To wonder why people 'don't drive'

[ZX81user]

..medical conditions aside.It is such a useful life skill.
I think it is part of a parent's responsibility to get their teen througj their test.

@MissTeri

Nice, convenient editing of my post there huh? (on page 10!)

Amazing how people do that to try and make the argument fall their way.

Go rub your raw nerves hun.

@Eleanorhooverbelt

why should your cousin spend in a way that pleases you?

Your argument is flawed and stupid. My cousin claimed she WANTED to drive but couldn't afford it, yet spent £30+ a week on smokes! And she, like many others who can't drive/won't drive, constantly scrounges lifts off us drivers though.

And you can't have applied for many decent jobs, if you have NEVER applied for one that requires driving as a skill.

With the cost of trains now, (and the time it takes for some journeys!) it's ridiculous to travel by train when you can drive.

Me and my husband and 2 kids wanted to go to Edinburgh several years ago; from where we lived, it would have cost us £380 return for all 4. It cost us £65 return in petrol. I have many more examples... where the 4 of us travelling by train costs 5 or 6 times MORE than the cost of the petrol in the car! And it's often faster. Sometimes the car journey is HALF the train journey, and you are not affected by strikes, late trains, no seats, and restricted times back home.

Also, it's almost impossible to cope without a car, when you have an actual JOB, and kids at different schools (that are in opposite directions to where you live, and both at least 5 miles away!)

It's OK to not drive if you have zero responsibilities, and no kids. You can afford to be a 'I care about the environment' hipster then. When you have a job, your kids go to different schools, you have elderly parents to care for, and you live in a village with lousy public transport, let's see how your 'I DON'T DRIVE' bollocks pans out then.

@Tara366

One of my friends doesn’t drive. It really pisses me off that she expects me to drive and collect her and drop her off, never offers to pay for petrol and or acknowledges fact everyone runs around after her. She has no concept how much fuel costs or how driving can be tiring. I find non drivers (through choice) a bit self centred

Yep, plenty 'non-drivers' are like this. Many of them on this thread are, that's why they are getting arsey and defensive and acting all butt-hurt. They will deny it obviously LOL!!!

Some non-drivers are fine, but some are total arsehats, and are often lazy and entitled in other aspects of their life (as well as 'not driving' and expecting lifts!)

I haven’t read the thread and I do drive but only recently.

I couldn’t drive because my mum was a lone parent in my teens (my dad died when I was 13) and couldn’t afford to pay for my lessons. I couldn’t afford them either - I used to walk everywhere with my mates.

My first proper job was in an insurance claims office where one of my jobs was to register new car accident claims. Listening about car accidents every day made me scared to learn so I kept putting it off.

To be clear, I’ve never expected lifts off anyone and never asked. I spent years carting the DC on buses or walking in all weathers.

The only person who has chauffeured me around is DH but that’s what he’s there for!

I finally plucked up the courage to learn to drive last year, at the grand old age of 33, I went straight to automatic because I was worried about gears but I started in January and passed my test in March.

I fucking hate driving. It still terrifies me and I prefer to walk but we moved and wanted to keep the DC at the same school. It’s too far to walk every day and buses to the school are infrequent so I don’t have much choice but to drive there.

I should add that the only reason we're paying for his lessons etc is because he's in college and to be employed in the industry he's training for he would have a better chance of a job if he could commute a little further away. Money is tight for him as he's 17 and can only work Saturdays and Sundays whilst at college.

I have a few non driver friends who have tried to drive, they just can’t pass a test and then they just give up or keep having breaks as it’s expensive and they keep struggling to pay for the lessons and tests.

BusySittingDown Congratulations!

And you can't have applied for many decent jobs, if you have NEVER applied for one that requires driving as a skill

Seriously? You think that only “decent” jobs require driving?

So op, a lot of reasons why people don't want to drive, there you go!

I didn't learn to when I had the time and money (late teens, living at home, money from FT job).

Now I'm a SAHM of two, one who has suspected autism, money and time are tighter and I'm also anxious/depressed so by the time the kids are in bed and the dog's walked and I've done a bit of housework I can't concentrate on sweet FA so I'm just not absorbing at all.

Also, it's almost impossible to cope without a car, when you have an actual JOB

Where I live a car wouldn't do you much good when you can't park at your actual JOB. Good luck trying to park in zone 1!!

You might need a car where you are

Not everyone does

I used to have a car. The only time I drove it was to whizz it round the block to try and prevent it getting a flat battery

I had a JOB then too

Maybe you need a car for your actual JOB - great, so good job you have a car then.

Some of us live in places where a car is more of a hindrance than a help. And we even have actual JOBS too!!

I'm not sure why someone else not driving is getting you so het up. We're not taking your car keys off you!

I can't afford lessons. Even if I could dp and I can't afford to run two cars.

And you can't have applied for many decent jobs, if you have NEVER applied for one that requires driving as a skill

Yeah those 6 figure jobs in the city all demand a driving licence

I don't apply for jobs - I get headhunted for them Never been asked whether or not I have a licence

OMG the JOB poster is back - Yippee!!!!

I don't apply for jobs - I get headhunted for them

"It's OK to not drive if you have zero responsibilities, and no kids. You can afford to be a 'I care about the environment' hipster then. When you have a job, your kids go to different schools, you have elderly parents to care for, and you live in a village with lousy public transport, let's see how your 'I DON'T DRIVE' bollocks pans out then."

