To think you that are not truely independent until you can drive!

[angelicstar]

Ok - I admit to being a bit of a zealot about driving as I've just passed my test in my 30's and am a total convert!!

But honestly I have never felt so free. I finally feel like I don't have to rely on anyone (usually got lifts from DH/Dad/Friends etc). I'm not at the mercy of public transport and never have to get soaking wet walking in the rain again.

I wish someone had made me do this years ago and I would really encourage anyone thinking about learning to drive to do so - it has made such a difference to me (and if I can pass anyone can!)

Well Slag, I suppose you must be quite lucky.

None of these things have ever happened to me either.

Actually, I lie. Sometimes I fancy wine or chocolate late at night. I am very glad I did not go and get it!

Again, this depends on where you live. If you are in a city centre, you can get to an all night chemist/supermarket etc. So having to get in the car and drive somewhere is actually an inconvenience.

So I would like to re-route this thread to say:

You are not truly independent unless you live in central London

You are not truly independent unless you live in central London

True, I don't have a car or live in London and can't find a pearly king costume for love or money.

I feel half a person.

omg Jenstar, you ... I mean, can you hear yourself?

Disabled adults are fully rounded human beings! Really truly human, sorry to disappoint! Human ALL the way round.

Cars are not, however, some kind of symbiotic being essential for human development. They are of no relevance to the maturation of homo sapiens. Promise!

Before you start saying all your crap about your medical exemption blah blah, that's a PROBLEM in ITSELF. You don't get to exclude groups of people from what a human is. It's not up to you.

Also, the people who slag off public transport the most are usually the ones who hardly ever use it

Part of why I drive is so I don't have to

you know, this thread has actually convinced me not to learn to drive. I'd hate to be so blinkered and arrogant.

What I'm saying is that people who use public transport as their means of getting around, don't seem to have a problem with it. A regular driver uses it once or twice and is in horrors!

The feeling of having to drive every day of my life fills me with similar horror- no thanks!

I know what you mean, I really can see how driving is useful. I just cant consider it a life skill, considering that I have a pretty full and enjoyable life without a car or license.

AND I live out in the sticks!

I used public transport for years getting up the city to work and seriously hated it. Different strokes for different folks though I suppose.

Different strokes for different folks though I suppose

Exactly Miss Faversham. Some people really love driving and thoroughly enjoy it and can afford to drive and run a car. Good for them, I've no problem with that.

I hated it passionately and am very happy not to be a driver. I just wish drivers would accept that non drivers still have full and happy lives!

yabu... people keep nagging me to learn to drive but i dont want to and i dont need to as i live in an area where it isn't necessary

The first thing i do when i win the lottery is book driving lessons. Id love to drive. I really rely on my family too much. For instance this evening i will be doing my monthly food shop and i had to work it around my dad's Tv schedule.
The only thing stopping me from driving is the cost. Not just the lessons but the car, the tax, the insurance and the fuel.
I am in my mid 20s n dont see me pacing my test for another 10 yrs. Doesnt make me any less of a person.

OP, do you have nothing better to do than try to start a bunfight? You of course must realise YABU. Drive if you like, but don't be so offensive as to feel that your choice is the only choice or that it is right for everyone.

Triggles - yabfu! She was just excited to pass her test??? If you can't drive don't blame it on her excitement!

I grew up in the sticks but have lived in Z2 London for more than 30 years. There is no way I could have managed or existed without a car for the last 30 years. Examples: late night fun, moving flats (many many years ago), tight schedules with rugby/cricket/singing/drama runs, the sheer volume of a weekly shop and saino's is a five minute walk away. Dropping dd for the school bus in the morning (I do it in five, the bus would take at least 20 with the added complication of missing the school bus if the public bus didn't show - which happens), taking "stuff" to the dump, buying stuff for the garden which is exceptionally heavy, getting the cats to the vet in one go, getting ds to a&e in the night when he was a baby (chronic asthmatic then).

DH however grew up in a City and hates driving with a vengeance. He is Mr sexy with his GWiz and doesn't like motorways. In fact he didn't even learn until we had dc .

I don't think you are truly independent though OP until you have driven from London to the South of France when your DH gets all daft about taking the wheel on the wrong side of the road.

I'm afraid I'd have to report the opposite married getting rid of the car was a liberation, especially when I discovered how much of my disposable income a tin box on wheels was sucking up. But then I loathed driving to the very core of my being.

I cycle, bus or walk to all social engagements, I never felt left out from not having a car, also if I take the bus or walk I can get as pissed as a newt and not worry about leaving the car overnight.

When I've needed to move flat I've hired a Transit van. (They are rather fun to drove I confess, amazinlgly nippy when empty and has been the only thing I've ever enjoyed driving)

Let's be UnMnetty composHat and accept each other's point of view and politely agree to differ . I can see the points you are making, I just don't think I could run hither and thither without the tin box on wheels - perhpas I should do less hither and thither. DH has it sussed because he doesn't like driving my big mpv and thus doesn't hither and thither but then I think DH and I would fall out if he had to hither and thither a bit more.

Any way, everyone's in tonight so I'm hithering off to the kitchen to top up my wine .

Yes married let's do that especially as it is a warm Friday evening. I know plenty of people who get pleasure from driving, I am seemingly in a minority!

My tin box on wheels gives me at least a tiny burst of joy every single day. I race people at lights and everything [JezzaClarkson][twat]

I passed my test eons ago but only recently acquired a car. I live in London and have been successfully independent using public transport. But I love te convenience of having a car and use it when it benefits me to use it eg by car it takes me less than 20 minutes to drive to Hampstead Heath (with DD, DH and alot of picnic stuff) but by public transport would take me an hour. Also I often end up driving DD to after-school activities because otherwise we end up waiting as one full bus after another passes us by without stopping - the other day we watched 3 packed buses pass us - 30 minutes of waiting! The car took 10 minutes even in rush hour traffic. It's also handy for day-trips out of London where public transport would take too long.

But I'm still not reliant on the car: if I know traffic or parking is bad I'll not drive; if I drive I try and avoid rush-hour; if the public transport or walking option is better then it's a no-brainer to keep the car at home.

A car as just added another option to the mix, that's all.

I do love love love driving though, and love blasting the music and I love the fact that DD can have any meltdowns in private and not shame me!

Oracle 'you know, this thread has actually convinced me not to learn to drive. I'd hate to be so blinkered and arrogant'

Ditto

And this is despite having recently lost out on a job because the stupid prick person interviewing me found it so shocking I didn't drive, he didn't feel he could employ me Personally I felt that said more about him bigoted twat than me!

Yes you are. What you mean is it makes YOU independent now that YOU can drive and no longer have to rely on YOUR DH/Dad/Friends etc. Please don't project your insecurities onto others who may not want to/need to drive for all sorts of reasons.

Oh good grief, she wasn't projecting anything!

Being able to drive is another string to one's bow. Like being able to touch type or recite one's times tables (neither of which I can do btw). Only more fun.