to bevery disappointed that only 63% of women can DRIVE!! ffs

[JunoWatt]

its like saudi arabia here
ONLY JUST OVER HALF OF US! GET A LICENCE LADIES

i really cant fucking stand up their own arse people who think they have the right to make people who cant drive feel like they are weak in some way...how dare you!!! i didnt learn to drive when i was younger because i couldnt afford to and came from a large family so my mum couldnt afford to pay for me to do it. i had children young so then really couldnt afford to do it and had notime to either as i was in a difficult relationship. i then became a single parent so still had no money, and was living on benefits and wouldnt have been able to afford a car anyway. i have always managed fine on public transport and find people who refuse to use it pathetic, its also a fabulous lifeskill to have that is empowering. through no fault of my own i have not had the means to learn to drive. i am now learning to drive because i am in a position to do so and feel it will be useful for me for a job that i want soon. of course though i have felt guilty at times because i couldnt offer to help with lift shares for the kids, or for making my boyfriend go food shopping when he didnt want to , but it was out of my control. so fuck off you self righteous bitch, go and get a life.

Motherofpearl, you said I've got to say I'm with OP on this. I think it's kind of avoiding taking responsibility for yourself, just vaguely imagining that someone else (i.e. a man) will always be around to do it for you

Do you realise how offensive and inaccurate this is? I was single until the age of 35 and have never relied on anyone for lifts since I was a teenager living at home. Even now I don't even ask my DH for lifts. Your remark is offensive and insulting.

I always thought using public transport and walking long distances was taking responsibility but seems I was wrong then...

Wow- I guess I know where your name comes from now!

Don't let it get to you, it isn't important in the scheme of things.

um- that was to woahthere... not cory obv

There are some people who really should not be driving who are on the road. It is good that people are taking responsibility and are opting out if they feel that they could not cope, or have disabilities that would render them unsafe. Not everyone is able to drive psychologically, meantally and physically and nor should they be expected to.

I disagree motherofpearl it is not an important life skill, people can go through life sucessfully without having to drive, there is a public transport network out there, and in an emergency you phone for a taxi, or get an Ambulance. Having a car does make you dependent on it, your up shit creek if anything happens to it your lost.

thank god is what i say and i pray that more women become more 'responsible' in using public transport. That way more of them will be off the roads and stop bloody dithering at roundabouts

I would like to drive myself but I am in no hurry to as I just don't have the funds, unless op you might want to fund me then seeing as its really important to you

am I being a bit an UR wondering what fucking century OP is living in.

Liberating

beholding

boo hoo hoo poor me, I cant drive. surely I have no existence, WTF.

I have no need to drive currently thank you very much, and Im a single parent and im very competent as a woman despite my lack of car or driving licence.

custardo that might potentially be me. The only time i would drive on the motorway would be at 2am when there are practically no cars

yes you should use public transport

I already do or shock horror my dh, ooh i am under his thumb oh dear.

I didn't need to drive until I moved to Australia. Really I didn't.

But I don't see the problem. People can't afford to start driving these days as soon as they hit 17 & lots of women don't want to. I'd rather not have women (or men for that matter) on the road who don't want to drive.

thank god most public transport drivers are male

Eh custardo I disagree, they can be dreadful, grumpy, bad fast driving, taking risks, the female drivers I have encountered tend to be much better, and friendlier too, they are not in a hurry to shove you off the bus before its stopped.

The disbelief I encounter from 'drivers' (and by drivers what I actually mean is car owners) when they find out not only do I not own a car, I also can't drive is rather akin to the reaction I get when people find out I'm a FT working lone parent.

The cries of 'how do you possibly manage?' are constant!

I can accept that sometimes it would be nice to be able to drive - I'd love to nip over to Ikea, or get to my nearest supermarket in 5 mins rather than 25 mins (on foot). It would also be handy for taking my DSs to various activities more quickly/easily than we can get there by public transport.

However, I get the train to work (station is less than 1o mins walk from my house) so wouldn't use a car 90% of the time. Also driving is not something I find easy. I have taken several tests in the past - and failed. If I can learn and pass a test (and I do think it's an if in my case) I'd need to be prepared to throw a fair bit of money at it, which frankly I don't have at present. And then if I could pass, what would be the point in doing so unless I then got a car - more expense, and I'd use it for a couple of hours a week at best. At the moment it doesn't seem worth the financial investment to me.

I started driving on the farm and on back roads at 12, got my license at 16. Where we lived growing up there was no town, let alone public transport. Everyone, guy or girl, learned to drive in all weather conditions. We have snow 8 months of the year, so we have to be able to. I live in a city now, and it only has bus service, only at certain times, and only to a few parts of town.
Owning a car, and running it, are not cheap, so it does make it a lot harder for those on low income. I pay 100$/ month for insurance, 220$/ car payment, 250$/ month for gas, 800$/ year on winter tires and all seasons tires, and about 500$/ year on oil changes and maintainence. That is more than 8000$/year it would cost more though to take buses, cabs trains or planes.
I really envy the public transport systems europe, uk and such.
Enviromentally speaking, it sucks, and better public transport would really help here.

Loved your pics Goodynuff.

I tried leaving the car at home and it took me two hours to get somewhere which is 10 minutes in the car.

When I have the time, I do walk but getting to work would take me hours by public transport.

I think that it should be pointed out that people CHOOSE not to drive. It's their choice.

I love it when I see people riding their bicycles home from the shops with their french loaves of bread in the basket.

I would hate not to be able to drive. My mother drives (and will drive and tow their caravan) and she's in her 70's. DP's mother can't drive, although she is a decade younger than my mum, and it massively impacts her independence especially since her husband left her and she now has to rely on her children to drive her places.

I completely understand that many don't feel the need to drive regularly but I still think it's worth learning as you never know when it is a skill you will need. And much easier to learn when you're younger. Just because you can drive doesn't mean you have to, you can still use buses etc when you have a driving licence.

As for men always being the ones to drive in a couple I've never understood this either. We just base who drives on who was the last one to drive, so we don't need to adjust seats, mirrors etc and can just get in and go. Or on holiday we take it in turns every day.

Coralanne Thank you

I find this all rather odd. I can't drive and have lived in central London for my entire adult life and have had no need to. Of my close friendship group almost none of us can drive - male or female. In fact for my 20s and 30s when I did need something eg something from Ikea, it was only ever women I knew who could drive and had a car we could use. I also can't ride a bike. I'd be terrible in a getaway situation.

at MoreBeta.

I don't drive. I've had lessons twice and it quickly became apparent that I would be shit, and quite possibly dangerous. And it's also apparent that there are loads of people driving who really shouldn't. I won't get in the car with my MIL or my SIL as they are terrible. I also have a couple of male friends who are awful drivers. I very rarely rely on anyone to take me anywhere. I use buses and trains but walk if at all possible, as does DS and as a result at 7 he's happy to walk up to 8 miles on family walks, which DP and I love. DP does drive and he loves his beloved pampered car but again, he prefers to walk if possible. So OP, YABU. It's liberating?? Pur-lease, what's liberating is being able to make your own choices about your lifestyle.

I drive-only through necessity and if I had good public transport and always I had a driver I would never drive again. I don't enjoy it.
I don't see why 63% is a disgrace for women. It is just a skill-nothing more. I think it would be more worrying if only 63% could swim-a far more important skill. (I have no idea how many can swim-perhaps it is less than 63%)

If I lived in London I certainly wouldn't drive -pointless.