Car drivers treat learner riders like shit

stinkwheel · Bovine Proctologist Joined: 12 Jul 2004 Karma :

Just remembered about this one from posting on another thread. There are a lot of folks with new licences on here so you probably know where I am coming from.

I was helping a mate sort out a problem on his 125 a while back and I took it out a few times through the day to do some plug chops. The bike had L plates on and I was astounded at how discourteous and downright dangerous the driving and attitude of some of the cagers was. They tried to sneak past with oncoming traffic, refused to give-way, sat right on my tail and generally made life as hard as possible.

This had nothing to do with the speed and size of the bike as I regularly ride sub 125cc machines on the road. Luckily I am experienced enough to deal with them, more than one got a slapped mirror/bollocking at the next lights that day!

Anyone else noticed this phenomenon?
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Shaun · Likes 'em bent Joined: 17 May 2003 Karma :

I think a long time ago we did talk about this and I didn't think anything about it until I had passed my test and realised just how different it is without them, I have seen worse things happening to mopeds to be honest, no one cares about them and will try and push them out the way, literally. Shocked

Scratchy · Scooby Slapper Joined: 30 May 2004 Karma :

I think most road users treat each other with total contempt and disrespect regardless of what they're driving/riding.
Maybe it's worse as a learner, probably not.
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Ste · Not Work Safe Joined: 01 Sep 2002 Karma :

People do treat you worse if you've got the L plates on the bike, it's a signal to lots of people that they need to overtake you, not to let you out, and to treat you badly. Which is the main reason quite a few people of CBT's here ride without their L plates. And it acts as another incentive to do your test and to pass and get your full license. Smile

L plates are fun though, it's good being at traffic lights, someone in a cat trying to race you as his mates are in the car and he wants to show off, only for him to be beaten by you on your little bike, leaving him in a nice cloud of two stroke fumes with a nice view of your L plates. Mr. Green

You do get people who treat anyone on the roads badly, but you get more of this I found when you have the L plates on.

stinkwheel · Bovine Proctologist Joined: 12 Jul 2004 Karma :

yambabe · World Chat Champion Joined: 12 Jul 2004 Karma :

Yeah, this was a problem for me for the last 3 years.

Wasn't so bad if riding out cos my other half was usually riding behind so he fielded a lot of the worst idiots, but on my own I have seen some real eye-opening stuff.

Riding without my L's for the last couple of weeks I have really noticed a difference in the amount of respect I get from other road users.

Daft really, personally whilst in my car or on my bike I tend to give learners MORE room & respect, probably because I've been there....
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izzi81 · Could Be A Chat Bot Joined: 24 Apr 2004 Karma :

the main thing I noticed in my L plate days was that if you were going along a road at the speed limit, let's say it's a 40mph road and you're doing either 40mph or even a few mph over that, the number of cars that will tailgate as if you are going way too slow is ridiculous. I don't remember ever noticing anyone do this once I got the L plates off, it's as if the fact that you are learning means you couldn't possibly be riding/driving fast enough.... Rolling Eyes

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hellkat · Super Spammer Joined: 12 Jul 2004 Karma :

Yes. A young lad I know was "intimidated" by a lorry across Shepherds Bush Green a couple of weeks ago. He'd only got his CBT three days earlier Shocked

We were on our way to a funeral of one of (both our) best mates.

Once we were across the Green, I felt so sorry for him, I made a point of outriding and "marshalling" the poor little sod all the way to our destination.
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mchaggis · World Chat Champion Joined: 09 May 2004 Karma :

Try having L plates on a bike being broken in, on roads you don't know... Rolling Eyes

It takes the piss, vehicles sit right on your arse and don't overtake, just sitting there, expecting me to speed up or something. The overtaking when I'm at the limit pisses me off too. Cars tend to give me more space instead of pulling out on me though, they probably imagine (perhaps with some justification) that I'm going to pile right into the side of them as I've got bugger all experience. Still, I've only had to restrain myself from flicking the finger once so far, and get nods from 75% plus of the other bikers I've passed (not a single ped nodded though, and I nodded them... pfft)