Why are there so many scared woman drivers ? Woman up and learn how to drive !

I think it's super pathetic to be honest to not be able to drive properly. I do judge people who can't. I don't care what you think of that. I get judged every day for things I do. This one I find super pathetic and I think women need to get on with it.

I rather be considered pathetic thab accidentally injure or murder someone, hurting their family and mine in the process because I rather not do something I am not comfortable with, enjoy, or is even necessary.

Haven't read the whole thread as it was grating on me, but as a 'super pathetic' person here who is nervous about driving I will say that it has nothing to do with the fact that I am a woman.

I have anxiety and struggle with new things, including new routes, and also overthink everything when I'm around people/in public so that includes on the road - on the road I'm out of my comfort zone. I have to look up routes well in advance, prepare myself and often have to pull over if something doesn't go quite to plan because I can start to panic. I would absolutely love to be a confident driver and do feel like I miss out sometimes, but it's more than just practice, it's all linked to my anxiety and mental health struggles.

The fact that you think that women who are nervous drivers are pathetic, and are nasty enough to come and post about it on a forum, is really sad. If somebody isn't confident driving, it is not just because they can't be bothered getting confident or that they liked being ferried around by men. There are often mental health barriers at play as with any fear.

Congratulations on being so perfect and empathetic.

I think it's super pathetic to be honest to not be able to drive properly. I do judge people who can't. I don't care what you think of that. I get judged every day for things I do. This one I find super pathetic and I think women need to get on with it.

'Super pathetic' . Driving is one of the most dangerous things most people will ever do on a regular basis. Hurtling along at high speeds in a lump of metal alongside other hurtling lumps of metal - it's something that pre-industrial people would have found terrifying, and arguably we aren't scared enough of it. That's why people get complacent and distracted and have accidents. The fact that men are often more reckless than women isn't something for them to be particularly proud of. Driving doesn't make you morally superior. It's bad for the environment too.

[quote fenellastripe]@unfeelingwife when people have irrational fears the kindest thing is to try to work with them until they overcome their fear, not shame them as it'll make the fear worse.

Anxiety about driving may not always stem from irrational fears. My friend has more anxiety about night driving because she can't see as well in the dark as in the daylight.[/quote]
I don't think any of it is irrational. Driving is pretty risky. You can harm yourself or others or even kill people.

I love driving, I'm a confident driver and will drive anywhere and everywhere - that's why I learnt to drive in first place so I could go wherever I wanted without relying on anyone else.

My husband will drive to work out of necessity but he's not a great driver and being his passenger is terrifying - when we're together I drive us everywhere.

My auntie has just had a mild stroke so she's not able to drive - her husband is so terrified of driving that she's having to get her daughter to take her everywhere because he won't.

It's not only women who are scared of driving - we just don't often hear about the men who are.

I totally agree. I helped push my friend out of her comfort zone by going down the motorway after avoiding it for years. She now prefers the motorway to back roads and her commute is 20 quicker each way!

I would say I am a competent driver and I rarely detour from routes as I quite enjoy driving

Agree about having lessons while you're young. Think you should get straight out there with motorway driving too. Leave it and you fear it.

Driving a high up car has helped me so much, feel much safer and less vulnerable.

So I would encourage all women to have lessons when they're young if they can afford it (appreciate that it is very expensive to learn). If they nervous drivers it is really important to practice driving a lot because that is what will make them more confident.

very strongly encourage parents to get lessons for their kids as soon as they are old enough! And ideally have a car where said kids can drive from day 1.

@KalaniM I love topgear, I can change my own tyre, oil, water etc, I know the basics of older engines the new computerised type are more difficult. I feel quite comfortable in a garage talking to a mechanic because of this, so maybe because it's a deficit in your knowledge don't assume it is for all of us.

There are a surprising number of women on these forums who don't drive and are thus dependent on their partner for lifts, particularly if they live rurally and the public transport is poor. It's often cited as a factor in limits of employment options. And a common scenario is that the poster or one of their kids is seriously ill, they don't drive, DP's not home and the hospital is 20 miles away.

