Am I the only person who doesn't want to drive?

[MissCommando]

Hi,
Sorry, not sure if I've put this in the right thread or not. I'm 21 yrs old and am pretty certain that I never want to learn to drive. I'm a nervous passenger as it is! My husband drives and I think I can manage without ever learning. Does anyone else never want to drive? Plenty of people tell me I'll regret it if I don't and that they'd feel trapped without having that 'freedom'. I just don't like the thought of being responsible for me and my daughter in a car. There are too many dangerous ppl on the road. The thought of it terrifies me . . .!!!
P.S I know my husband would really like me to learn, I'm trying to get back up from other ppl lol

[jno]

I'd say if you're going to be nervous it's safer for everyone if you're not driving. But does that mean you're putting an unfair workload on MrCommando? Fine if you live next to a railway station/bus stop and can get anywhere you'd ever want to go. Tougher if you're having to ask him all the time to take you to Tescos or take your daughter to school.

[terambulan]

I admire you resisting driving. You can get wherever by other means...taxi/train/bus and meet different people in the process. Driving is isolating...u can't stop for a chat/greet passers-by etc.

U stick to ur guns and dont drive a car.....tell hubby you'll have a horse and carriage instead to drive; no insurance/road tax/petrol charges and a lovely pet too.

[Velvetee]

You are like me Miss Commando. Although I passed my driving test about 15 years ago, after the fifth attempt, I've never enjoyed driving and have never purchased a car.

When I had a business a few years ago, we needed a van and my business partner made me take turns to drive it. I absolutely hated it and was a nervous wreck everytime. My partner tries to encourage me to drive, but I have no desire to, I enjoy being his passenger, which means he always feels obliged to taxi me everywhere.

People are so impatient these days and this frightens me. Then there is the problem of, if I actually arrive at my destination in one piece, how on earth will I manage to manoeuvre the car into a parking space. Maybe it's my subconscious warning me not to drive, as this will be how my life will come to an end.

[hau kola]

Hiya, i`m 43 and have never passed my test.I`m much the same a you,very nrvous as a passenger.
I have a partner who drives and do rely on him a lot.
But, if he wasn`t around??????? I say, what you`ve never had, you don`t miss.

[tickledtrout]

Hi I am 40 and have never been interested in driving. If my husband can't take me where I need to go I have no problem using public transport. The only problem I have is other people telling me that I need to learn to drive for one reason or another, it gets very boring

[yogasun]

Hi MissC
I am older than everyone else who has posted so far and I don't drive. I had lessons when I was in my thirties and I permanently felt on another planet even after 35 lessons!
I felt physically ill every time I was due for a lesson (this is NOT how I react generally!) and someone said to me 'Is it worth it?' I cancelled all lessons and a big weight lifted off me.
I either use public transport or walk (feeling vaguely virtuous) or Mr yogasun gives me lifts. He always pretends he wishes I drove but I know if I did he'd consider me a liablity and a danger and be worried!
Let's face it, maybe some people are not meant to drive...I am convinced I am one of them!

[ethandron]

i was the same as you miss c, just had no interest in learning to drive and thought it looked far too complicated and dangerous. then for my 21st present (many, many moons ago) my parents gave me 10 driving lessons. as soon as i'd had the first one i was completely hooked! passed my test 2nd attempt and immediately bought a car. i' m not the worlds most confident driver, never go much further than 10 miles from home (just enough to get me to asda, m & s, etc) and avoid motorways at all cost, but for the convenience of being able to drive and take myself off when i want without having to ask ron, i'm really glad my parents gave me those first 10 lessons to encourage me.
maybe you could book a couple of lessons to see how you go on, and then make your mind up.
eth

[mirela]

i wasnt nervous before when i was learning drive, however after failed 4 times test, started nervous, lost more confidence to drive now.:(

[Panic Button]

Nervous passenger does not always mean nervous driver. Many excellent drivers are dreadful as passengers.

You feel helpless as a spectator, unable to influence events.

You may surprise yourself if you took control of a car.

[beejaybee]

I`m 55 & never wanted to drive. Neither of my parents wanted to either.

