Is it really horrendous that I'm 25 and can't drive?

mrsspendalot

I am 27 this year and am having lessons now. I started years ago but kids got in the way and money was needed elsewhere. However, I am graduating this year (Xmas) and all the jobs I am looking at require driving licenses for company cars and travel to work etc. so I am getting it out of the way now so I have a little bit of driving experience as well before having to do it day in and day out for my career. I have managed so far because OH drives and when he hasn't been able to take us places my parents have. I am starting to feel very restricted now though with 3 children and no transport. I can't even take a lift with friends because there isn't enough room in cars if they also have kids.

alyth

As I've had to cancel a holiday last year to buy a car, and said car has just failed it's MOT and will have to be scrapped, I would say that there is absolutely nothing wrong in not being able to drive! The expense of having a car is just a nightmare, OH is giving me £2K to buy a car this weekend, and I'm now going through the hassles of trying to buy a car with not having the first clue about them, stick with not driving!

depends on where you live, I lived in London for years and never drove, I live up in rural Scotland now and whilst there are buses to get me into the nearest town, it's more the convenience than anything for me, and as I temp I need a car to get to different locations. You're not unusual in the slightest, think of all the money you are saving, as well as the good to the environment!

Kevicho

I find it amusing that people think a car is an essential, its a convenience.

That said it has help me back with my career, so it is one of my latest projects

Wish the public transport was as good up here as it is in london lol

lady_fuschia

Thanks everyone I now feel slightly more human.
All those replies set me thinking - I have a friend who got so sick of people quizzing him about why he was a vegetarian that he started asking people why they ate meat... Maybe I'll start reacting when people mention they have cars:
"You drive? What makes you want to do that?" !

betti911

I was 23 when I passed my test. It was purely done to get a job and I believe I would not have the job I do today if I couldn't drive.

It gives me so much more independance driving and I wouldn't change a thing about what I've done. Only minor irritation I have is with non drivers who expect lifts everywhere. To be fair not many of my friends don't drive but its a real pest when people expect you to pick them up/take them places and offer you no petrol money/don't offer to half the parking costs.

heatherw_01

I can't drive and I am 26. I do not really need a car so I never learned to drive.

GingerSte

Personally I don't drive. I'm 26 and apart from a few bits, have had no need for a car yet. I don't expect people to give me lifts. However I do get a lift into work on a morning from a colleague who actually drives part my house (well 3 mins walk away at the end of my street).

I too get asked why I don't drive, like it's as necessary as breathing. I have no trouble with using public transport (I live near Birmingham so it's quite good and also used to live near Leeds). I should, however, learn to drive soon as the next stage of my career will probably depend on it.

seaweasel

Car ownership debates aside, I think it's a good idea to learn to drive as soon as you can. Even if you're not planning on owning a car or doing much driving, it can affect your career and is also useful for the likes of holidays or moving house. It's much better to get it out the way when you're 17 or 18, and then even if you don't drive again until you're 30, while you'd need a lot of practice to get comfortable (and safe) on the road, at least you can say to employers that you have a licence.

I know someone who's a zoologist and has had trouble finding experience and work because she can't drive (she's learning now I think), however as mentioned above, it can be an issue with many jobs.

Stompa

Hell no, I'm 50 and can't drive - in fact I've never even sat behind the wheel!

Idiophreak

lady_fuschia wrote: »

"You drive? What makes you want to do that?" !

I want to drive because I value my time.

In order for me to get to work in the morning, I would have to walk 10 minutes to the bus stop, get a bus to the nearest town (5 mins), get a bus to (strangely) the nearest train station (30 mins) , then get another bus from the train station to work (10 mins). By the time you add on the fact that there are only 2/3 buses per morning to get to work, I'd have to leave home at around 6:30 in order to get to the office by 8:30.

In the car it takes 12-13 minutes.

Using public transport would add around 3.5 hours of to each working day.
It may cost more. (£1.20 bus + £4 bus + £1 bus) vs £3 of fuel...

Additionally, I get to have air con, listen to the music I like, not get spat at by chavs, not stink of smoke, have plenty of space to carry things to and from work if I need to, etc etc etc.