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.

I am learning to drive again after 20 years, failing 4 tests on a manual. I am going to give it another crack of the whip, if I fail another few tests, I am giving up.

The problem with drivers bubbles is that they fuck up the environment for non drivers. And kill people. We don't. Bit more important a downside than being cheeky. As for elderly relatives, some of us aren't living far enough from our elderly relatives that a car would need to be involved for a visit. I understand that may be an issue in your circle, but it's not a problem we all face.

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.

Completely ignoring the several posters (many of them non-Londoners) who have come on this thread to explain that these are the exact circumstances under which they cope perfectly well without a car.

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.

Ah, I rather thought that was what my PhD was for.

Besides, if being without a car is as difficult as you keep claiming, then why wouldn't that, especially of the result of a voluntary choice, demonstrate even more strength of character and determination?

Can't afford a car. I know I wouldn't be able to pass the test.

Watching programme called Britains Worse Drivers, or something like that, some people even though they have a licence, shoukd not be on the road as they are clearly unsafe. Not ever driver on the road is competent or safe.

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..

Ok, I'll happily keep not being arsed & judge you back.

I do think that people who choose not to learn to drive & then expect lifts everywhere are taking the piss, yes. If that helps. But I also think that managing without a car & not taking the piss shows initiative, resourcefulness & problem-solving skills.

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

Ah, I rather thought that was what my PhD was for.

Me too Cory. Silly unemployable us!

If I were to get the idea that any interviewer cared about my driving ability, that would immediately put me off working for them. There's a shortage of people with my specialism, so it wouldn't be me who'd be losing out.

It costs u over £500 a

Me too Cory and Gorgon - someone should tell my employer that my PhD and 20 year employment record are insufficient, and that I should be sacked forthwith from my JOB for inability to drive

Didn't learn when young and confident which I thoroughly regret. Now a bag of nerves and can't afford to learn currently let alone buy a car if I could... I just prioritise feeding my child. Sorry if that's lazy

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

This is hilarious.
I see much more strength of character in making a positive choice to not be car dependent.
Given the obesity epidemic, air pollution crisis, climate change and car accidents killing or injuring half a million people yearly in UK, I find people encouraging car use downright weird.
Why on earth do you want people to drive if they are managing without driving? Why do you see it as a positive choice rather than one which harms others?

Aeroflotgirl they may not be competent or safe, but they have sytength of character and determination, which makes them automatically superior to anyone who doesn't have a driving license. Got it?

Haha *MrsFumble, which trumps everything else😃😃

Strength of character and confidence to park on someone else’s drive 😂

Non driver here!
Bit late to the party so just read the last few pages but...

• live nowhere near London
• have a job that involves travelling to clients all around Manchester and surrounding areas
• relatives live all over the country

And manage just fine!

It may be because i'm tired but i'm really laughing now. Talk about scraping the barrel for reasons to judge people.

As pp have said i've never been asked if i drive for a job and I used to run events art galleries and universities. Neither has DH. I'll tell him that when he's presenting to the Bank of England or the NSA that he doesn't have a proper job.

I don't live in London anymore, probably a medium sized town. By the time i've loaded 3 squabbling kids and the buggy into the car, then driven to where i need to go with everyone pinching each other and screaming, then found a parking space it would be quicker and easier to walk. So i do. I food shop without the kids and take the buggy, it holds a weeks worth of shopping, and i walk.

Oddly enough the thing i find frustrating with driving is i feel i am getting nowhere and hanging around too much. I hate looking for parking spaces and waiting in traffic and queueing for a parking ticket then having to walk it back to the car. I just want to feel like i am progressing on task with what I need to do and not faffing about. I speed walk directly to where i need to go, do what i need and speed walk home.

*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.

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

Er, great. Yay for you. And that's relevant how?

Please can you point me in the direction of the post on this thread that's suggesting a) everyone does live in London or b) anyone should live in London?

The thread is asking non drivers how they manage without driving

A significant proportion of London residents don't drive. So it's fairly obvious that a lot of people who respond to this thread are likely to live in London. Not sure why that's difficult to understand. Or why you're taking issue that some of us live here! (Or have missed that many also don't)

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.

Yes. Key being like yours

You live somewhere that driving is necessary. You have a job where having a car is necessary.

Are you so hard of imagination to understand that not everyone has your life and other people have responsibilities / families / careers and don't need a car?

You don't even need imagination, you could just RTFT and see the hundreds of posts from women posting exactly that

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

If driving is relevant to the job then obvs it is a necessary requirement. If it's not, how would you even know if someone could drive or not?

And seems desperately unimaginative for that to be the deciding factor between two candidates, given the hundreds of questions that you could ask to discriminate between them to decide who should get the job. FTSE 100 companies manage it quite well - maybe ask them for some tips, if you're struggling for interview questions

*Drivers can drink too ya know!

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

We just have a lot more money for taxis because we aren't running a car

I learnt to drive two years ago aged 23. My parents said if I wanted to drive, then I had to do it and that was the first time I could afford it!

Living somewhere like London, New York though, you would never need to drive

There are far too many cars on the road as it is. Just think of us non drivers as not adding to the congestion.
I can't remember the last time I asked anyone for a lift btw.

I think the seats on the Bank of England's monetary policy committee should be awarded on the basis of scores in the driving theory test.

There are far too many cars on the road as it is

Totally agree. I’m really weird though and would ban the majority of privately owned cars if I ruled the world. Obviously I’d pump money into an amazing public transport system instead. And I’m a driver! I just hate how reliant we seem to be on driving everywhere. It’s bad for us as makes us less active than if we walked, at least to the bus stop. And it seems to be pretty bad for the environment too.

In the spirit of Ted's fantastic sounding non-driving holiday, take a look at the Landmark Trust's latest lovely addition to its portfolio of restored historic holiday cottages - you can even arrive by steam train!
www.landmarktrust.org.uk/Search-and-Book/properties/coedybleiddiau-50127

I haven't read through all the posts, so this may have already been said.

I am in the 'don't drive' rather than 'can't drive' camp.

I have a driving licence so legally I can drive. We even have a car (I was on the 'don't drive' list when I was younger as I didn't actually own a car - couldn't afford it and didn't need one).

The only reason I don't drive is that I hate driving. I am a relatively good driver but I do not enjoy it at all. I am better if I drive alone, but hate doing it with anyone in the car (especially if they try to talk to me whilst I am concentrating).

I am lucky as my husband loves driving and I love being a passenger so I don't drive out of choice.