So I would encourage all women to have lessons when they're young if they can afford it (appreciate that it is very expensive to learn). If they nervous drivers it is really important to practice driving a lot because that is what will make them more confident.

@unfeelingwife what I would say is that it's sad and unfortunate that a lot of people aren't confident drivers especially when it's restricting their life.

But I think it's spiteful to ridicule people for their fears. Better to encourage people and build them up rather than knock them down.

It's actually more pathetic the way a large proportion of road users drive like aggressive maniacs, speeding, tailgating, beeping over nothing.

I've had drivers road rage me for stopping for a lollipop lady ffs then dangerously swerve around me nearly knocking over the children crossing. It's not the driving as such that makes me nervous, it's the crazy drivers.

I think the pattern you describe is accurate, but in our house we're both confident drivers, will drive anywhere including abroad etc, I have a much better sense of direction, to be fair DH is the better parallel parker although I think at 6'4 he has a visual advantage.

My dad however is a much more cautious driver than my mum he's nearly 70 she's 63, he says it's worse since he got older, retired doesn't drive far very often now, but actually he's never been the most confident driver over long distances especially those he doesn't know (although did used to drive 300 miles mainly on motorway to collect me from uni). If we go out together now we either take my car or he throws me his keys most of the time. My grandma is 84 and very active, she still drives all over the country!

Not everyone can understand and have compassion and understanding for everyone and everything, 100 percent of the time.

clearly

but still a step to actually start a thread to mock them. Goady and bullyish, what's the point of doing it?

the OP abused and called others pathetic because they make different choices that are none of her business, and that have no effect on her whatsoever.

If nothing else, less drivers means less traffic on the road . Bit weird if the OP is crying for traffic jam, is she scared by speed and empty roads or something?

I'm not saying there isn't sexism in how women drivers are perceived and therefore in 'driving culture' (as you put it) generally, but I don't think we can blame road signs for being unfriendly to women for women being less confident drivers.

I don't think men are less likely to be nervous of driving, they are just less likely to admit it. I know two men who hate driving. One doesn't drive at all.

I do drive, but not on motorways. As I've got older I've realised I have sone kind of processing issue which makes it hard for me to drive. My son has autism and dyspraxia, both conditions can make driving difficult, so I wonder if I have some similar traits.

Its rude to label people as pathetic when they may have a hidden disability or just a differently wired brain that means driving is hard for them. I'm better at maths than most people but I don't call people pathetic if they struggle at maths.

I think it's super pathetic to be honest to not be able to drive properly. I do judge people who can't.

Since I have unexpected blackouts I don't think the DVLA would be keen on me getting behind the wheel. 😂

I do agree women who can drive shouldn't listen to men who tell them they're rubbish - when most likely they're not.

Crazy!
I regularly drive between Hampshire and Midlands to see family. It would severely restricting if I didn’t. I’m also a car person.

@unfeelingwife when people have irrational fears the kindest thing is to try to work with them until they overcome their fear, not shame them as it'll make the fear worse.

Anxiety about driving may not always stem from irrational fears. My friend has more anxiety about night driving because she can't see as well in the dark as in the daylight.

Kids or no kids?

Just out of interest OP, what is your age and gender?

I have poor eyesight, corrected as far as it can be but find I can't see too well at night or as well as people with perfect vision. My mum is the same and will avoid driving at night if possible, nothing to do with being scared. People who have perfect vision have no idea.

I actually would prefer driving at night as there is much less traffic but do struggle. Also the lights can be very bright and dazzling for some people. The men in my family have 20/20 vision so it's not a problem for them but I assume other men might struggle the same as women with poor eyesight. I've never once factored men's behaviour into my driving, not had any problems and it wouldn't occur to me!

Jesus, just read your update, gosh aren't you a nasty thing