L-plate

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An L-plate is a square plate bearing a sans-serif letter L, for "learner", which must be affixed to the front and back of a car in many countries if its driver is a learner under instruction.

Drivers under instruction

In the United Kingdom, Ireland, India, Hong Kong and Singapore the L is red on white; in Australia and New Zealand it is black on yellow. Switzerland's L-plates show a white L on a blue background. The signs may be magnetic, made of sticky-back plastic or affixed with suction caps. They can be bought at motoring supply shops and petrol stations. Cars belonging to driving schools often have signs attached to the roof identifying and advertising the school. These signs also carry the required L-plates.

Additional restrictions may be imposed upon drivers with a learner's licence. In Northern Ireland displaying an L-plate restricts the driver to a maximum speed of 45 mph. In New South Wales, displaying an L-plate restricts the driver's speed to 80km/h.

In Wales, a D-plate may be used in place of the L-plate. The D stands for dysgwr, Welsh for "learner".

In British Columbia,Canada new drivers are required to show a black L on a red background during their instructional license.

L-plates are a familiar part of popular culture, and are often jokingly used or referred to in settings analogous to driving tests, such as ordinations, stag nights, etc. As a crossword abbreviation, the word "student" or "learner" often refers to the letter L.

Newly qualified drivers

After learners in the United Kingdom pass their driving test, they may if they wish carry a plate bearing a green L. This is designed to warn other vehicles that they are still rather inexperienced even though they are fully licensed; other drivers may then make allowances for their minor mistakes. However, this idea has caused some controversy, since the colours are often difficult to distinguish in low light and by people who are red-green colour blind. Because of this, some people choose to show green P-plates (for "probationary") instead.

In many states in Australia, newly licenced drivers hold a "provisional" licence (unlike in the United Kingdom, this is not the term for a learner's licence, but refers to the first licence granted to post-learners) for a period of time after qualifying to drive. Holders of a provisional licence may be restricted compared to fully licenced drivers in speed, blood alcohol limits and number of demerit points that can be deducted. In most states, with the exception of Queensland, newly licenced drivers are required by law to display P-plates for varying lengths of time. The P is usually a red letter on a white background or a white letter on a red background. In New South Wales there are two classes of provisional licence and so P-plates are red on white for the first year after passing the Learner test and then after taking a computerised test are green on white for two years.

In Northern Ireland for one year after the passing of a driving test, the driver is defined as a "restricted driver" who must not exceed 45 mph and must display an "R-plate" consisting of an amber sans-serif R on a white background. L-plates in Northern Ireland commonly have an R-plate as a reverse side.

In British Columbia,Canada new drivers are required to show a green "N" (for novice) plate until they have passed an additional road test, usually after 24 months.

External links

• The Motor Vehicles (Driving Licences) Regulations 1996, Schedule 4, mandating the design of "L" and "D" plates (not the original legislation which introduced the mark)
• On the design of "P" plates