Men driving their female partners car when both travel in it

[HelenUrth]

On my road there are two couples where both the man and woman have their own car, but if they both go out in the woman's car, the man always drives it, also the woman never drives the man's car. One couple is 50s, the other 60s. Does anyone here do the same and would you mind sharing why?

I let him drive, it saves me pulling up and telling him to walk when he gives me 'tips'. I like to look around so it's no bother.

I drive the fancy car in our house, we also have a runaround to take the dog out (husband drives that), so when we go out in my car the husband likes to drive it. We live rurally and I do get fed up of driving everywhere and it’s a good excuse to catch up on my emails.

My DH gets car sick unless he's driving. So he usually drives,
I own both cars.

We're the other way round. I always drive. We both like driving, but I'm an anxious passenger, and DH "feathers" the accelerator on and off all the time, and throws the car around corners (but insists he doesn't), which make me feel terribly car sick. He's very fair about offering to drive so I can have a drink, but I don't drink much these days due to a medical condition, so normally I tell him not to worry.

I'm also absolutely shite at navigating, whereas he's great, so we also play to our strengths in that respect!

I've never really thought about it before, but DH will generally drive whenever we go anywhere, regardless of whose car we're in. I don't particularly enjoy driving, but decided to learn in my mid-20s because I didn't want not driving to be something that held me back. So when I need to e.g. drive myself to work or DS to nursery, I can. But I'd never choose to if someone else is available to do it. Not sure what's wrong with that or why it's any of your business what your neighbours do?

On normal times I drive 20,000 business miles a yr. so at home DH likes to drive and I'm happy to let him! I'm usually knackered!!

We do. Because I don't like driving that much and in fairness I'm pretty shit at it. It took me four goes to pass my test and I had to get the aa out once coz I parked so badly I got stuck on a gate.

I drive everywhere. I like driving and I’m a terrible passenger (I get v bored). Plus if I’m not driving I suffer from horrendous travel sickness. DH is a rubbish driver and gets stressed in traffic. I don’t even mind driving down to the Alps or the south of France. I can never read or look at a screen in a car, so I’d rather drive than sit looking out of the window.

It's funny how it's always the woman who doesn't enjoy driving and the man who does.....

It's not 'always' though is it.
Not even from the replies on this one single thread, let alone all the other millions of people there are in all of our lives.

Maybe women areny confident because socialised to be? they are more risk averse in general. Its a pretty risky activity. Whenever people try and tell you how safe something is they always point out driving is riskier

Oh yes and I'm better at reading maps. Dh has no sense of direction.

Our larger family car is owned by DH work so I don’t like to drive it. Tbh I don’t like driving much and try to be the passenger when ever possible. When we were younger it was pretty even.

It's funny how it's always the woman who doesn't enjoy driving a

My dh is defo not head of the family!

I think I'm over confident in driving, I used to drive a lot for work and am quite capable of doing long journeys. But in reality I'm not much good at parking and I don't like driving much.

Of course this is about socialisation.

I don't know that it is, you know. Or at least, not necessarily. DH does the majority of the driving when we're both in the car. But DSis does the driving in her relationship. She's always been more into vehicles than me- she can ride a motorbike and all sorts. I'm just not that into it.

Do we do women a disservice when we suggest that the choices they make are purely based on the actions of those around them and of how they've been 'socialised'? I think people are perfectly entitled to dislike any activity, regardless of their sex.

I have several friends in female same sex partnerships. In each there is one who prefers driving and one who does not. It is nothing to do with male/female. Just preferences.

This is us , I hate my DH's porsche and I cba to drive my own car so he does .. nothing in it just I'm lazy ! 🤷‍♀️🤷‍♀️

My DH has never driven my car - with me or without me in it

FIL had a stroke and had to surrender his licence. Suddenly MIL had to drive after 40 years and was terrified.

Exactly this. Driving is a skill and needs to be practiced and honed. If you take every opportunity to be a passenger and read or do your nails (!) you will lose your confidence and capability. What will happen then if your partner becomes ill, dies, or you split up? You are limiting your own options for an independent life.

Honestly, I just don't understand why anyone would want to do this? Yes, it's easier in the short term but could make your lives so much harder in the long term.

Honestly, I just don't understand why anyone would want to do this? Yes, it's easier in the short term but could make your lives so much harder in the long term.

I drive over 60 miles a day four days a week on a mixture of motorways, A roads, b roads and city roads. I then reverse park in one of the most difficult car parks I've ever come across. I drive to a variety of work and social occasions on my own. I'm pretty sure not being the one who drives to ASDA isn't going to render me incapable of driving myself should something happen to DH.

I think OP must be my neighbour! DH and I do this. I just much prefer his driving to mine. I usually drove when with my ex though, because he would do quite questionable things

Omg, no never.

I once let dh drive my van on a very long journey across France. After 30 mins of him crunching gears and thrashing the engine I made him pull over and never let him drove it again. Apparently my 1982 VW camper van drives differently to a Mondeo! 🤷‍♀️😁

Yes but you are exactly the type of person that I'm not talking about Plastic Rings. I'm talking about women who may do local journeys but then leave their male partners to do the longer journeys, motorways, driving abroad etc and thus gradually lose confidence to do much more than drive short, familiar routes.

DH is a back seat driver. I’ve often felt like making him get out and walk when he is being particularly annoying. I refuse to drive him anywhere now.

We have two cars and I don't see one as being mine and one as being DH's. One is a wee hatchback that's economical and easy to park and the other one fits 3 kids across the back and is our family car.

We generally share driving and chop and change between the cars depending on what we're doing.