anyone not drive?

Tish_P

MrsE - Maybe the people who don't drive are mostly women because cars are advertised so heavily to men - from toddlers' toys onwards - and so men are more likely to have cars even when they don't need them?

It may not have been meant that way, but I kind of resent your implication that anyone who doesn't drive must be reliant on someone who does. I have legs!

RachelW1987

I drive but I can be with or without a car. I work in the City Centre and its just as cheap to get the bus into work without the stress of having to get in early to park or find a space lol!

My OH drives mainly I only drive if he's at work and I need to go shopping or whatever. I do like to have the freedom though.

My Grandma passed her test years ago and hasnt drove since, she said she did it to prove a point lol

angeltreats

MrsE wrote: »

Why is it still (in 2009) that most of the people on this thread who don't drive are women?
I can't help thinking that most of the women who don't learn to drive because the allow/expect their OH to drive them around are stuck in a time warp.
I don't want to have to rely on my OH every time I need to go somewhere.

I do drive, but if my husband and I go somewhere together that requires driving, almost always he'll do the driving and we'll go in his car. He loves driving for some reason so it's easier to just let him get on with it, and it leaves me free to fiddle with the music And his car is bigger but I dislike driving it so I really don't mind. However if I didn't have my own car that I drive regularly, I'd insist he let me share the driving just to "keep my hand in" if you see what I mean.

I think traditionally it's always been the man who's the driver, in the same way as the man used to be the breadwinner. Back home in Ireland, none of my aunties drive (they are all in their 70s now, only the one who moved to England ever learned and she's never driven since) and a few of my female cousins and friends don't either. It's not even that unusual.

littlemissmoney

minerva_windsong wrote: »

- I didn't have anyone who could take me out to practise outside lessons, which made the lessons a bit redundant.

Why does that make lessons redundant? I learnt to drive without practising outside of lessons and I'm sure most other people do too.

I passed my test at 17 but don't drive now as I'm in London and so using public transport is much easier and cheaper. If/when I move out of London then I'll drive again.

tandraig

MrsE wrote: »

Why is it still (in 2009) that most of the people on this thread who don't drive are women?
I can't help thinking that most of the women who don't learn to drive because the allow/expect their OH to drive them around are stuck in a time warp.
I don't want to have to rely on my OH every time I need to go somewhere.

I think there is another reason why most of the non-drivers on this thread are women!

(think i need to go and put on anti-flak jacket and helmet now)

I think its something to do with the way men regard cars as extensions of their w***y. its sort of an intiation rite for men to pass their test - then once they have they have to have something to brag about.

women are much more practical - they will wiegh up whether they need to be able to drive - whether they actually LIKE driving - and whether they are actually good drivers.

men automatically assume they are the best drivers on the planet - A driver instructor friend told me that he prefers teaching women - when they get in the car they listen to him and then try to do as he tells them - lads tend to get in the car say yeah yeah then proceed to show off - scaring him s***less!

mum26

I got right up to booking my test but had to cancel it because I was too pregnant to fit behind the wheel by then, lol (I am only short so stumpy legs), when the baby was born we had no spare money for me to learn (my parents had paid for the other lessons) as we were paying for mortgage etc.

fast forward 12 years and I started again at the very end of July, passed my theory test, then passed my driving test first time on the 12th November 2007 I was so nervous, I learnt in a mini and our car is an 8 seater people carrier! I love driving, I was an absolute fool to wait so long, it has revolutionised my life, no more struggling to the shops or waiting til dp will take me (along with all the children), no more factoring in walking / biking time to things, I do the school run now and take the kids to stuff etc. I've even lost about 2.5 / 3 stone since then so so much for walking keeping you fit

I was so nervous also I didn't want to be "not good" at something if that makes sense but my instructor was fabulous ( he subsequently taught my younger brother who also passed first time ) and we used to have a real laugh. I found i'd have a brilliant lesson followed by a duff one then another excellent one and my instructor said that is very often the case as your brain and body process the skills, once I knew that I relaxed.

Now I feel more confident that if there was an emergency I could deal with it, if I needed to get to the hospital asap to see someone, I could get myself there, independance is worth the cost, totally.

mum26

tandraig wrote: »

I think there is another reason why most of the non-drivers on this thread are women!

(think i need to go and put on anti-flak jacket and helmet now)

I think its something to do with the way men regard cars as extensions of their w***y. its sort of an intiation rite for men to pass their test - then once they have they have to have something to brag about.

women are much more practical - they will wiegh up whether they need to be able to drive - whether they actually LIKE driving - and whether they are actually good drivers.

men automatically assume they are the best drivers on the planet - A driver instructor friend told me that he prefers teaching women - when they get in the car they listen to him and then try to do as he tells them - lads tend to get in the car say yeah yeah then proceed to show off - scaring him s***less!

I think it is partly that actually,some males being massively overconfident and also loving to put down women drivers makes a lot of women just not want to stick their head over the parapet and give it a go which is a huge shame.

MrsE_2

Tish_P wrote: »

MrsE - Maybe the people who don't drive are mostly women because cars are advertised so heavily to men - from toddlers' toys onwards - and so men are more likely to have cars even when they don't need them?

It may not have been meant that way, but I kind of resent your implication that anyone who doesn't drive must be reliant on someone who does. I have legs!

No I'm hitting out at the assumption that men do drive & women can as an extra IYKWIM.

How many households do you know where ONLY one partner drives & its the woman, not many I'll bet.

MellyB_2

I'm 29 and I don't drive. No particular reason, just never really got round to learning plus I suppose it's quite expensive!

I'm quite lucky that my jobs have all been within walking distance and when I lived at home my mum drove.

Live about 4 miles away from work now and up until about 4 months ago was getting 4 buses a day but I've invested in a good bike and can get to work in 20 mins which is probably just as quick in a car! Plus I've got fit and toned up a lot and feel a lot fitter.

Never really been bothered about not driving as I've always walked or got the bus so it's not something I miss to be honest..

My mum always mentions that I should learn to drive, then in the next breath complaining about how she's had to pay x amount for her car to be sorted!

MrsE_2

angeltreats wrote: »

I do drive, but if my husband and I go somewhere together that requires driving, almost always he'll do the driving and we'll go in his car. He loves driving for some reason so it's easier to just let him get on with it, and it leaves me free to fiddle with the music And his car is bigger but I dislike driving it so I really don't mind. However if I didn't have my own car that I drive regularly, I'd insist he let me share the driving just to "keep my hand in" if you see what I mean.

I think traditionally it's always been the man who's the driver, in the same way as the man used to be the breadwinner. Back home in Ireland, none of my aunties drive (they are all in their 70s now, only the one who moved to England ever learned and she's never driven since) and a few of my female cousins and friends don't either. It's not even that unusual.

I grew up in quite a down trodden part of London. I'm 41, but lots of my childhood friends the women never learnt to drive.
But their partners can

If we are taking a med or long journey DH drives because his diesel is a lot more economical than mt 4x4:mad:
If its short journeys I often drive because he's a cabby & he likes a break:rolleyes: