Learner wants more road respect
Like most teenagers, Sashka Patten was looking forward to getting her driver’s licence and heading out on the road on her own.
But after being tooted and tailgated while out learning, the Taranaki girl is not as confident as she once was - and is calling for more experienced drivers to have a bit more consideration.
‘‘I was coming down from Four Square and the whole way down I had someone behind me tooting,’’ she said.
Patten, 18, said she was probably going slow as a learner driver, but other motorists still should have been more respectful.
‘‘I’ve had a few people tailgating me as well and that’s so annoying.’’
While she’d only been tooted at once, the tailgating happened almost every time she went out, she said. Patten has been driving for about a month after getting her own car and said she knew of other people who had also been treated badly as learners.
‘‘I’ve had quite a few people tell me their little stories about them trying to drive and not getting what they want out of it because people tend to put them off.’’
Patten agreed the antics of other drivers could be off putting.
‘‘But mum said ‘don’t let it put you off’.’’
Patten said she felt some people needed to take more notice.
‘‘If you see an L plate it’s more likely to be a learner.
‘‘Why not let them be or go around? Be more patient or drop back more from the learner.
‘‘I know a lot of drivers are aware of learners and do respect them, but some just don’t.’’
Patten had to wait a year to get her learner’s licence when the age increased from 15 to 16 in 2011, but she thought it depended on the driver whether or not they were ready.
‘‘I think it was a good age. Some people could’ve been more mature back then. If they can drive, no point trying to stop them.’’
Road policing manager for central districts, inspector Brett Calkin, said in general drivers were quite good around learners.
‘‘I think you’re always going to get the odd idiot here or there who doesn’t take any notice of it or decides they’re going to drive aggressively because of the way the learner is driving,’’ he said.
He said motorists should be considerate of learners and understand they are under instruction and could be nervous.
‘‘Just give them a bit of a wider berth and be more patient. If they’re driving slower than the general flow of traffic make good decisions.
‘‘I just think it’s really important that we all look for those learner licence signs, talking about the L plate and just be aware.’’