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Original poster

Do you enjoy driving?

113 replies

TheChronicalTales · 11/02/2022 13:50

My friend recently passed her test and is a nervous driver. She asked me at what point I started to enjoy it and come to think about it… I don’t.

I don’t mind driving to Tesco or other shortish (under an hour) routes that I am familiar with but apart from that I don’t enjoy it and find it a panic. Obviously I do it because I have to and being able to drive was almost a necessity due to where I live but I much prefer my DH driving.

So, do you enjoy driving? Am I just odd?

OP posts:
cheekychaplin · 11/02/2022 13:52

I enjoyed it from my first lesson

billyt · 11/02/2022 13:53

I enjoy driving and always have done. Even more so if it's somewhere I've never been before.

Hate queues, though Grin

CeeceeBloomingdale · 11/02/2022 13:53

No I hate it. I’ve been driving for 20 odd years and I hate it more and more as time passes.

Peridot1 · 11/02/2022 13:54

I didn’t enjoy it at all until I started driving an automatic car. Love driving now and will drive anywhere.

Holly60 · 11/02/2022 13:54

I love it. I find it so relaxing. I often go out for a drive just to have space to think and breath .

Northernsoullover · 11/02/2022 13:55

Yes and no. Sunny day ? Out in the country? Yes. Pissing down and struggling to sèe on the motorway . No. I dislike motorway driving in general. I used to get quite anxious but I'm past that now. I just see too many dickheads driving badly.

clary · 11/02/2022 13:56

I do like driving actually, as I find it a chance to chew over (in my head) the events of my working day or just sing loudly to the radio. Somehow the physical concentration on the road allows me to do this.

I have just started a job with a longer commute than before (tho not ridiculous) and am amazed by how much of a benefit this is.

I also like driving the (young adult) DC as it is a really good chance to talk.

You're not odd tho OP, lots of people don't like driving. If you have to drive a long way and think you might panic, is it helpful to work out your route and even use Streetview to spot landmarks to look out for? Turn left at the big Aldi, that kind of thing. Then you have reassurance you haven't gone wrong.

ParkheadParadise · 11/02/2022 13:56

I enjoy driving
I love my car

emmathedilemma · 11/02/2022 13:56

Like @cheekychaplin I've always enjoyed it! I learnt to drive when I was away at uni and think the lessons were a form of escapism out of the very small bubble we lived in between the student flat and lectures. It's freedom to me, just hop in the car and go where ever the mood takes you!

angelopal · 11/02/2022 13:57

Don't enjoy it but don't hate it. It's just a way of getting me where I need to go.

Leafsontheline · 11/02/2022 13:58

Really hate it, to the point I’ve stopped. It was just too much stress each time.
I happily get the bus or train, cycle or walk anywhere. I cycle on the road so am not nervous about the roads as such, I just hated the whole driving experience.
I don’t like being driven in cars either.

Where I live has really good public transport. I work in central London so can’t drive to work anyway. I’ll happily never get in a car again!

Tee20x · 11/02/2022 13:58

I enjoy driving but hate other people on the road! So yes while I like the act of driving I get annoyed by other things like traffic, people who can't drive properly, potholes bla bla bla.

If it was just me and a nice stretch of road I'd have a great time. Other than that no.

Soundwave · 11/02/2022 13:59

I enjoy it when I can actually drive rather than sit in stationary traffic. I've always enjoyed it. As a child we travelled a lot by car to visit family and I think I just got used to it that way

Burnt0utMum · 11/02/2022 13:59

I love driving, always have and can't imagine that ever changing. Every time I get in the car it's like a little bit of freedom and a chance to clear my mind even if it's just a short journey. I do the odd long motorway trip and I always look forward to the drive more than the actual destination.

newyearsresolurion · 11/02/2022 14:00

I don't mind it just hate motorways

Bran21 · 11/02/2022 14:00

I used to love it and was really confident. I had a break for 7 years and because I had my children in that time now feel terrified of driving. My husband constantly criticises other drivers so dont think that's helped. I've been for a few refresher lessons which helped me drive on my own . I only go a few miles. I would love to like it again and gain my confidence back but because husband takes car to work I never get a chance to have a practise. ( I walk to work).

TopCatsTopHat · 11/02/2022 14:00

Driving is freedom and control and I find the task easy so what's not to love for me. Unless the traffic is horrendous or the weather foul, but that's not the driving iyswim.
Maybe for some they might not feel anxious about it one day, but never enjoy it.
I love it when it's my own space, was happy to drive abroad and switch sides of the road etc.
Less nice when the babies were small and we're crying or you knew you had a short time to get home before they feel asleep and ruined the nap schedule for the day. But driving itself is bliss.

TedMullins · 11/02/2022 14:01

Hate it, absolutely despise it. I’ve failed my test 5 times and still not passed so I’m only going by the experience I had in my lessons (but I did have 5 years of lessons so quite a lot!)

I found the mental side of it absolutely exhausting - all the thinking, planning, observing, reacting, predicting you have to do. I would often just not notice things and panic. I came away from every lesson with a stress induced migraine. I live in London and have no plans to leave so I don’t need it, and the thought of trying again gives me chills.

merryhouse · 11/02/2022 14:10

I love driving.

It makes me feel competent.

I don't like being watched when trying to parallel park, mainly because I haven't done it enough to be sure I can do it properly Grin

TeenPlusCat · 11/02/2022 14:12

I'm neutral.
I wouldn't say I enjoy it as such, but I don't actively dislike it most of the time either.

OutdoorType · 11/02/2022 14:13

I absolutely hate it. Feel tense as soon as I get behind the wheel. If I could get through life never having to drive again I'd be delighted.

Thecomfortador · 11/02/2022 14:14

I like driving. There's times when I've had enough, usually after sitting in rush hour traffic, but I quite enjoy the task and, when on my own or the kids are asleep Hmm having music and thoughts to myself.

My DS did unclip himself and come to stand between the front seats while on a congested motorway the other week. Not my favourite moment it has to be said.

OnlyFoolsnMothers · 11/02/2022 14:14

Yes I enjoy it, I enjoy the freedom and independence it gives me.

DappledThings · 11/02/2022 14:15

Love it. About twice I year I take DC to my parents without DH (different leave arrangements). 4.5 hours of driving and I really look forward to it.

I even enjoy the daily commute to nursery/work. Same 8 miles of motorway but just the act of driving is fun to me. It took me so long. Failed 3 tests when I was 20 and 21 then took a huge break and passed at 35, 7.5 years ago. I still get a little thrill from having mastered it as a skill.

1stWorldProblems · 11/02/2022 14:19

I really enjoy driving but used to hate being stuck in stop/start commuter traffic but since I got my electric car I don't even mind that as it's got one pedal driving (so hardly need to use the brake pedal & no clutch) and I'm not thinking of all the fuel I'm wasting. I can listen to radio dramas in full surround sound (rather than having to wear headphones to appreciate them) and it's a great place to have a chat with the teenage children as they don't have to make eye contact.

If you hate going any distances but have to then use a sat nav app on your phone & as a previous poster said, use Google Street View to review the landmarks in advance. I think the Google Map app may even have that as a feature now if you put it in driving mode.