New ‘R Plates’ coming to assist Australian drivers returning to the road after a trauma

Australian road users should keep an eye out for cars taking part in a new campaign wearing ‘R plates’. This is what the signs mean and who can apply for one.

Drivers returning to the road after a traumatic experience can order new “R plates” to show other motorists they require more patience and space.

A new campaign for the mental health of motorists is encouraging drivers who experience anxiety on the road to display signs encouraging fellow road users to be gracious in traffic.

Like a “Baby on Board” sign in the rear window, R plates are a third-party initiative as opposed to an official item sanctioned by state road authorities.

@davemotoring R plates are a way of showing drivers that you’re anxious about returning to the road following a period away. Read about them in @The Daily Telegraph , get a free set from MyCar online, and give drivers a little more patience if you see one. #driving #anxiety #mentalhealth #selfcare #trauma #cars #australia ♬ original sound - DaveMc_Motoring

The signs will be distributed by MyCar, a vehicle servicing company formerly known as Kmart Tyre and Auto.

MyCar chief customer officer Adele Coswello said the plates were about “giving people time and space to recover”.

“It’s not just those who have had a traumatic event happen to them, it’s when you’ve witnessed an accident as well,” Ms Coswello said.

The new R number plate up close. Picture: Julian Andrews

Insurance group Budget Direct estimates that more than 60 per cent of Australian drivers aged 18 and over have been involved in at least one crash.

Transportation and post-injury rehabilitation expert Associate Professor Dr Jason Thompson from the University of Melbourne said while people “talk about the physical injuries associated with car accidents,” they “often overlook the psychological impact associated with the experience”.

Dr Jason Thompson, Associate Professor from the University of Melbourne, backs the initiative.

“The journey through to recovery, and a return to confidence, is unique to each individual and often takes time,” Dr Thompson said.

“Returning to the road can be a scary and a nerve-racking experience, so even just having those feelings recognised could help people in their recovery.”

A Pureprofile survey of driver behaviour found that although 89 per cent of drivers feel confident on the road, 43 per cent have lost their confidence at times. Of the 1000 people questioned, two thirds said they felt safer on the road when learning to drive with L plates or P plates displayed.

Motorist Matthew van Reenen struggled for confidence on the road after a minor smash in 2020.

New ‘R plates’ will alert other road users of drivers who’ve had a traumatic experience. Picture: Julian Andrews

“I didn’t end up in hospital, but it definitely rattled me a bit and kept me out of the car for a while,” the 35-year-old said.

“That was heightened by Covid as well – it was a perfect storm.

“It really knocked my confidence. I think R plates will really help people like myself get back out there,” he said.

Dr Thompson said people who experience road trauma often avoid driving, which can affect their personal and professional lives.

He said showing an R plate could encourage fellow road users to be kind on the road.

“It’s really about empathy,” Dr Thompson said.

“Many Australians have had an experience like this or they’ve been affected by it in some way. Most people will have some empathy for people who have taken this initiative.

“We can give them the space we would have liked when coming back on the road.”

R plates can be downloaded or ordered via mycar.com.au

Originally published as New ‘R Plates’ coming to assist Australian drivers returning to the road after a trauma