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

Blimey, mathanxiety, you really are entrenched, aren't you? I don't think this thread has revealed anything of the sort! I don't think British girls do assume they won't "need" to drive. Some want to and some don't. It's a personal choice and isn't about anything else. I don't drive because I don't want to. I don't need it in my life and prefer not to contribute to our already congested roads. The fact that when I did take lessons I found the whole thing not for me only told me that I would be a bad driver and there are more than enough of those on the roads, male & female. And "phallic symbols", you do make me laugh .

Hallic symbols. Hahahaha. Neither of my boys want to drive. They prefer walking the freedom the bus brings. We will be taking ds university stuff on the bus rather than face the hideousbedlam ofcars all struggling to park on campus. Nightmare.

I would love to, but the fuckers KEEP failing me. I have spent a hideous amount of money trying to get a driving licence.

Mathanxiety, in my family I (the eldest) started nagging my parents to let me drive at about 17. If only they'd listened to me. They obstructed me. Which was their preroagtive I guess as they would have been funding the lessons etc. But I don't know if it was because they became more relaxed or because younger siblings make but they were definitely encouraged to learn. driving lessons for birthdays and so on. I was continually talked OUT of learning.

Men and cars, for god's sake, yes. Hardly news. Women will drive around in a kia picante if it gets the job done, ie, gets them from a to b. Men would be all 'oh my hair drier has a bigger motor' or 'my scooter has bigger wheels'.

knottyhair who told you, that you were a bad driver? :)

a man who was a worse driver by any chance

JoySzasz, I had 20+ lessons and still felt as stressed and jumpy on my last lesson as I did on my first. I truly believe that some people (male & female) are just not cut out for driving and they are a real danger to themselves and others if they continue to pursue it. I believe I fall into that category. I don't need to drive, I don't need to rely on others to drive me around (apart from public transport drivers obviously!) and I'm perfectly happy as I am. I'm not however some sort of fifties housewife who thinks she can't operate a machine of any kind as it's "men's stuff". FFS.

As I grew up living over a mile from the main road, 2 miles to the nearest village, and bus service which only ran from there to town twice a day and not at all on Sundays or Bank Holidays it's no wonder I spent most of my teens almost aching to be able to have the freedom that a car brings.

I became thoroughly fed up with having to cycle or walk everywhere to the point that I absolutely hate cycliing.

I wouldn't ever be without my car and would find it very difficult to do my job without it.

I totally understandknottyhair.

Just wondering... my sister sounds like you,she lives in Norway. The instructional films they show before you even get in the car, were enough to put her off.

In her words"well, at least if I am walking, I can't kill anyone!"

A couple of DH's male friends didn't learn to drive until they were in their thirties, didn't really feel it was necessary due to living in the SE with good public transport, plus the cost of lessons, insurance etc can be prohibitive when you are younger, so they waited until they thought it would be of benefit and they could afford it.

I passed first time when I was 17, learning for me was largely necessary because I was relying on lifts/buses to get to my part time job in a country pub so if I could get myself from A to B in my mum and dad's car that would be enough...also being able to give friends lifts home after nights out was good, didn't mind not drinking every now and then though we still had use of the mum and dad taxi service as well! Then I didn't drive much at university - lived right next to the train station and buses and my housemate had a car and gave us lifts quite often. After uni I moved to London and actually drove down in an old Volvo I'd inherited.

Then realising what London traffic/parking was like, that I was far better off getting to work on public transport and the last straw being an argument with a concrete pillar in a car park which the Volvo lost I decided to leave the car back with family. So then again I didn't drive for a good few years. What made me get back into driving again was having children, it just seemed a lot easier than lugging pushchairs onto buses and attempting the steps at the local train station. For ages I was quite a nervous driver and disliked it, but now I would say I'm fairly relaxed and confident behind the wheel and also pretty good at parking now too :)

So I can very well understand someone not wanting to learn to drive if they didnt feel it was really necessary, with all the expense and effort that goes with it. Even though I drive regularly now I've still never bought and insured my own car on my own, I've always had a part share with someone else.

Just because we don't drive does not mean we are stuck in the 50's and are under the control of men. Not everyone male/female wants to drive or is cut out for it, its like any other skill not everyone will be able to do it. Me driving is not in our priorities at the moment, we need the money for more important things, like feeding and clothing the family and paying the bills. Its not as simple as learning to drive, I have spent thousands of pounds on tests and lessons (this was 12 years ago) gather its more dear now and havent the finances to learn and to run a car if I did pass at the moment. I don't need to drive as we have a perfectly good transport system where I live.

I got a job when I was 22, I got a big loan, bought my first car, packed my stuff and drove off into the sunset. I learned everything about engines from that car, and how to fix its various ailments with some string a crowbar, a pair of tights, and a jug, and fix it I did - from fan belts, to spark plugs to tyres - often working in the wilds of the countryside, completely alone.

I have to say that I flippin hate a passenger who can't / won't drive, male or female, especially when I'm driving on a long distance trip. How blardy selfish!

