MOTOR-CYCLING

Wairarapa Times-Age, 6 May 1939, Page 11

MOTOR-CYCLING

SPECIAL PLATES APPROVED FOR LEARNERS. TRIAL PERIOD OF THREE MONTHS. (By Telegraph—Press Association.) WELLINGTON, This Day. Amending regulations, the object of which is the protection of young mo-tor-cyclists who are learning to ride, were issued as a special Gazette yesterday. They provide for the carrying of “L" plates by learners and are to come into force on May 11. The plate will be approximately 3 inches by 5 inches and will carry a red “L" on a white background. It will be of metal and will be attached to the ordinary number-plate, in the front and at the rear of the motor-cycle.

“The provision of ‘L’ plates for mo-tor-cycle learners was recommended by the Road Safety Council at its last meeting and has the approval of the responsible motor-cycle authorities throughout New Zealand,” said the Minister of Transport, Mr Semple, last evening. “The purpose of the plate is to secure more courteous and considerate treatment for the learner and to protect him from drivers who might otherwise be tempted to take risks when passing him. It will also be to some extent a protection to car drivers who happen to be in the vicinity of a learner.”

Mr Semple said that persons learning to drive cars were able to carry a licensed and experienced driver in the front seat with them. Motor-cyclists, however, did not have the same advantage. It was important that a beginner should have experience in traffic before he went for his full licence and the “L” plate enabled him, subject to proper safeguards, to obtain this experience. Upon purchasing a machine the learner satisfied the local authority that his sight and hearing were good, that he kffew the rures of the road and that he had a basic knowledge of the controls of the machine. He was then issued with the two plates at a nominal charge of 6d a plate. After carrying the plates for three months, the beginner* satisfied the local authority as to his competence and was given a full licehce. To safeguard himself and other road users during the three months he was not allowed to carry pillion- passengers and was subject to a maximum speed limit of 40 miles an hour.