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Originally posted by b308:
There's a fine line between "inexperience" and "stupidity" - I agree that inexperience causes a lot of accidents for younger drivers, but its usually stupidity that leads to the crash - if you don't believe me look at the facts which show that young female drivers don't have as many accidents as young male drivers, why? because they don't tend to do stupid things when driving, like driving too fast in inapropriate conditions.

But doesn't experience teach you when not to be stupid?
Are you less stupid than you were? I'm not. I just know how to disguise it more.

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Don't get me wrong, older drivers do stupid things as well, as jjb says, but the fact remains that younger male drivers are more prone to having (large) accidents, so they will get "bad press".

Absolutely. But you're never going to eliminate the adolescent male syndrome. That's why we can have wars, because there are enough of them too stupid to realize they're mortal and that the old gits who want to fight don't get their hands dirty.
You have to limit their options or redirect them to less destructive activities.

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P plates are good for telling other road users that you are new, but unless they are part of a larger package (ie restriced use, engine size, speed, time of day restrictions, etc) they won't do much good on their own. Don't Northern Ireland have some restrictions on new drivers? Anyone know how that works?

Of course. There are numerous countries that have restrictions on new or younger drivers. Reduced speed limits, curfews, number of passengers etc. It's always been said of motorbikes that you could pass your test in the morning and go out and ride a very powerful bike in the afternoon - well, you could in my day anyway.
The same is true of a car - if you can afford the insurance. A probationary period -including the reduced number of points for a ban- sounds reasonable.

But you can't demonize young drivers or the results will be the opposite of what's intended.

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What earthly use is a P plate on an Imprezza??

Exactly. It's like having your mummy pick you up from school.
It would also indicate to both of Britain's remaining traffic cops that the car needs careful scrutiny.