[helliebobs]

I'm 28 and I've never wanted to either. I had some lessons when I was 17 but that was through force, not because I wanted to. I found it too hard to concentrate on doing two things at once - like keeping my eye on the road and my eye on the speedometer.
I get really fed up of people asking me when I'm going to learn, and I even get people asking me even though I've told them before I don't want to.
Plus, I'm not the most patient of people and I fear for the lives of others if I were to drive.
Sometimes I do think it would be easier, especially now I have a child but I have always managed on lifts and public transport, I'm doing my bit for the environment, plus I couldn't possibly justify the amount you spend on tax, insurance and petrol!

[MissCommando]

Thanks for all taking the time to answer. To be honest, I can't ever see myself wanting to book a lesson. Yeah, I agree it does get boring when asked all the time. Also, 'Oh you're young', it's the best time to learn. I'm glad to know I'm not the only one. I agree with jno though, the road is prob a safer place without me ;)
P.S I can happily show this post to MrCommando now

[cazzz1975]

I couldnt live without driving, my mom never learnt, but I guess she has a whole family of drivers willing to ferry her around, I know lots of people who never learnt, dont let it worry you!

[JCL53]

I have never learned to drive .And I have never felt the need to want to drive .I am over 60 years old In my day I couldn't afford driving lessons and my parents couldn't afford to pay for it either unlike us who paid for our childrens first lessons and they took to it like a duck to water .
.My husband can drive but hasn't done so since the late seventies .
We lived abroad for many years where there was good public transport and when we came back he had lost interest in driving .We walk or take the bus or train when we want to go anywhere.
My sons have nagged me for years to learn but I have no interest . I am forever grateful if they drive me anywhere but as to getting behind a wheel ..no thank you .I am a nervous nellie at the best of times let alone driving a car .

[Marijn]

My sister and her husband, both in their fifties have never driven and never want to. They have four children and get about by public transport. I admire them, they must've saved so much money through the years by not driving. The price of cars, MOTs, petrol, road tax etc! I also have a friend in his fifties who has never driven, his reason is environmental.
It's your business if you don't want to learn to drive.
If you ever want to learn,it's your choice, people nagging you really doesn't help.

[~Wingnut~]

Hi!
You see I can drive and passed my test about 9 years ago, I am a good driver but I refuse to drive and have done for about 5 years now. I had a massive anxiety attack (it was inevitable that if this didn't happen then a break down would) and refused to drive from that day on, luckily we live where public transport isn't too bad so if I am really stuck I can at least get somewhere near to where I need to go lol but my husband drives anyway so never really much of a problem except for when he has his spells in hospital, then we are stuck and rely on family and friends to help us.

I found out recently that people had been saying I had lost my licence to drink driving and that was why I didn't drive!!! I was not happy I can tell yer!! People can't understand that I just don't want to drive anymore and that I must have done something bad to not be driving!! it's crazy!!

[funnygirl]

I have been driving for over 25 years and don't know how I could have managed.

My husband was always working whenever I needed to go shopping, my Mum's or even out with friends.

So I am glad I could drive, it gives you that little bit of independence and if you have your own car, it is even better.

There has even been a few emergencies, where my being able to drive came in handy!

Yes there are some dangerous people on the road who drive like mad men, but accidents can be avoided with common sense.

[cazzz1975]

a car is also a secondary dustbin ;D

[Prudentia]

please dont underestimate yourself, a cautious approach to learning to drive is far better than the boy racers 'must get behind the wheel no matter twho i kill, take it easy, relax and stop worrying about what will never happen. i'd be happy to teach you myself, dont deny yourself the freedom of a full licence, it will be the making of you, particularly if you have your husbands support, sureley he will be aware of your abilities, come on gal, go for it, you have nothing to lose and everything to gain

[JJy2k]

You'd most regret learning to drive. The cost is going up and up all the time. Road tax doesnt seem to get spent on the roads and yet increases year on year, petrol is a joke and insurance is the biggest scam going. If on the other hand youd enjoy being a cash cow for our scumbag government, then book some lessons now. But public transport is no cheaper so either way you lose.