If your not SN, and have no excuse, just learn and get on with it - so what if you're afraid.. The rest of us had to it. And if you're green, get an electric to learn on. But it is a necessary life skill. It might save your life, or that of someone you love.

And please don't get me started on learned helplessness, and the excuse culture ("ohhhh I'm rubbish at this" carry-on) in the face of maths problems, or computers, or cooking, laundry, swimming, personal finance, speaking another language or any other essential grown up behaviour.

Dorje, good for you. You did what you wanted to do and you're happy with your choice. But please don't say it's a "necessary life skill" when it clearly isn't. I have a life (as do lots of other male and female non-drivers) and I don't drive and don't rely on other car drivers to ferry me around. And to say "it might save your life, or that of someone you love", if you drive badly (I'm not saying you do, I don't know you), you could damage or take a life just as easily. The non-drivers on this thread don't preach to the people who choose to drive so please return the favour.

Agreed knottyhair. I don't judge people who can drive and I prefer not to be judged by those who do. Well done Dorje, but we don't have to lead the life you've led in order to get your approval.

Unless I am constantly badgering drivers to drive me around for free and inconveniencing them (which I never ever do) then nobody should judge me for not driving. It's not affecting you or any other drivers so less of the judgeyness please.

I would not be a safe driver, I am doing you all a favour by staying off the roads believe me!

Even though I want to pass one day, I have got by without driving......... I walk to schools and back. I walk to supermarkets and back. I get on buses and trains.

I wanted to add to that... but it posted too soon!

real independence for me will be owning my own house one day and I'm saving for a deposit. If I had a car that'd be a money pit. So owning a car would slow me down towards indepence in one way. Yes, owning a car is one form of independence but my personal holy grail is to own my home and then I will feel that I am independent.

Pigletmania yes, I'm not stuck in the fifties either because of not driving.

I never ask for lifts anywhere. Occassionally friends offer because they're going to drive and they don't do busses and trains!

If for some reason djorge was driving me somewhere on a long journey, I think the law allows me (on a provisional licence) to drive if there is licence holder in the car with me, so I could 'give somebody a break'.

For me I didn't learn to drive until a few years ago as driving is one of the worst things you can do for the planet apart from having children! I ma still learning however; it's so sodding expensive. I do love it and I look foward to getting my licence.

vellum that comment was for math . dorj unless I am not asking you to ferry me about it's none if your business. Driving is not an essential life skill, reading and writing and math is. Math gosh those Americans are dependent on the car, how would they manage without one.

It is different in America! I was going to a restaurant about 800 metres from a relative's house in the US in fort lauderdale.. I said i would walk. They looked at me like I was mad. I shrugged merrily and set off anyway.

I regretted it!! there were no paths, and I had to walk through a big grassy area that was full of frogs or at least I think they were frogs. I nearly died. I needed a stiff drink when I arriaved at restaurant.

Where I live there are paths!!

People who don't rely on driving have it sorted. In the future when noone can afford to drive and only essential services will be able to get hold of what little fuel there is the non drivers will have their getting about skills well hones whereas the drivers will be screwed.

Neither of my parents drive. My brother learned when something in his life made it needed. I am now learning as something in my life is making it a must. I hate it. I don't understand why anyone would want to spend thousands of poundson a 'lifeskill' that isn't necessary. I would much prefer to go on a butchery course or get a chainsaw. They're both lifeskills too and could potentially be very useful. Maybe we should all learn both just in case eh?

My friend has 'lost' her car to her teenage son these days, as she cannot afford to buy and insure a car for him and neither can he. She is at home most of the day whereas he is at college which is on an unreliable bus route.

I don't drive because I have anxiety/nerve issues steming from narc parents. Sometimes life is not what it seems. My dc and I manage fine, we live in a village with a good bus service and everything they do in the way of clubs is here so they walk.

Was like that where i lived in virginia. No paths. I did cycle and got called freak and people would drive at me to get me off THIER road.
Nobody could comprehend choosing to not drive. If you didnt have a car you must be an illegal.

On the other hand, when I was at uni in Sweden half the lecturers didn't drive and very few of the students, so there was absolutely no stigma attached to non-driving. The professor had a licence but chose not to own a car. No gender difference either: just an atttitude that driving was something you would only do if you needed it, and that if you lived and worked in a city you wouldn't need it.

I suppose it is possible that all those Swedish academics were just inferior to my present British colleagues who usually own cars. But they also looked fitter

I still don't know why British women as opposed to British men are finding driving doesn't suit them for whatever reason. There is a point where thousands of individual preferences add up to a trend. Why is this trend evident in Britain?

Btw, I think it was Piglet I was quoting when I referred to cars as phallic symbols, and yes of course the bigger and better stuff all applies to cars, but apparently it doesn't put American women off, and apparently it's not an attraction for Swedish men (and I bet they did look fitter, Cory ).

Bronze, I am adept as chopping wood as I spent my childhood in a house with no central heating or brothers, though my chainsaw skills are a bit rusty.