Thread: When did P plates start?

Not too sure - some time between when I got my licence and when my kids did!

If I had to guess, I would say some time in the sixties in NSW. I don't think they existed in Victoria when I moved there in 1971, but came in soon after. Restrictions of any kind on P drivers came much later. The original intent of the P plate was to let other drivers know this was an inexperienced driver and they should make allowances for them.

John

Between 1968 and 1970 is my guestimate.

My brother was one of the early ones but not the first and he got his licence in 1970.

Very late sixties in WA. I remember going to my Tech School course as an apprentice and of walking across the road at lunch time with my mates. We were were all amused by the EH Holden with a P plate on the grille, and the words 'Don't' and 'Here' either side of it! It would have been either 1969 or 1970.

Willem

I got my car licence in 1965 - no P plates then (no road or oral test for a motorbike licence either when I got it in about 1966).

Got my licence in NSW in Oct 1968. No "P"s.

About 2yrs ago up here in Gods country

The brickies...my Brother wrote his HR off there last century

In the early '70s in Queensland, Ps fairly drew the crabs, especially if the driver of a wide wheeled (6") and lowered car was driven by a 'long hair'. Back then if you lost 4 points you did 6 months on shanks pony, then went through the rigmarole of the test again, and again, and again................I finally got off my 'P's at 22 yo
Sometime in the 80s displaying P plates was abandoned, it has since been re-introduced.

As far as I can recall, they were introduced first in NSW, mid to late sixties.