The Big Red L

In the recent past I’ve come to notice a lot more learner drivers occupying the road. Whether is is really a surge in new drivers, or me just paying more attention since becoming a father, I do not know. Now, generally I am a patient driver, I also understand everyone has to start somewhere, and the confidence needed to drive can only be gained on the road, unwillingly attempting to cause another heart attack to the experienced driver behind you.

The question though, are all of these drivers really new drivers? Are inexperienced learners earning their freedom wings, or is that big red “L” being abused as an excuse to drive like an incompetent, selfish, completely unloved idiot? The consensus seems to be the latter. Every day I see more and more of these “learner” drivers speeding past me, stopping in the middle of the road just because they are going to miss the off-ramp on the other side of the road, and now have to manoeuvre their way to get there, thus causing severe mouth spasm and a rapid increase of blood pressure. Dare I say, they are equal, or worse than the average armed taxi driver.

On the opposite side, they drive barely faster than the wind blows, but do not stall, or struggle with gear changes, they also start braking for that stop street or robot on the other side of town, but never stop realy stop until they are on the line.

It is as clear as daylight that these road users are not learners, at least not in the true sence of the words. The read “L” might refer then to mimic your extended middle finger on your left hand. I have thankfully though, picked up a trend on how to identify these maniacs, and differentiate them from the true learners.

If it is a VW Polo or Golf, Toyota conquest, or ford Figo, or any other small hatchback type car that has big wheels and tinted windows, with a properly made white Sticker, having a big “L” and a red border, then they are likely to be affected by the virus of road use incompetence. If it is a homemade sign, whether printed by a home printer, or coloured by a two year old, chances are that these are legitimate learners that really do not know what they are doing. They also tend to keep off the main road, not move their heads, and genuinely drive like knobs.