I hate being a p plater

QueenieAG

Exactly what the title says.

I understand it won't be forever, and in fact, I only have 13 months left. However, right now, I'm genuinely really struggling with my p plates.

I wish I could take them off, but I can't risk a penalty for doing so. My logical brain is saying keeping them on is the right path to avoid a penalty, but my illogical brain is telling me to take them off to allow me to blend in and simply live.

I want to use my phone. I genuinely want to. There are times when the GPS just doesn't work (ie can't get me to a certain place on time, if at all), and when that happens, it's really, really tough. I want to choose my own music and not listen to radio music. While the USB method works fine for me, the cost of downloading music from iTunes adds up fast.

I feel the ban on intermediaries like CarPlay is nothing but a display of bureaucratic laziness; creating a blanket ban allows for easier enforcement than creating nuance.

Psychdiaries2

Hi there,

I hear your frustration and I can see why this is annoying. You want to have some more leniency and reliability. I think in this situation you have to stick it out. Like you said, you have only 13 months left till you're off them. Keep the p plates up, you don't want to get pulled over by the cops and then you'll get suspended from driving. With the gps, I always look up the route beforehand as well just so I have more familiar with where I'm going and if there's parking, etc.

Keep going, it'll be over so fast and before you know it, you'll be off them. Drive safe!

Lana026

hiiii fellow p plater,

I can understand why you’re frustrated. Thirteen months might not sound like forever, but when the restrictions affect you every time you drive, it can feel really long.

I think you’re doing the right thing by keeping the plates on even though part of you really wants to just blend in. Getting a fine or losing points would probably only add more stress.

Maybe for now it’s about finding little workarounds that make driving less annoying, like setting your GPS and music up before you leave, downloading playlists when you can, or safely pulling over if you need to change something.

It’s okay to think the rules are frustrating and still follow them. Hopefully once those 13 months are over, you’ll look back and be glad you stuck it out 💛