Driving after a long break from it

[xsquared]

This is not a thread about a thread but all it did was remind me that I really ought to do some of the driving even though dh doesn't mind being the designated driver.

I've got a licence after passing on my 4th attempt, and while the children were little, I drove to most places for them as long as they weren't far flung or involved motorway driving. I am not the most confident driver and there have been a few near misses. A car went into me on a roundabout and from then, I drove less and less.

We have been given a second hand car by a relative and I do think I need to drive at some point incase DH isn't able to. It bothers me that I can't drive because I am too scared but other than that, I have a licence and feel that I "ought to" drive.

If you have taken a long break from it, did you manage to get over it in the end and how? I don't think I can just get into our current car and drive off somewhere when I've not driven for 4 years or so. I am open to doing refresher courses.

TIA

Not sure what you are asking for..but please just do it.
I’ve driven for 44 years but have always let my husbands do the long distance stuff.
Then my current husband had a blood clot in his brain that knocked out his peripheral vision at the relatively young age of 62. He had to surrender his driving licence immediately.

Thankfully I’ve always driven but if we wanted to live the life we Loved ive had to step up to the plate.
It’s been tough I won’t lie..driving 6-7 hours to dorset to visit dear friends when I was used to an hour to our caravan has not been easy and I never relish it but I’ve stepped up to the plate and I do the journey about twice a year.
I’ve toured Scotland and the lakes and today I’ve just driven two hours from the Lake District..a very pleasurable drive across country I must add.

It’s so sad that my husband can’t drive. He’d love too especially if I don’t feel well ...but he can’t..he can’t see anything coming from the right.
When I braked to avoid a fox one night in the dark, crossing from the right in front of us, he wondered why I was braking

So op, get in that car. Drive round the block..then extend your driving zone bit by bit...it’s the only way to build your confidence.

My mum gave up driving as soon as dad died when she was 68. I’m a kick in the pants off that and no intention of giving up.She had a little bump in the car, just after he died and I pleaded with her not to give up..but she did)
She’d ring me and say she was bored. I’d say get on a bus and go to the beach..she never did..but if she’d still had the car she mightVe done , and visited her friend In The next town..instead of always waiting for them to come to her.

It’s your independence op...should anything happen to your chauffeur.

A refresher course..sounds like a good idea
I considered it for roundabouts of all things...but it turned out I didn’t need it.
But then I’d never stopped driving..just hadn’t done long distance for many years.

I had about 4 years off after going to uni London. Maybe drove once or twice during that time and it was fine! My SIL however had refresher lessons after a similar length break and the instructor refused to believe she’d ever driven before let alone passed her test. She now drives daily and isn’t a liability at all so the lessons obviously worked.

Thanks for the replies.

I guess what I'm asking for Dowser, is if you had previously been too scared to drive despite having done so before, at what point did you "snap out of it" and became more confident again?

I had a period of not owning a car for about 3 years and was a bit apprehensive about getting behind the wheel and like the saying goes, it's like riding a bike it all comes back pretty quick. I've sporadictly driven ever since only driving hire vehicles once or twice a year for the past ten years. I'm not that much of a nervous driver tbh and spent a lot of time building confidence soon after passing the test in my teens.

I know so many older women who ' let ' their partners drive and then cant, or think they cant, if he dies or becomes ill. We actually ran a friend around for 3 weeks when her husband was ill before she let slip shes could drive...and there was a car outside.
Many men are crap drivers but intimidate their partners. Don't become the little women just keep up this valuable skill.

Absolutely what Mrs t says
Never give up
My dh would give his right arm to drive again

Book yourself some driving lessons, explain the situation to the instructor. You’ll feel safe having a practice in a dual-control car and the instructor will be able to tell you when they think you’re competent, which should give you some confidence.

I usually drive an automatic these days but every so often I have to drive a manual, and I find my body just remembers how to do it. I couldn’t explain to my child which gear was which or when to change gear, but I could do it.