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.

How do you go do a big shop if you don't have a car with a family of 4 (now reduced to 3) we didn't need to do such big weekly shops that one person couldn't get them home using a trolley bag. When the kids were little I stuck the shopping under the pram. Cutting down on non-essentials and only buying what you need is good for health, budget and environment.

how do you visit family that live miles away- public transport- we did have to get a car when MIL ended up in a nursing home in the country and dd was in a wheelchair, but that was a bit of a special situation

how do you get somewhere in an emergency taxi (not having a car leaves quite a bit of spare cash)

what if schools aren't within walking distance? you plan these things when you think about where to live, if not within walking distance then within reach of public transport

OP I have managed to get to 60 without ever driving. Have had innumerable holidays in UK and all over the world without ever needing to. Worked 34 years in different locations without needing to drive (or get lifts from drivers).
I had lessons when I was young and found I was crap at it (apart from reversing, which I was brilliant at, but unless I could go in reverse everywhere that's not much use). I appear not to be able to "read the road" and I fear for my safety and all the other road users. It was bad enough 40 years ago, but there is even more traffic now and as a passenger in DH's or sisters cars I am often scared witless by the terrible driving of others (not DH or sisters I should make clear).
I don't ASK for lifts nor do I bum free ones if I am offered a lift. I often have to insist on making my own way to a venue as it is so easy for me to use public transport and driving to pick me up is not.

There are far, far too many cars on the roads as it is. You want everyone on the planet over 18 to be driving??

I couldn't imagine life without driving. How do you go do a big shop if you don't have a car

Ocado for the weekly shop. And within 10 mins walk from my front door we have
Big Sainsburys
Big Waitrose
2 x Tesco Metro
1 x Sainsburys Local
Large Budgens

Only one of these has parking! Everywhere else you'd be stuffed in a car.

how do you visit family that live miles away

I can get up to Manchester to visit my dad by tube / train / cab much more quickly than I could by car.

how do you get somewhere in an emergency,

Cab or uber. Never had to wait more than 5 mins for one to turn up. You'd never be able to park at UCH or the Whittington which are the two major hospitals nearest us. So you'd be stuffed if you drove there, as you'd struggle to park up.

what if schools aren't within walking distance?

Tube. Bus. Uber. You see kids on the bus and tube every day.

But what you've never had, you don't know to miss

Totally agree. Nearly everyone I know can drive. Not everyone has a car, but everyone can drive.

All this "well I live in London" - all well and good but what about exploring the world outside London? We've had amazing holidays in Scotland, Cornwall and the Lakes which would have been impossible without a car. What happens when your employer decides they're relocating somewhere impossible to get to on public transport?

I also would hate to have to plan everything around public transport timetables. Driving is the ultimate freedom and people get all defensive about not being able to do it.

I think actually parents should NOT be encouraging their children to drive and own cars unless absolutely necessary (like people who love rurally, disability that makes public transport tricky etc.) it is environmentally irresponsible and unsustainable, plus, there will hopefully soon be a system of public, green driverless cars for everybody to use!

Oh god not this again, this same thread gets regurgitated every month or so.

I couldn't afford it as a teenager
When I was 21 my brother died in a car accident at 17, on the same day as I found out I was pregnant with dc1
It caused me such anxiety I can't even contemplate being in control of a car

All this "well I live in London" - all well and good but what about exploring the world outside London?

Because some people don’t value travel which is perfectly reasonable.

I drive. My BF doesn’t. He doesn’t need to. He lives in a city. I live rurally.

How do you go do a big shop if you don't have a car, how do you visit family that live miles away, how do you get somewhere in an emergency, what if schools aren't within walking distance?

1. You order it to be delivered.
2. You catch a train.
3. You get a taxi.
4. You choose where you live based on being able to walk to school. Or you catch a bus with your kids. I have done both.

On holiday, you pick somewhere that's easy on foot and you get the occasional taxi. But usually those who can't afford to learn to drive can't afford to go on holiday either. HTH.

