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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To wonder why people 'don't drive'

974 replies

ZX81user · 06/05/2018 13:07

..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.

OP posts:
EmpressOfSpartacus · 08/05/2018 20:02

I'm getting some brilliant holiday ideas from this thread.

FaFoutis · 08/05/2018 20:03

I'm going to do Ted's holiday. That sounds lovely.

anothergreentomato · 08/05/2018 20:10

I don't drive, couldn't afford lessons as a teen and then moved to London so it just want necessary. No longer live in London but still manage without driving. I live in a rural area but with great public transport links so it's easy to get around and I also walk a lot. DH can drive but we don't own a car and he doesn't like driving and so never does.

For holidays we rely on public transport too, whether we're overseas or in the UK and we've managed to get by.

For emergencies we can call a taxi.

For moving we can call a man with a van.

For shopping we shop locally for most food and online for top ups and non food stuff, or take a trip on the bus/train.

It's really easy. In a way living without a car is a bit of a lost art, people get used to the convenience of a car and can't imagine life without. Though not possible everywhere obviously, in some places it is really quite possible to go without one. It's a bit of a self fulfilling prophecy, the more people drive, the less demand for public transport, so fewer services and more need to drive. Yes sometimes it's a hassle but I can imagine cars can be a pain sometimes too with maintenance etc. and it means i get more exercise too.

Ted27 · 08/05/2018 20:23

It will be - I have photos of my mum, nan, me and baby brother - we are going to try and recreate them - if I can find the right locations 45 years on !

Ted27 · 08/05/2018 20:43

Ooh and as we are travelling on a Friday afternoon I might just have a cheeky glass of wine whilst enjoying the scenery, can't do that if you're driving
cheers 🍷

bluemascara · 08/05/2018 20:45

I'm a driver and drive for around 2.5 hours every day. I fucking hate it. I wish I couldn't drive! Jealous of non drivers lol

UserV · 08/05/2018 20:46

From what I can see on this thread, there are an awful lot of people who don't need a car, coz they live in LONDON. Hmm

Not everyone lives there ya know. (Nor would I want to live there!)

Unless you live smack bang in the middle of a city or large town, you will find life fairly difficult without a car. Whether you like it or not, it's true. Especially if you have a family/children, and a job that doesn't involve just sitting there at a checkout, or inputting data into a computer, and doesn't have regular 9 to 5 hours1

As I said earlier in the thread, when you have responsibilities/a family/a career where you travel about quite a bit (like mine,) having no car is not an option.

If I were to be interviewing someone for a job, and they were pretty much equal in every way, with the same qualifications, similar work experience, similar personality etc, but one could drive and the other couldn't; the one who could drive would be the one I would pick. Basically because being able to drive shows a strength of character and determination, because it's not easy to do.

porkiepiesky · 08/05/2018 20:48

Not everyone lives there ya know. (Nor would I want to live there!)

Yes but that's totally irrelevant. The Op asked why people don't drive. I answered because I live in London because that is the reason I don't drive.

Not really sure why you would take issue with that.

And also not really sure why it would ever come up on a job application that you drove or not, unless it was a requirement of the job. In fifteen years of working I've never once been asked if I drive or not.

UserV · 08/05/2018 20:49

@Ted27

Ooh and as we are travelling on a Friday afternoon I might just have a cheeky glass of wine whilst enjoying the scenery, can't do that if you're driving!
cheers 🍷

You are taking the piss now, and clutching at straws! Hmm

Drivers can drink too ya know!

We just get a fucking taxi home!! EXACTLY LIKE YOU NON-DRIVERS DO!!! Confused

porkiepiesky · 08/05/2018 20:50

Basically because being able to drive shows a strength of character and determination, because it's not easy to do.

I eyerolled so hard at that.

UserV · 08/05/2018 20:51

@bluemascara

I'm a driver and drive for around 2.5 hours every day. I fucking hate it. I wish I couldn't drive! Jealous of non drivers lol

What a daft post! Jesus, they're all out tonight!

Nobody is forcing you to drive, just because you CAN drive!

Jesus wept! Hmm

UserV · 08/05/2018 20:52

@porkiepiesky

'Eye roll' all you want. Being able to drive DOES show strength of character and determination. I judge people who don't learn to drive coz they can't be arsed..

