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

As for the Saudi comment. I shall WALK to the shop and buy you a

FFS.

why is it disappointing? do i disappoint you by not contributing to global warning even more than i already do? boo hoo for you!

I would imagine a lot of those include older women as it was less common for women to drive.

I would imagine if you looked at the stats for women say 25y-45y the stats would be more equal.

Although probably still lower, simply as people do have to prioritise when spending money. And often it is the male in he family who has the job that involved most travelling or need for a car - not always I know, but I would imagine statistically that is the case. And if you can only afford to pay for one lot of driving lessons, you'll chose the perso who is likely to drive most.

I have a licence. I learnt to drive after university, around 22y old, and have driven pretty much daily ever since. I don't mind driving and I can't imagine not being able to.

However, some people simply don't need to be able to drive.

Some perople can't afford to drive or learn to drive - rent, food, childcare are bigger priorities.

Some people don't want to or don't like it. TBH anyway who is a reluctant driver or too nervous - well, maybe it is for the best they don't drive imo.

I have to say I agree with the OP.

There are lots of reasons for not driving and not owning a car and maybe the world would be a better place if we all used public transport more. But, apart from being medically not allowed I can't think of a single reason for not being able to do it. I can completely see peoples point about the cost being a barrier and was talking to DH about this the other day, I think there is a very strong case for teaching children to drive in college, it can help their job prospects no end.

Why should I drive? it's cheaper to use public transport. (the polar bears love me :o )

'teaching children to drive in college'? Who is going to pay for that? If anything, the government should be doing everything they can to improve public transport so less people have to drive.

I drive and I think that it does have massive advantages, the job I used to do couldn't be done without a car. The stats don't surprise me though but they don't bother me its up to an individual whether they want to drive.

Kendodd- there ARE other reasons other than medical as other posters (including myself) have mentioned.

It frightens me. Put me on a stage in front of 1000 people, not a shred of nerves. Behind the wheel of a car I'm a gibbering wreck.

I'm not very good at it. Fact. Not everyone is predisposed to be a good driver (or good golfer, whatever). It's not a pre-requisite to anything.

I don't LIKE doing it, I don't HAVE to do it, nor do I have to be made to feel anything less than comfortable with my descision.

What about just not wanting to? And I too would like to know why disappointing? For who? There are lots of things to be disappointed about but whether or not someone drives is not one. I don't drive for health reasons but didn't before and it has never held me back. I have no desire at all it has never interested me whereas my sister couldn't wait to drive at 17!

do i have to point out the irony that you compare us to women in Saudi Arabia?

Where the fuck do you think the money you spend on petrol is going? And whom do you think it's being used to oppress?

'teaching children to drive in college'? Who is going to pay for that?

They teach loads of other things in college, why not driving if people want to get a driving job? Or even if they don't they are very likely to need to be able to drive, it's a standard question on many job applications that have nothing to do with driving. Learning to drive is so expensive and being able to drive is becoming another thing poor children/people are excluded from. My main point in suggesting it be taught in college though is because the fact is it does improve a persons job prospects.

It doesn't surprise me to be honest, there does seem to be a lot of women who are happy to rely on public transport or on their husbands/partners to drive them around.
There also seems to be a lot of women who can drive but point blank refuse to drive on the motorway and/or long distances.
That said although I think its a bit silly it doesn't affect me in anyway.

We worked out that we could go places (and back) for leisure by taxi about 3x/week, go to work by public transport, have visitors take the taxi from the airport to ours, go on holiday and weekends away by public transport, and still be better off than by running a car.

Somehow everybody seemed to think once our first DC arrived it would be impossible to do without a car. Eventually I lost the battle and a car was bought (making us poorer). Though I managed to get a deal out of it - it was 'buying car -> we use cloth nappies'. Don't know where that puts us environmentally...

As it happens, we do use the car occasionally, but I much prefer my fancy bicycle trailer. Of course, that might be because I don't drive... ;)

Stands up and applauds intergalactic. The saudi comparison is crass to say the least

Whilst I absolutely agree that public transport should be improved, and a lot of people should drive a whole lot LESS, it is still an important life skill to offer young people and it will be a disadvantage in the job market if you can't drive. Historically it was not as important for women to be able to drive as they were not competing in the job market to the same extent. Perhaps it is something which parents should prioritise and save for as part of a teenager's education, just like going to college?

