to find it a little bit pathetic when grown women say they won't drive long distances

[emkana]

of more than 30 (!) miles because they are scared of the driving and navigating.

Is it really that hard, am I missing something here?

" Driving is by far the most dangerous activity that most people engage in on a day to day basis"

Road figures

2200 deaths, about 1100 of people in cars, 500 pedestrians, 100 on pushbikes, 500 on motorbikes.

<a class="break-all" href="http://webarchive.nationalarchives.gov.uk/+/www.dti.gov.uk/homesafetynetwork/gh_intro.htm" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Household accidents

3000 people per year die in domestic accidents.

So in your world, is someone who refuses to drive altogether for fear of panic attacks less pathetic than someone who only drives short distances? Do enlighten us.

Ken Livingstone is another progressive who doesn't drive, but loves imposing charges on those that do. If the thread had been about him being pathetic, then I would have agreed.

Someone who gets treatment for a phobia and deals with it, and therefore renders themselves less of a hazard to other road users is far less pathetic than someone who has to depend on someone else to transport them a distance of greater than 30 miles because they are too scared to drive a long distance. Surely that's pretty obvious Hufsa?

" I am willing to bet that not all of those drivers reversing up slip roads over the years and performing motorway U turns were women though."

I've not been looking to check. Nervous drivers come in both flavours. These weren't brazen young men, though, to judge from the tentative reversing.

Mind you, what does seem to be something only women do is driving around on side-lights in murky conditions. What is all that about? There's no rational reason to drive on side-lights, ever, and we should all worship the memory of Linda Chalker, one of the unsung heroines of road safety, who tried to have sidelights modified so that if the vehicle was moving you got dipped headlights anyway.

Havent had a chance to read each post, just a few, its not pathetic, some people have genuine phobias and reasons for what they will/wont do. I think people here are far too judgemental and snooty.

Oh, for heaven's sake, there are loads and loads of things we have the option to do which we really don't like doing, I hate going to any supermarket, and will avoid it at all costs...does that make me a fool and not fit to mix with decent folk due to my pathetic attitude? Or should Real Women Just be Prepared to Tough It Out at all costs?

I am more flummoxed by the idea there are legions of apparently grown women out there who measure their standing in life, and their worth, by how far their are prepared to drive and on what particular roads...and also prepared to judge those who those choose not to follow their path (no pun intended) as pathetic...

I personally think its pathetic to give two hoots about the motivations of others when it comes to driving or not driving on motorways or anyway else.

OP, btw, do come and drive in Hackney and see how you feel then....

tokyonambu - accidents that happen in the home are not caused by a single activity in the way that road deaths are. And according to your link over 50% are as a result of falls amongst the over-65s.

at the Aston Expressway story. I don't drive at all. I might never bother now!

When I was blogging I "knew" a lot of Americans and many of the women would not ever consider driving a manual transmission or turning left - I think. Whichever would take them them across traffic.

I remember having to draw a little diagram to work out why they said they did several right turns instead of one left. It's mainly intersections rather than roundabouts which they were also terrified of as they were quite unused to them.

I could cope with that sort of driving I think. America here I come

YANBU
FWIW the OP didn't mention motorways - just that some women won't go 30 miles or more.

I'm also frustrated by women (like my mum) who won't drive abroad.

If you know you're not ok to drive distances, don't drive at all. Surely this is not rocket science?

A special circle in hell is also reserved for those who can drive, but can't park - especially the woman in the Merc four months ago, who cheerfully handed me (a complete stranger) her keys as she couldn't get the car into the space 'without worrying about bumping yours'. Well, lovely to know what you'd have done if I hadn't been there.

have you tried driving across the Arc de Triomphe or on an Italian road with lanes, in which there are five lanes of cars? Your mum has probably heard about it and decided to let someone else have the hassle.

No it's certainly not rocket science. Just completely illogical.

Why would not driving at all help a person who doesn't like driving long distances?

Italian road with two lanes and filled with five lanes of cars

claig - I have driven in Paris, Barcelona and Madrid amongst other places - sometimes on my own. So yes.

I am perfectly capable of driving long distances, am a confident driver, but just find driving relentlessly tedious. Its an utterly joyless experience. For that reason I prefer not to drive long distances - although I will if required to.

did you go across the Arc de Triomphe, that is some experience?

Hufsa - why is it illogical? If you are too nervous, or not capable of driving in one or another difficult situation, you should not drive at all. Driving a car isn't a god-given right, you know. Plenty of people are banned, for reasons that seem unfair, such as epilepsy or poor eyesight. If you know this is not something you're able to master, and choose to do it anyway, you're just being selfish and endangering yourself and others.

Sorry, not mincing words - big brother is a 'nervous' driver who avoids long distances and justifies in until the cows come home. I've been in a car with him and there is a reason why he is nervous - and it's that he is a very unsafe driver. I doubt this is uncommon.

MrsMadWiggle - I won't drive abroad. I have problems with visual spatial skills and find it difficult to reverse things (like how to approach a roundabout on the 'wrong' side of the road) quickly enough to deal with the traffic conditions. Am super competent driver in the UK though. Despite your superior ability to drive abroad, I would hazard a guess that I am a whole lot better than you at other life competencies however

Mrs mag wiggle, if you think driving in Paris is a a walk in the park you are totally and utterly bonkers. Nobody likes it, not even people who live there. Let alone your poor old mum, who, unlike you, might have serious issues about reversing road knowledge. Its much easier when you are young, but as an older adult, those adjustments are much harder to make.

Christ, you sound appallingly unempathetic if you can't get that someone might Just Not Feel The Same Way as You Do.

Claig I was a passenger on that one -with my dad (when I was too young too drive) - and a French (female) friend on a later occasion (in her car). I would do it if I had to. I've driven more in Spanish cities than French ones.

<a class="break-all" href="http://www.google.co.uk/imgres?imgurl=www.tachoblog.com/wp-content/uploads/090415-magic-roundabout-swindon.jpg&imgrefurl=www.tachoblog.com/tachoblog-magic-roundabout/&usg=__gjmJ3Ya_l-XJ8tfGF28Ug7ZrQX4=&h=317&w=427&sz=29&hl=en&start=0&zoom=1&tbnid=UeAvoV8oHGw8BM:&tbnh=126&tbnw=185&prev=/images%3Fq%3Dmagic%2Broundabout%2Bswindon%26um%3D1%26hl%3Den%26sa%3DN%26biw%3D1235%26bih%3D702%26tbs%3Disch:1&um=1&itbs=1&iact=hc&vpx=130&vpy=245&dur=1211&hovh=193&hovw=261&tx=213&ty=103&ei=uTl8TJfjHNCRjAfA07zSDg&oei=uTl8TJfjHNCRjAfA07zSDg&esq=1&page=1&ndsp=25&ved=1t:429,r:6,s:0" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Magic Roundabout in Swindon anyone?

I'll drive anywhere, cities, long distances, have driven in Europe and America too. Doesn't bother me. I do enjoy driving.

Can't/won't reverse or parallel park.

How pathetic is that?!?