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Anyone given up their driving licence?

7 replies

NoIsACompleteAnswerSometimes · 12/11/2018 15:25

I don't mean for health/ medical reasons, just because you've had enough of driving?
I don't like driving very much, especially at night or if it's somewhere I've never been before. At the moment I seem to never be out of the car; elderly parents in and out of hospital, kids needing me to go to their houses for a variety of reasons ( sat in daughter's house waiting for an emergency plumber as we speak!)
I use the car FOR ME once a week when I get the food shopping, the rest of the time I walk everywhere; work, shops, school run etc. I'm aware that driving is an important life skill but if I didn't drive I wouldn't miss it, IYSWIM.
It's no good suggesting that I say no to driving people about, for a start I can't do that to the in laws, they are lovely people and it's not their fault they are ill. Also, as I'm the one who "works" least ( as in paid work outside the home) I'm the one with more time
No real answer, just a bit of a pity party here as sometimes it feels like my time is not my own and I need a moan!

OP posts:
Stefoscope · 12/11/2018 15:58

I don't like driving either and constantly make excuses not to drive, I'm considering getting rid of my car. I passed my test a year ago, used the car solely for commuting to and from work until Easter time. Then I broke a finger which took ages to heal, so obviously couldn't drive for a few months. I've been healed for about 3 months but can't seem to get the courage to drive further than a couple of streets away.

The main reason I think I should stick with it is the continuous rail strikes are making getting to and from work difficult. Also there's the time and money I spent on lessons and buying the car. I can't say I missed not being able to drive whilst I was incapacitated though!

amusedbush · 12/11/2018 16:10

I despise driving. It took seven years of stop-start lessons to finally pass my test (in an automatic) and I got rid of my car six months after I bought it. It got the point that I was in tears at the thought of driving to the supermarket so I scrapped the whole thing and I don't regret it.

I live in a city with great transport links so I can walk or get the train/bus everywhere and I never ask anyone for lifts. DH has never driven a car in his life and we don't want kids so it works for us.

FaFoutis · 12/11/2018 16:14

I don't use my license. Public transport is stress free and cheaper. Online orders for shopping.
If you didn't drive they would find another way to get to hospital / let the plumber in.

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AdoraDreams · 12/11/2018 16:18

Can your in laws use hospital transport? If I were you I'd seriously consider selling my car and getting the groceries delivered instead - don't do something you absolutely hate just because you feel obligated, life's too short!

Dontgiveamonkeys1350 · 12/11/2018 16:43

I have turned from a confident driver to hating driving. And if I didn’t live in the middle of nowhere I would never drive again. Hate my car as well. So I don’t think that helps.

NoIsACompleteAnswerSometimes · 12/11/2018 19:12

Glad it's not just me then!

FaFoutis - If you didn't drive they would find another way to get to hospital / let the plumber in
Absolutely agree, but it's like un-inventing the wheel. One of the girls at work is thinking about learning to drive, I told her if she does and passes her test, don't tell anyone!

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NoIsACompleteAnswerSometimes · 12/11/2018 20:24

We live in a market town and the public transport is not very good. We also have a Link scheme for taking people to hospital if they can't drive or use public transport etc but that's a bit difficult to use if you're just visiting someone in hospital, rather than a fixed time appointment.

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