"HITLER", "4P1AY" AND "8ITCH" are all banned from the road for being too offensive. So too is "HU55Y" and "OMFGOD". The cheeky numberplates above are among those rejected by the Roads and Maritime Services (RMS) for being too rude, offensive to religion, sexual or violent. In 2012 about 36,000 motorists applied for personalised plates, with more than 240 knocked back.
An RMS spokesman said there were checks to ensure offensive and provocative content is not displayed on vehicles. "When ordered, plate combinations which use offensive language, are of a religious, violent, explicit or sexual nature, are monitored and refused," the spokesman said.
"Plates may also be rejected if they promote unsafe driving or drinking." The Daily Telegraph in October reported the RMS, following an order from police, had recalled plates with the letters MEOC, the acronym for the police Middle Eastern Organised Crime squad, seen as a taunt by gang members.
Car enthusiast Michael Duong has "4DACHX" - for the chicks - on his white BMW E3 and believes they're worth about $10,000. "People are always looking at the plates, trying to work out the message. Then they shout out, 'for the chicks!' It's good fun," he said.
Mr Duong said a woman left a note under his windscreen wiper recently saying she hated the numberplates. "But she also wrote, 'here's my phone number, give me a call'," he said. "I had a girlfriend at the time." Other banned plates include: 4P1AY, HU55Y, AQ55HT, OMFGOD, HITLER and 8ITCH.
Michael Duong ... for the chicks. Pic Michael Knipe
THE BAD ROAD HABITS THAT MAKE US SEE RED Exclusive by Jim O'Rourke
FAILING to use indicators, not knowing how to merge and motorists who don't know how to navigate roundabouts are among the bad driving habits that annoy NSW road users. Speeding and constantly changing lanes also made the list. The State of Courtesy study found 90 per cent of NSW drivers want lessons on motoring courtesy to be compulsory in driver education and testing.
More than 50 per cent of 1621 drivers questioned said mandatory classes on road courtesy should be introduced and 48 per cent said discourtesy demerit points should be imposed, according to the GIO research. "(Courtesy) is essential to combating road rage and keeping our community safe," GIO spokesman Stephen Bell said.
"It's clear drivers want more done to encourage better and safer behaviour on the road and at the top of their wish lists is teaching courtesy in the driver education system." Most drivers, 84 per cent, said parents should be responsible for teaching courteous driving behaviour, followed by driving instructors (79 per cent) and police (33 per cent).
"What's become more apparent through our research is that driver courtesy needs to start at a grassroots level," Mr Bell said. While pointing out courtesy cannot be made mandatory, Roads Minister Duncan Gay said: "We see too much aggression on the roads with people abusing and flipping the bird at other motorists."
ROUND THE BEND:
NOT INDICATING 86%
MERGING BADLY 84%
ROUNDABOUTS 81%
SPEEDING 80%
CHANGING LANES 79%
PENALTY OPTIONS:
COURTESY CLASSES 52%
DEMERIT POINTS 48%
FINES 44%
See full story at dailytelegraph.com.au
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