Learning to drive in your 50s?

[Greenfairydust]

Has anyone learned to drive really late in life?

I did learn when I was 18 and got my driving licence then, but I then moved to London where I never really had need for my own car/to drive as public transport was all I needed.

I have just moved to a small seaside town in Kent and I am thinking that if I had a car I could do so much more in term of day trips and accessing various leisure activities.

Also I am buying a house and the fact that at the moment and the fact that I need everything to be from walking distance is really limiting my choice as the houses in the centre come with much higher prices.

Am I mad to consider taking driving lessons again and get myself a little car?

I am thinking of starting with a bicycle to see how I get on on local roads (and get some exercise...) then maybe take the plunge and learn to drive again.

Am I mad to do this so late in life?

Go for it!

Not mad at all! Do it, why not, you’ll never look back I guarantee it!

I learned to drive less than three years ago. I’m still on my P plates and I’m about to turn 60. I never had any experience with cars because I lived in a city with plenty of public transport (trains, trams, buses) so never needed, or wanted, to. Then I moved to Outer Nowhere and had to learn to drive. Took me over a year - I only had one or two lessons a week and couldn’t practice in between - but I got my license first go (barely, lol). I now live in a city with meh public transport (buses only) and honestly would not want to go back to using them. Too time consuming, too unreliable, and nothing here is within walking distance. I like driving, despite being sideswiped by a moron. I’m more independent than I’ve ever been in my life.

Far from mad - you go for it!