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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

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

566 replies

JunoWatt · 02/06/2011 11:52

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

OP posts:
TheCrackFox · 02/06/2011 14:35

I go to the shops and then carry the stuff home in bags. Shock Finding it difficult to understand why a car is needed for this.

wineandcheese · 02/06/2011 14:35

I don't drive. I live in London, public transport is fabulous and taxis are plentiful. I don't buy the 'it's liberating' thing either: how liberating is it to forever be wasting time finding a parking space, or to never be free to have a drink on a whim, or to spend thousands of pounds on insurance/upkeep/petrol every year? Driving's for mugs!

Ooh, felt good to get that off my chest.

BelovedCunt · 02/06/2011 14:36

why do folk get so cross about this?

Kendodd · 02/06/2011 14:37

"I will encourage dd to pass her test at 17 so she doesn't go through her twenties poncing about on buses and also so that she is not disadvantaged when she goes for a job."

I will be doing exactly the same with mine, (and then hoping they live in a city and use public transport so don't need to). The point is it gives people options.

I remember my driving instructed said thet young women were a joy to teach as they picked it up the best Smile

BinEnd · 02/06/2011 14:37

Here's a random idea.

How about everybody that didn't need to drive (ie. due to disability, distance to work etc.) actually got out of their cars and used public transport.

The roads would be better for those in need. Public transport would improve due to demand. More jobs for bus drivers, train drivers etc. Less congestion

Healthier cities, healthier bodies.

GetOrf · 02/06/2011 14:38

And I have been in interviews where the question 'can you drive?' has been asked. When I said no they lost interest.

RitaMorgan · 02/06/2011 14:38

I go to the supermarket to get bits and pieces, but being able to do a big shop in person (hideous! Cheaper and easier online) isn't worth the cost of learning to drive and running a car.

MotherPanda · 02/06/2011 14:38

well said, BinEnd I think that sums it up really.

FourFingeredKitkat · 02/06/2011 14:39

Sorry if it's been covered previously, but anyone know the male %age?

justpaddling · 02/06/2011 14:46

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

LieInsAreRarerThanTigers · 02/06/2011 14:47

I was thinking of not even a major career necessarily, but a temp/part-time/holiday job -I used my wheels to earn money in summer holidays when a student, and it gave me valuable experience in planning routes/time which I needed when I ran my business later on and did some sales as part of that. Of course not ALL jobs require driving, and many well-paid people choose not to/don't need to drive. You just don't have the same opportunities from the outset.

SockShitter · 02/06/2011 14:47

Also when I'm out in town and run in to an old friend.... I can pop to the pub for one or 6 and don't have to worry about how I'm meant to go home

MoreCrackThanHarlem · 02/06/2011 14:49

My dc would not have as many opportunities if I didn't drive
She has hobby which is v time consuming and requires transport

I want to be able to nip to supermarket/town/out of town shop centre at will

'I have taken a rabbit hutch on the bus'
Exactly.
A pain in the arse.

Zimm · 02/06/2011 14:49

YABVVU I don't drive because I care about the environment and the world we raise our children in. So there.

MoreCrackThanHarlem · 02/06/2011 14:55

I only know one woman irl that doesn't drive
She is dependent on others

Or has to negotiate 2 dc under 3 on buses with shopping etc in pissing rain.

montmartre · 02/06/2011 14:56

FFKK- 83%

alexpolismum · 02/06/2011 14:57

I do not drive. I do not wish to drive. I live in a town where public transport is terrible, although the taxis are great, but you know what? I use my feet.

Radical, I know. But there you are. I walk.

I walk my son to school, a 30 min trek for him, an hour for me by the time I've got back. I walk to town, I walk to the supermarket or wherever I want to go.

When I want to go further afield, I use the train, the coach or the plane. Ferries/ boats are also available, should I wish to visit an island.

And before anyone tells me it's limited my options, I have travelled extensively in Europe, have in fact lived in 3 different countries.

The OP is very disappointed. Well, perhaps I should be disappointed that more people are not like me. Walking is a good (and cheap!) form of exercise and it's much better for the environment.

montmartre · 02/06/2011 14:57

I do think this is a lot to do with inequality in disposable incomes of men and women, more than other factors.

CharlotteBronteSaurus · 02/06/2011 15:00

i can understand not wanting to drive at all
it's the off-peak-local-only women drivers that i find bizarre
and there's a worrying number of them about

Riveninside · 02/06/2011 15:01

Lol at freedom and independance. Speed in this city is now under 10 mph because of congestion then endless circli looking for somewhere to park. Then half an hour wait to get out of car park. We spent years without a car and did everything necassary with little inconvenience.
Only ending up in a wheelchair with dd in a wheelchair has made us waste money on a car. If it was just one of us we would still be car free.

GetOrf · 02/06/2011 15:01

And it would limit DD's oppotunities as well - I frequently have to take her places in the arse end of the costwolds to play football and go gliding etc.

Before I could drive it cost me a bloody fortune to get buses and trains everywhere. Plus the extra in childcare costs because it used to take an hour and a half to get to and from work on a bus, but to drive it would take 30 mins.

I work now right next to a train station and live in the middle of a city, so out of interest I looked into a season ticket loan. £2800 a year! Screw that it is cheaper to have a car.

GetOrf · 02/06/2011 15:02

Rivn - if I lived in Bristol I would probably cry at driving round there. Mind you I would cry at the local buses as well!

Riveninside · 02/06/2011 15:05

Buses are much better here than they used to be and theres now more bus lanes so we glide past congested cars. The kids never did activities except home ed ones and we just used public transport
I am Shock at gliding. In a jealous kind of way! Dd2 does brownies and cubs but its 5 mins walk.
what i want to know is, right, given i saved thousands a year by not having a car....where is it?

idratherbeboarding · 02/06/2011 15:08

Saudi Arabia! What a ridiculous comment.

MaMattoo · 02/06/2011 15:08

Well...I am one of the 'failed' statistics. failed my test..as I was later to discover that test centers have pass percentages to maintain..so if they pass first 4 candidates they shall fail the 5th one. And Ahem...if you are a woman..you do stand a higher risk. I had NO minors..and was given 2 majors for not driving fast enough..err..42 in a 50 zone and 28 in a 40 zone..
unfair!! I think!

And yes..not to compare with Saudi..pls :)