I do not really know if we should welcome this initiative happily but Australia and even UK already have similar (?) regulations, although our systems are much different. From what I read in the local media, it might soon be a reality whereby you will need to place special plates on your vehicle if you have recently obtained your driving permit. Right now, there’s not much details about its application in the Mauritian context.
I do not really understand the need for someone to hang a plate on his vehicle to tell everyone :
“HEY! I JUST GOT MY DRIVING PERMIT!”.
And what happens if you have several cars in your garage and that you are not the only driver? If authorities needed a way to distinguish these drivers for some legal reasons, they could have easily and simply issued different permits, to the discretion of other thousand of vehicles going pass your vehicle everyday.
Personally instead of introducing new regulations, I vote for more efforts to make the point system (permis à points) become a reality asap, carry out more preventive campaigns and a better presence of the police force to reinforce existing laws, which are not always respected by all. Remember the yellow vehicle license plates story? Nothing has been made official yet!
Despite being at a very early stage of this debate, what are your views on this topic?
Update (10 July 2012) :
Taxi, lorry and bus drivers are demanding that the authorities should consider the nature of their job and they are demanding a different system for the “permis à point” for them.
Yashvinblogs 
What they could have done is replace the ‘L’ sign with something else…
‘N’ maybe? 😛
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lol.
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Yes: NOOB
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Personally I don’t agree much with the plate thing…coz for example sometimes am driving Michel’s van while he drives my car…so it cannot apply to most persons, since they share the same vehicle….
Another example is people who got their permit years back but did not drive and decided to give it a try again now…where do they belong???
Point system seems better coz it will certainly make drivers more vigilant…
Well, don’t know much coz Mauritius seems to be a copy-cat lately…the government is so lazy that they only copy others..pfff!!!!
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I thought about your second point too but I forgot to include in it in the post.
It is so true! So many people who get their permits but never actually drive.
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Copying others is not so bad, we don’t have to re-invent what already works and has produced ‘good’ results. But I do agree that, in this case, points are better.
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If this is implemented then I bet it will have consequences on insurance and point systems. What kind of plate? A red one flashing keep your distance I just got my driving license, I am a potential health hazard!
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Rather a potential “road” hazard 😛
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Here is How The Plate works:
http://www.youthcentral.vic.gov.au/Travel+&+Transport/Learning+to+drive/On+your+Ps/
On your PsOnce you’ve got your probationary licence, you can hit the road unaccompanied. Don’t get too cocky though – new drivers are far more likely to die or be injured in accidents, so make sure you don’t become a statistic.P1 and P2There are two kinds of probationary licenses in Victoria:P1 (red P plate), which lasts for at least the first 12 months of probationary drivingP2 (green P plate), which normally starts 12 months from when you get your P1 license and lasts for at least three yearsIf you are found guilty of any driving offences or you break any of the rules that apply to P1 or P2 license holders, you may have the duration of your P1 or P2 license extended as part of any penalties that are applied to you.Rules and RestrictionsThere are certain restrictions and rules while you’re on your Ps.If you obtained a probationary licence (P1 or P2) on or after 1 July 2008, you must abide by the following rules:Rules and Restrictions for P1 DriversAs a P1 probationary driver, the following restrictions apply:You’re only permitted to carry one passenger aged between 16 and 21No mobile phone use, hands free or hand-held, or any messaging of any kind, is allowedYou’re not allowed to tow anything unless you’re doing it for work or you’re under instructionIf your licence is cancelled or suspended as a result of a traffic offence, you’re only allowed to carry one passenger (whatever their age) for the balance of your P1 period (there are exceptions to this rule)Rules and Restrictions for P1 and P2 DriversThe following rules and restrictions apply to both P1 AND P2 probationary drivers:You can’t drive high powered vehicles such as eight cylinder cars, cars with turbocharged or supercharged engines, or nominated high performance six cylinder cars (offences will attract a fine and three demerit points)Any suspension, drink driving offence without licence cancellation or suspension, or drug driving offence will result in an extension of your current P1 or P2 periodOther rules that you should be aware of during your P1 or P2 probationary period include:You can’t have any alcohol or illicit drugs in your bodyYou must display your P-plates at all times when drivingYou will lose your licence if you get five demerit