But the second half of this paragraph does not follow from the first. For many people, it is perfectly possible to have kids and choose not to live in a village with poor public transport. I have brought up two children, one of them disabled. Local parents organised a walking bus to get round the different schools problem. And by the time non-disabled dc got to Year 5, he could walk to school on his own. My elderly IL's lived within walking distance of a railway station when dc were little.

Obviously, I understand that it may not have been possible for you. But that does not make it bollocks for me. And we are both benefitting from my hipster bollocks.

With the cost of trains now, (and the time it takes for some journeys!) it's ridiculous to travel by train when you can drive

Where I live to nearest big city is £5.30 return and takes 20 mins. It would take an hour to drive.

Longer journeys I work on the train rather than sit in traffic. So I make money as I travel. Efficient, no?

But those who could learn but just...... don't. I do find them a bit short sighted and unwise

Short-sighted AND unwise? Best they stay off the roads then

You don’t need to drive if you live somewhere like London. My DF drove for 20 years until he moved to London and he hasn’t drove since, that was 20 years ago.

I can drive but I choose not to most of the time because public transport is a lot cheaper and stresses me out less.

Where I live all the decent jobs require a train (into London). The shit jobs require a car :D Also not quite sure where I'd park, once I'd driven the 30 miles into Zone 1 in rush hour...

I've only been reading MN properly for a couple of months, and this thread has already come up twice. I don't know why people find it so difficult to understand that some people don't enjoy driving/find it so utterly terrifying it's better for everyone if they don't do it. If your friends are knobs who don't offer to pay petrol and expect lifts, the problem is with your friends. Not non-drivers.

I haven't read the full thread but I am one of 'those'.

I left home at 15 because my mother hated me. I had to look after myself but that meant I couldn't afford very much.

I had my first child young and have since had several more very close together. It was difficult learning to drive whilst the size of a young elephant so I gave up and it hasn't really been a priority since. I've made do on public transport and with taxis when alone.

Now we have a lot of children, we actually need a proper minibus to cart them around. Its the cost of running/insuring/repairing another car that makes me not learn to drive. Dh drives our van and doesn't mind that I don't drive.

I have NEVER cadged a lift off anyone or relied on anyone to do anything for me (except dh of course)

*Yeah those 6 figure jobs in the city all demand a driving licence

I don't apply for jobs - I get headhunted for them Never been asked whether or not I have a licence*

Come to think, most of my HoD's during a 25-year career have been non-drivers or at least people who never brought the car to work. There was never any call for it and those who had long commutes preferred to work on the train.

It's an entirely personal choice and very much depends on where you live and what public transport is like (for example I wouldn't drive if I lived in London). However, two things grind my gears:

1. People that don't drive who expect to be ferried about by us drivers because they are CFs.
2. People who manage to get jobs where you really do need to be able to drive, but can't and then make it your problem.

Your argument is flawed and stupid. My cousin claimed she WANTED to drive but couldn't afford it

You did not say this in your original post. You simply said she said she couldn't afford it, not that she WANTED to but couldn't. If she'd rather smoke than learn, it's pretty obvious to me she did NOT want to after all. Perhaps she said that just to end the discussion. Actions, not words!

She, like many others who can't drive/won't drive, constantly scrounges lifts off us drivers though

Your cousin sounds cheeky. I hope you don't give her free lifts as it will only encourage her, but you know that, right?

And you can't have applied for many decent jobs, if you have NEVER applied for one that requires driving as a skill

Define a "decent" job? I have been perfectly happy with my jobs up to and including my current favourite. The commute is a dream - I work from home.

With the cost of trains now, (and the time it takes for some journeys!) it's ridiculous to travel by train when you can drive

Is it really? I'd rather read a book during that time than spend time stuck on the roads. Freedom of choice - it's a wonderful thing!

Me and my husband and 2 kids wanted to go to Edinburgh several years ago; from where we lived, it would have cost us £380 return for all 4. It cost us £65 return in petrol. I have many more examples... where the 4 of us travelling by train costs 5 or 6 times MORE than the cost of the petrol in the car! And it's often faster. Sometimes the car journey is HALF the train journey, and you are not affected by strikes, late trains, no seats, and restricted times back home

Seems you've made the right choice for you and your family. Well done you!

Also, it's almost impossible to cope without a car, when you have an actual JOB, and kids at different schools (that are in opposite directions to where you live, and both at least 5 miles away!)

My life works perfectly well for ME, thanks.

It's OK to not drive if you have zero responsibilities, and no kids

It's OK not to drive if you don't want to. No-one's permission needed!

You can afford to be a 'I care about the environment' hipster then

I don't care about the environment that much, actually. Shame on me! It is a legitimate reason for some not to drive though.

When you have a job, your kids go to different schools, you have elderly parents to care for, and you live in a village with lousy public transport, let's see how your 'I DON'T DRIVE' bollocks pans out then

My life without driving is panning out beautifully. Don't your elderly parents drive then? I guess that will happen to most drivers eventually - oh dear!

Can I just state candidly that I have NEVER scrounged for a lift. The most I have ever said is "if we choose this venue, I can't get there on public transport". But never suggested I had to go there or that we couldn't choose the other venue. And even this hasn't happened for well over a decade.

Have also never applied for a job that required driving.

Some non-drivers are fine, but some are total arsehats, and are often lazy and entitled in other aspects of their life

Just like some drivers. Funny that.