Aussie driver 'makes a point' with politically incorrect licence plate

Licence plate spotting has almost become a national sport with "hilarious", "naughty" and even deeply offensive plates across the country making headlines recently — but some drivers are apparently using their vehicle's unique registration to "make a point".

On Thursday, one Sydney local spotted a tongue-in-cheek number plate seemingly sending a message to others on the road and in car parks.

"When a van is parked in disabled car spot, but I'm pretty sure they made their point," the local said while showing the plate he'd found, which simply read: 'CRIPLE'.

Disability advocates say while the word is offensive and derogatory to use if said by a person without a disability, some within the disability community use it as a way to reclaim the term – and perhaps in this instance, as a way to ward off people's perceptions about their disability.

After sharing the find online, many applauded the number plate, calling the person a "genius".

While others shared examples of similarly self-deprecating plates they'd seen. "There’s a van around my way with a lady in a [wheel]chair with 'LEGL355' for her number plate," one person claimed.

Vast majority of disabilities are not visible

According to the Australian Network of Disability, 4.4 million Aussies live with a disability. Around 90 per cent of these are deemed invisible, with statistics suggesting these individuals feel negative emotions due to other people's perceptions of them.

With repeated instances of those with invisible disabilities being targeted, some Australians living with disabilities can worry about copping abuse or dirty looks when parking in designated spots if people don't notice their permit or view them to be physically challenged.

The Sydney driver, it appears, has left nothing to chance with the not-so-politically-correct licence plate.

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Number plates in the spotlight recently

The above is not the only plate to start a conversation in recent times, global headlines were made in February when antisemitic plates were spotted in Sydney, appearing to reference the date of the brutal massacre in Israel last year.

Earlier this week, one subtle but "clever" number plate on a Kia Sportage in WA went viral. At first glance, the combination of 37OHSSV probably mean nothing to you, but taking a closer look and flipping it upside down, you quickly realise it spells 'asshole'.

A Yahoo reader recently sent in a set of relatable plates which read; "CBF-247" — ostensibly alluding to the quintessentially Aussie phrase "can't be f***ed", while another set sported by one misanthropic motorist read; "IH8PPL2".

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