points in a year, or 12 over a three-year periodIf you got your licence driving an automatic car, you aren’t allowed to drive a manual car until you get a full licence or pass another drive test in a manual car.Drugs and DrivingMost drivers are aware of the issues of drink driving, but drug driving is also a major contributor to road fatalities in Victoria. In 2003, 31 per cent of drivers killed in Victoria tested positive to drugs other than alcohol.Under laws that have been in effect since 2004, Victoria Police can conduct random roadside saliva testing to detect drivers who’ve taken illicit drugs. The roadside saliva tests can detect the presence of both THC (the active component in marijuana) and methamphetamine (speed, ice, crystal meth).The new random roadside saliva testing is aimed at making Victoria’s roads safer for everyone by reducing the incidence of drug driving. For further information about random roadside saliva testing for illicit drugs call 1300 369 819.Getting Your Full LicenceYou will get your full licence when you have successfully completed your probationary P2 period. Once you’ve got your full licence you are still bound by the road rules and responsibilities (new window) that apply to all Victorian drivers. If you are unsure of any road rules, make sure you take the time to check them out.Safe and happy driving!
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Thank you!
I did read a few articles, I was a bit confused with getting a license, which was not really one, since it had to be upgraded afterwards and so on.
It should not be called a driving permit until you get the final one. Do you think that authorities can regulate that in Mauritius? I believe that there are more serious problems to tackle first.
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It will definitely work if implemented properly. People should give it a chance. This system should be implement together With the Point system. These plate also allows us to know the level of experience of the driver. I make us what we can expect from the drivers. So seeing those plates might help ppl prompt ppl to take more precautions when when driving around those inexperienced drivers. It helps Police also to identify them better.
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Well the problem is that in real cases it is not necessary that two person who just got their licence have the same experience. A licence really cannot determine whether you are a good driver or not. Some people have driven a lot before going on the test. Some people just follow driving schools and pass their tests.
What is more important here is practice. If we see in reality, the time that we really learn to drive mostly is after we get our licence and we are then allowed to drive in motorways, we are allowed to go even at greater speed. This is when we really learn to drive.
There are countries which use a system when someone has just got his licence, he is given a probation period of one or two years. In this case the point system will be of great help. Based on the offences one can either extend the probation period or even cancel the licence and then they will have to apply for test again.
Well it is not necessary to introduce a new plate to determine whether the person driving just got his licence. We can still maintain the L plate in the car.
Please note that the L sign does not mean that the car is always being driven by an inexperienced driver, it simply means that the car is also used by a new driver. Any anyway if we see the way someone is driving we can determine whether he is new of experienced. Well it all comes to a personal level where each driver becomes responsible and do not be an arrogant youngster who behaves that the moment he got his licence he becomes a great driver.
Well if I think again maybe it would be an advantage to introduce this new plate like ‘N’, that the car might be potentially driven by a new licence holder. It will help the other. Enfin capave servi ventouze oubien blue tack pou capave tire li facilement! 🙂
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I’ve been told by a friend having migrated to Canada some years ago that his first licence allowed him to drive only on some low-traffic roads initially, and he could pass the test for larger roads only after one year and if no traffic offense were recorded (beware, they have cameras and cops everywhere) against you. Then, it is only after one more year that you are allowed to pass the highway test, this again is subject to a clean-sheet.
If you your age is above 60, an eyesight test is mandatory.
Frankly, how do you think that this new proposed system will give any positive results with the non-existent enforcement systems that this country is blessed with?
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What if I don’t have a car for myself and occasionally rent a car?
The biggest problem about accident is not “fresh drivers”, it’s the road itself! Serious accidents take place at specific areas! Surely “fresh drivers” are a potential danger, but all of them don’t have the same driving experience. Usually it’s the most experience ones who try to imitate the stunts in films!
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Update (10 July 2012) :
Taxi, lorry and bus drivers are demanding that the authorities should consider the nature of their job and they are demanding a different system for the “permis à point” for them.
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