Learning to Drive, is it too late for me?

marmitepotato

I've been so inspired by all your comments, thank you all so much. I've been online and ordered myself my drivers licence application, so it's on the way and it's now or never. Once I have my provisional licence in hand, I will book my first lesson. I'll be back to give you an update.

LandyAndy

marmitepotato wrote: »

I've been so inspired by all your comments, thank you all so much. I've been online and ordered myself my drivers licence application, so it's on the way and it's now or never. Once I have my provisional licence in hand, I will book my first lesson. I'll be back to give you an update.

Oh. Do be careful you apply through the official website and not via one of the rip off merchants that charge you £50 or whatever just to fill your form in and leave you still having to pay for the licence.:cool:


eg https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/4698603

margaretclare

We have an example in the family of a woman who never learned, always depended on husband to drive her everywhere. He was a London cabbie for all of his working life, into his early 70s in fact. A few years ago I suggested to her she should think about learning to drive - she was in her early 60s at the time (I think). 'Oh no, too late, I don't need it, he always does it...'

3.5 years ago he was diagnosed with acute myeloid leukaemia. She's had to visit daily, he was incarcerated in a germ-free 'bubble' for months, then he was home but not allowed visitors and couldn't go anywhere. After being declared in long-term remission, suddenly he was told it had all come back.

All this time she has been dependent on others ferrying her about, shopping, hospital, you name it. Although they live in Wembley, the public transport links don't seem as good as you might expect, and he obviously won't be here for that much longer.

If only she'd learned to drive a few years ago! I've seen this more than once in older women. 'Oh he'll always be there to drive us about...' Well, no, he may not always be, as my relative from Leeds found out.

marmitepotato

LandyAndy wrote: »

Oh. Do be careful you apply through the official website and not via one of the rip off merchants that charge you £50 or whatever just to fill your form in and leave you still having to pay for the licence.:cool:


eg https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/4698603

Don't worry, I actually went on the the GOV website and ordered my application to be delivered through the post. I can then manually fill it in and send it off to Swansea. £50 for a licence, then another £31 for the theory test.....but I'm going to give it my best shot.

Liz3yy

Go for it!

There are few things in life more satisfying than the sense of freedom that comes with being able to drive yourself about under your own steam.

I passed when I was 30, simply couldn't afford to take lessons in my late teens, and I passed......4th time! LOL

I went through several instructors of varying levels of competence including one ex-army chap who declared I was unfit to teach and should never be et loose on the roads!

Needless to say my confidence was in shreds but I persevered and found a lovely local chap with the patience of a saint who was determined to get me my licence.

You are never to old to do anything, so bite the bullet, hold you head high and get that license

Liz3yy

margaretclare wrote: »

We have an example in the family of a woman who never learned, always depended on husband to drive her everywhere. He was a London cabbie for all of his working life, into his early 70s in fact. A few years ago I suggested to her she should think about learning to drive - she was in her early 60s at the time (I think). 'Oh no, too late, I don't need it, he always does it...'

3.5 years ago he was diagnosed with acute myeloid leukaemia. She's had to visit daily, he was incarcerated in a germ-free 'bubble' for months, then he was home but not allowed visitors and couldn't go anywhere. After being declared in long-term remission, suddenly he was told it had all come back.

All this time she has been dependent on others ferrying her about, shopping, hospital, you name it. Although they live in Wembley, the public transport links don't seem as good as you might expect, and he obviously won't be here for that much longer.

If only she'd learned to drive a few years ago! I've seen this more than once in older women. 'Oh he'll always be there to drive us about...' Well, no, he may not always be, as my relative from Leeds found out.

I definitely agree with this, my in-laws live in a remote village with no transport links whatsoever. MIL can't drive and is pushing 80 - always relies on her husband. i dread to think what will happen to her should FIL be incapacitated in any way...

Hermia

Liz3yy wrote: »

I definitely agree with this, my in-laws live in a remote village with no transport links whatsoever. MIL can't drive and is pushing 80 - always relies on her husband. i dread to think what will happen to her should FIL be incapacitated in any way...

This happened to a colleague. Her and her husband lived in a cottage in the middle of moorland. He had retired early and drove her everywhere. He dropped dead of a heart attack and she couldn't even get to a shop let alone to work! I don't understand why people never learn to do something thinking that their circumstances will never change.

belfastgirl23

To chip in on the manual vs automatic debate - I have driven both and actually a manual has some advantages too. I find parking (esp parallel parking in tight spots) more difficult in an automatic as I don't have the clutch control that I would have in a manual, so end up keeping jumping on the brakes. I'd say try both and see what you find most comfortable.

My neighbour passed when she was in her late 60s after her husband was taken ill and a very good friend just passed at the age of 45 and just did her first drive around Italy (which I've never had the nerve to do!) so it is definitely possible! The latter did an intensive course after having started and stopped driving lessons several times, she felt it suited her lifestyle better since she's self employed and kept ending up cancelling out of lessons because her work got in the way, it was a lot easier for her to carve out a week than to find an hour here and there. And she said it was great for desensitising her to the nerves thing as well. Again worth thinking about.

Good luck!! It is an amazing freedom when you do eventually pass. I was in my mid 30s myself so really appreciated the freedoms it gave me!

puppypants

My Dad was losing his sight due to cataracts, so my Mum, who had taken her test and failed three times many years before, girded up her loins and passed her test at the age of 67!! She had a good few yeas of driving before a condition she developed meant she had to give it up. But at least she gave it a go!!. xx

DigForVictory

So long as your eyes & heart are good, you can learn in your 70s! The ability to just get up & go has to be experienced to be believed & within reason, driving can be addictive.

First, make sure exOH is well away from the vehicle or deceased in the boot. Being shouted at is no fun.

Second, a lot of driving schools offer a trial lesson - use it not to learn but to vet the instructor. Ask them what is the average pupil age? Have they taught someone your age before?

Third, if driving a manual car all seems too blinking much, have a look at learning to drive an automatic. Slightly limits your choice of vehicle, but may make the whole Driving thing easier. Your well-chosen instructor will help you.

Fourth, pick a car that won't get you into trouble. (My 60-something mother was sold a Hot Hatch & ran up a cricket score of speeding points as the engine just had more voom than she realised. Ooops!) A modest engine size (discuss this with your instructor!) is also cheaper to insure.

Go on & have a wonderful time! (And if anyone murmurs "unladylike", remind them our own dear Queen drove a Bedford Truck in the War.)