Aye, we too have L plates whilst you're learning, and once you pass your driving test you get you red P (for Provisional) plates, which you're on for a year.

Provided you've not done anything silly enough to lose them, you then move on to green P plates which you have for another two years or so, before you finally become plateless.

So it's handy in so far as knowing whose way to keep out of. Of course, at times it could be handy if there were 'Pensioner' plates as well :) But just keep out of the way of Toyota Crowns and everything is usually OK.