I would infinitely prefer going anywhere by train rather than as a car passenger incidentally - better scenery, freedom to walk about, read, sleep, go to the loo, people watch.
Southampton to Saltzberg entirely by trains was epic!

Lots of reasons obviously, but some don’t because there are always other suckers that will drive them around. MIL for example - no medical or financial reasons, but is always asking for lifts here and there. Thankfully we live far enough away that it doesn’t impact on us

Because I didn’t need to as a teen, couldn’t afford to as a young adult and bought a house deliberately with major transport links and within walking distance from schools and my work.
The major supermarkets deliver and otherwise there are small local businesses.
But by all means judge me as a lesser person for not polluting the environment;)

I completely agree that it's a necessary life skill for most people.

I grew up in the country and it was necessary. My parents could afford to help and cars and insurance and fuel were much more reasonable.

DH grew up on the outskirts of London so had the benefits of public transport as well as his family having a full time driver. There was no need for him to learn to drive until he graduated and we moved further away from the city.

I think it's worthwhile having on a CV and see it as an investment. I also love driving (bikes and cars) so see it as a double-win.

In fact. As a second thought, I drive but do most traveling by train as I can work!

It's very distressing to see people live their life differently to your prescribed method, OP.

I always think everyone should live in the centre of a big city like I do. That way nobody would be forced to drive. As you say, it is part of a parent's responsibility.

Or perhaps everyone lives the way they want to or have to.

All this "well I live in London" - all well and good but what about exploring the world outside London? We've had amazing holidays in Scotland, Cornwall and the Lakes which would have been impossible without a car. What happens when your employer decides they're relocating somewhere impossible to get to on public transport?

i don't live in London but plenty of other places have excellent public transport. I drive but many people here don't. I have visited both Scotland and Cornwall without driving (fly or train) and had no problems at all.

When my employer moved us from Central London to a green field site in Surrey, they paid for free private buses at the start and finish of each day from the station to ferry people out to the sticks.

I think you are misunderstanding Fleur

The cost and traffic makes driving prohibitive in London for many. It's not because they don't ever venture outside of London - what a bizarre conclusion to come to???? You can get to almost anywhere in the UK (and Europe and the world) from London.

I live in a city, no need to drive. I was also in a really bad accident when I was younger and couldn't handle driving. I like walking to keep fit and worry about the impact on the environment.

Find it amazing how many people judge me because I don't drive.

I live rurally.

If only driving came that easily to me.

It’s always non-drivers who completely take the piss as far as lifts
and petrol money goes, too.

I find that its drivers who take the piss with wanting lifts every where. It's as if their legs don't work unless driving and their brains can't figure out a bus or train route.
I can drive and have access to cars should I wish to pay my own insurance. But I need a car about 5 times a year so a taxi is cheaper.
OH has cars that he uses on a weekend only, if for some reason cars are in for repair or otherwise unusable he always calls a mate or grown up child or his dad or siblings for a lift. It never occurs to him to bus or taxi or train.
He will put other people out rather than think of a different way.
I just take a taxi the few occasions I need. Wouldn't dream of asking for a lift, not even the OH

road fatalities per 100,00 per year:

• UK - 2.9
• New Zealand - 8.5

perhaps it would better better if there were more drivers in New Zealand who chose not to drive, deciding it was "too difficult, can’t learn, being crap at it" and not being too worried if it "just sound stupid."

My parents wouldn't have been able to pay for my lessons and I certainly can't afford to pay over £25 an hour! Is that okay?

I haven't learned and am still undecided as to whether I shall actually bother.

My parents were not interested in forcing me to learn to drive when I didn't want to. They assumed it was something I would do if I ever felt my life would be enhanced by it. So far I haven't had that revelation.

I've visited friends all over the country and abroad without driving and without sponging lifts either.

(missed a zero! That's per 100,000)