Slanetylor · 08/05/2018 20:52

Ha ha!!! Exactly. Drivers don’t spend their entire lives in their cars.

Aeroflotgirl · 08/05/2018 20:55

Right userV what ridiculous statement, your distain fir non car drivers is clear to see. So if you don't drive your weak and stupid! Lovely, don't mention that a lot of non car drivers do not Druve because of SN or disability, and gave sensibly made a decision not to drive due to safety reasons. Not everyone has the funds to take countless lessons and tests, at over £25 ph for a lesson, is dear.

Aeroflotgirl · 08/05/2018 20:57

What ridiculous statement UserV, I am in fits of hysterics😂😂😂😂

geekymommy · 08/05/2018 20:57

Here in the US, I believe it is illegal to ask a job candidate at an interview how they plan to get to work. It could be used to discriminate against poor people or people with disabilities. I don't think you're allowed to ask if someone has a driver's license unless the job duties include driving, for similar reasons.

porkiepiesky · 08/05/2018 21:01

If people not driving makes you that angry user I'd hate to see you when something comes up in your life which is actually worth being angry over.

porkiepiesky · 08/05/2018 21:02

What a daft post! Jesus, they're all out tonight!

Yes, and you're one of them.

Ted27 · 08/05/2018 21:02

userV I hope you aren't drinking whilst driving

My point was that my journey will entail me sitting back with a book, chocolate and various beverages as the fancy takes me.

I really don't understand what your problem is. Fine you need a car. I don't have a problem with that. No one is arguing that some people need a car.
Despite being such an important person with a proper job and responsibilities, you however appear to lack the imagination.

I Do Not Need A Car. I don't live in London, I live in a small city with 'the country' in walking distance. I have a 'proper' job, I even manage people and budgets and grown up 'stuff'. I have my very own personal contact in 10 Downing Street. If I need to travel from my home office its to London, so we all get the train, even the drivers, because its quicker and we can work. I also have a child. I just organise my life differently to you.

VaselineOnToast · 08/05/2018 21:05

It's expensive, dangerous, causes congestion and often laziness! We recently moved from a city to a relatively small town and the number of people who'll drive instead of walk 15min into town is appalling. I don't want my kid to think that driving is the default way to get around.

CuntinuousMingeprovement · 08/05/2018 21:06

I live in a large city, not London, and not smack bang in the middle and it works absolutely fine. There are cities in the UK that have public transport and aren't London, astonishingly. The key is to live in one of the well connected bits.

BubblesBuddy · 08/05/2018 21:14

Driving is irrelevant for a job application unless the job requires it. How someone gets to work is down to them. If they are late all the time, that’s for another conversation!

The problem with non drivers is that they rely on drivers. The non drivers I know never visit elderly parents. Too difficult. The non drivers expect lifts and openly say they wouldn’t go anywhere if it wasn’t for lifts. From those who are willing and able and who have bothered. I like to help but feel I am taken advantage of.

I am changing my car so I no longer have a 7 seater to help non drivers out. They should take responsibility for their own families and not rely on others having large cars to help them out or, as when I had a smaller car, try and squeeze the family in and ignore the seatbelt laws. It’s the driver who gets done for that but non drivers, I’m told, ignore it because they wouldn’t get lifts if that law had to be obeyed. Never mind the safety of the children!! I have been appalled by all of this and no one goes in my car without a seat belt!

CheesecakeAddict · 08/05/2018 21:15

I can drive. I have a car. I don't drive because I hate it and dd distracts me.

Aeroflotgirl · 08/05/2018 21:19

I know Porkpie, somebody has clearly had too many vinos, hope they don't plan to drive Grin. I have never heard anything so ridiculous in my life. Driving is like any skill, some people have it, some don't. Just because you don't have that skill and are not able to acquire it, does not make one a lesser person.

BitchQueen90 · 08/05/2018 21:19

User you don't get it. People who don't drive adapt to their situation. You saying "you'd need a car in my situation" is moot because us non drivers wouldn't put ourselves in that situation! I wouldn't apply for a job that would be a struggle for me to get to.

I have a child and I'm a single mum and I manage fine with no car. Oh, and I don't live in London either, nowhere near.