A question for parents, learners and p plate (car) drivers?

Question

I'm a 20 year old L plater, I require my driver's license for my job, the majority of people in my age group are on P plates, many admit to faking their log book entries to get onto their P plates sooner, is this really a wise thing to do? I asked my dad if he could fudge some activities for me sign them off saying I could do them, which I can but not well, he said it's for my own good that he doesn't tick them off I'm proud of him for that, cause as far as I see parents that fake log book entries are irresponsible, it is their responsibilty to teach their children to behave responsibily cause I've found the people I know that faked their log book entries have written off their cars at least once or twice, as for the car restrictions and the longer test time and increasing learner hours does any of it help at all? what are your thoughts?

Answer 1

I agree with ausman. It's not worth it. When i got my licence i had L's for 6 months and supposed to have P's for 2 1/2 years. Due to stupid behaviour 6 years later at 22 1/2 i got off my P's and got my full licence (because i transferred from SA to WA). The ones that cheat their log books and etc are the ones you see on the 6 O'Clock news dead or seriously injured. And more often than not also hurt or killed someone else. When learning to drive learn how to drive on dirt, what to do if it leaves the road (bitumen onto dirt), where your car sits on the road (width length distance to the front rear etc)What they teach you in logbooks is pathetic. Be a true driver and stick out so you are confident when behind the wheel!

Good luck.

Answer 2

Allithea, get your dad to put two piles of stacked tyres 40-50 ft apart on a flat,smooth paddock,then drive around them using 1st and 2nd gears,ovals and figure 8s. Your normal driving steering will improve 100%. Check your temperature guage,though,that it doesn't overheat.

Don't fudge the logbook,though,it isn't worth it in the long run.

Answer 3

faking ur log book entries may seem easy and a simple thing to do, but in the long term its not worth it.  independance is a big aspect, and is the driving force (no pun intended) behind wanting to drive (for young ppl anyways).  however faking ur log books is not only cheating, but also being totally non-indpendant, contraditcting ur very want.  also u wont have that crucial practise that is required for a good driver, and so in the long term, crashes and possible fatalities or injury comes at a higher risk of occuring.  coming from a place such as australia, this is a big issue for me, as everyday there is a death on our state's (WA) road-mostly by young drivers who have fallen into this very trap.  u made (and ur dad made) a good decision.

Answer 4

Regardless of the amount of time you spend learning to drive, what really counts is EXPERIENCE. No- one can teach you how to refine your driving skills and road awareness, you need to get out and DO it.

The problem is for you to gain enough experience to be reasonably safe while continuing to learn. This learning never really ends, it goes on all your driving life.

So obviously, faking experience for the sake of getting on the road with a P plate license is bypassing your learning time. Stick with the standard training, and even when you gain your license, remember, you still have a lot to learn!

Those first 12 months on the road on P's are a steep continuing learning curve, it does flatten out after that, but to believe you "know it all" right from the start is the sole reason so many young drivers come to grief.

Often the young are involved in accidents that are "not their fault" technically. However, the accident is ever so often caused BY their lack of road experience. Being "in the right" does not mean "having the right".

The insurance companies understand. They can show the statistics. They know what ages drivers typically become safe risks.