Yy we have a choice - the question then is: why do so many women choose not to?

Agree totally with the whole eco thing but the problem is that we really do now have a society built around the car, however unfortunate that is. We often work a good way from where we live, we have built cities, now, with amenities, such as shops, situated far from where we live.

Did you know that poor people, who can;t drive, often pay more for their food, because cheaper food is located a drive away, and is therefore only easily available to those who can afford to maintain a car?

And we don't invest in public transport - which affects the poor, and women, and the old disproportionately.

It's not right, but it is true that we are a society that heavily relies on cars, and there is something alarming, then, about the fact that not everyone has access to the skills that mean you can drive a car, and the means to run a car.

It also means that the roads, and therefore the manner of using those roads, are overpopulated by a certain, testosterone-fuelled, entitled type ... .

Though, personally, I do think the answer would be better public transport.

I think it's important to know how to drive. It makes you more confident and independent. I love driving and am excellent at it, at least as good as DH and probably better. It's all very well saying public transport etc. But public transport is no good in an emergency.

NestaFiesta - yes, probably (judgey) but it makes me when I see women in dire situations of one kind or another whose options are further limited by the fact that they can't drive. I am not angry with them, but angry on their behalf - does that make any sense?

I agree about the war-time generation, BTW - I know several women who learned to drive in Army landrovers/HGVs at 18, never had to take tests, and were/are superbly competent and confident drivers.

I live a life which would not be possible without driving. Polar bears must hate me. Six weeks (well, I didn't make it that long TBH) not driving post c-section had me climbing the walls. I know there are many many lifestyles which do not neccesitate driving, but the point is - I can drive, so I can choose between driving and non-driving lifestyles/careers/locations etc - if I couldn't, my choices would be limited. That seems a shame to me.

Well, I say thats a plus for women then; more women than men are saving the planet
Fwiw, neith myself or dh drive.

Driving is one of my great pleasures. Especially on my own with my music going. Haven't always had a car. Lived in London until my early 30's so never bothered, but since moving out to the country I wouldn't be without it. I didn't find driving easy passed my test at 26 but didn't own a car for another 10 years but now I do I find it is been one of the most liberating and time-saving skills I have ever acquired ....I also need it for my job :)

Surley so long as the non driver doesn't mind and doesn't feel inhibited by her decision not drive then there is no problem?

I have to say that when DH and I are in the car together DH is normally the one who drives. He is a much worse passenger that I am and he enjoys driving more that I do. In evenings it often means I can have a drink and he can't too

I have one sister she drives but is no more successful than me in fact she is bound by driving in many ways she can barely walk to the shops. She drives to her place of work and it is a good job but she earns way less than me and I don't drive. I have always worked bar when ill and it has never been affected by driving that is a fallacy. My dp drives but walks to work and tbh most people we know who commute do so by train. About half of our friends work in london but all take the train not one drives. I think it is just another skill but it is also a choice. It is not a need there haven't always been cars and tbh the less cars the better.

I don't drive [well I did learn but never up to test standard]. TBH it doesn't bother me. Running a car is expensive and I've always managed without one. I don't even have a man to drive me around either [well apart from my son occasionally]. I manage through walking, public transport, which is reasonable where I live, or cabs. However if I lived in the countryside I would definitely have taken my test as that is much more isolated.
Incidentally I have met the odd male who doesn't drive.

LESS people should drive. in my ideal world, road tax would be huge, the driving licence would be really hard, and public transport would be free. i occaisionally have to get a lift, but it is all down to not enough people using public transport. I would make an exception for disabled people, and people who genuinely needed it for work (delivery drivers, community nurses, etc, not just commuters) who would get discounts etc to make it easier for them.

There should be more room on the roads, so that public transport can operate more effectively. If more rich people used buses, they would use thier power to insist the services were better.

For some jobs, it is a useful skill - so if you want that job you will learn how to drive.

I don't think everybody should be forced to take a driving course at school though. that's silly.

I actually believe that able bodied town/city based people don't really need cars anymore - public transport is so good, and all the supermarkets do home deliveries.

When I see people complain about the cost of petrol, mot, insurance etc I just think - why not sell your car and walk/use transport?

If you want to drive, fine - its a luxury and i won't stop you if you can afford it, but it's certainly not essential and certainly shouldn't be compulsary.

I'd like to reduce the amount of cars on our roads - not increase it (and so would you op, next time your stuck in traffic)