The Contingency Plan

Friday, November 24, 2006

From the desk of...

posted by kazumi at 5:20 pm

4 Comments:

Wow, that was an eye-strainer! (Thank god for typing. My handwriting's awful too!)

Oh, I had a question, what is "p-plate"? There was an article about it on SMH. It seems to have something to do with teenage car drivers.
Blogger junebee, at 12:08 pm  
Sorry... if you click on the letter you can see it in a larger version.

A 'P-plate' is a provisional license. When you first get your driver's license here, you're on an L plate (Learner's) for some time. You can get your Learner's once you pass a multiple answer test at the RTA (Roads and Traffic Authority). To get your P plate, you have to then pass an actual driving test. In my day, you had your P plates for only a year, but now they last for around three years. P platers need to actually put a P plate on their car to warn other people (don't know why as the majority of Sydney drivers are irresponsible and inconsiderate) and there are other restrictions, like no alcohol consumption, etc.
Blogger kazumi, at 12:25 pm  
Ooh, thanks for the explanation. I was wondering if it was a special type of actual metal license tag on the car.

Here, the < 21 set have driver's license with yellow background and vertical format so they are easily identifiable as not old enough to buy or drink alcohol. That's the only difference for young drivers here.
Blogger junebee, at 1:33 pm  
Yes, you can easily identify an L or P plater on the road.

You can buy and drink alcohol from the age of 18 here, that's the age from which you can be accepted into bars and clubs.
Blogger kazumi, at 1:03 pm  

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