corrected on that point but they are still a danger to themselves and other road users.

You changed yr post in mid-typing Laughing

FWIW I could have been riding on L-plates for many years and have covered just as many miles (not on motorways I'll grant you) and have just as much experience but for my own reasons not wished to take a test.

carvell · Scuttler Joined: 05 Sep 2003 Karma :

The L-plate debate is one that comes up fairly often.

The general idea behind the L-plate is just to make people aware that you might stall, you might roll back a bit on a hill, might take a while pulling out of junctions etc.

If someone stalled at a roundabout, and you couldn't see an L-plate you'd think "what the hell's going on?!", but if you saw someone stall, or someone was taking ages to pull out of a junction and you saw an L-plate, you'd understand and know why.

It's just about letting other people know, people with L-plates haven't passed the same exams as people without them.
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Yamaha TDM 850

lumphammer · Trackday Trickster Joined: 25 Aug 2005 Karma :

matthab · Crazy Courier Joined: 03 Dec 2005 Karma :

colin1 · Captain Safety Joined: 17 Feb 2005 Karma :

JpWard · Renault 5 Driver Joined: 26 Jun 2006 Karma :

blamchez · Scooby Slapper Joined: 12 Jun 2006 Karma :

i agree with colin. does someone with no previous road experience that passed their DAS on the third attempt have more road experience than somebody whos been riding for 10 years with L plates? i dont think so.

Davo · Davo To The Rescue! Joined: 04 Apr 2004 Karma :

It's hard to generalise about that statement, as many people who take their DAS test have built up road sense/awareness whilst driving other vehicles, for example I'd been driving for 5 and a bit years prior to me taking my bike test, the experience built up through car driving meant, that I could concentrate more on the bike specific areas of learning to ride, whereas the younger riders were struggling with simple things such as lane positioning when approaching a roundabout.

By passing their test they have demonstrated to an DSA examiner their riding has reached the required standards.