To ask how driving changed your life?

[NotSure1542]

I am currently in the process of learning to drive with great difficulty. I really dislike learning to drive (my instructor is fab, just dread lessons). I’ve failed about four times now and it just gets more heartbreaking each time the examiner tells me I’ve failed. It really is soul destroying (for me, anyway). I live somewhere with very good public transport and my husband drives me around if needs be.

I would love to hear stories about how driving changed your life despite hating learning to drive and failing loads! Thanks

I hated every second of learning to drive but I'm glad my dad made me do it because I am very glad I can drive!

I failed five times too, took me twenty years of trying on and off. Within a couple of weeks of passing my test I got a new job that doubled my salary, it’s a 30 minutes drive away, but on public transport would have been two buses and a thirty minute walk.

We’ve just got back from a holiday in Cornwall, and DH hurt his knee. No problem, I just took over the driving. That would have been a disaster if I couldn’t drive.

I took a long time to learn how to drive. I didn't think I would ever be someone who like driving and wasn't stressed out by it.

However once I passed and got driving more then the stress slowly faded away. I never thought I would be someone who would do big drives to Scotland from the South but now I drive all over the place without even thinking about it.

Passing my driving test opened up my world. It allowed me to take a job that would have been out of reach on public transport, that job lead to another that I moved several hours away for (without too much worry). My partner lived a distance away and driving meant we not only were able to meet, but maintain a relationship before finally moving again. Every job I've had since has been mostly made possible by driving.

Its probably the thing that's made the biggest difference in my life

As I sat in traffic for over a hour on the M6 yesterday (thanks bridge repairs!) I was still so happy I can drive and passed my test. I didn't pass til mid 40s, and 5 years on I can honestly say it's one of the best things I've ever done.

The freedom, the independence, not being beholden to others for lifts or reliant on public transport. The only regret I have is not doing it 20 years earlier.

Oh and I passed 6th time (3 tests in 1990 when I was 17/18, and then 3 in 2016). Once you've passed no one cares how many tests it took!

I hated learning to drive but pushed through it, passed on 4th time around. I love my car and the freedom it gives me. I love going to work and singing my head off in the car, getting some alone time.

If I hadn't learned I wouldn't have been able to drive my partner for daily radiotherapy I the city, god it was scary but I did it. Now I am happy to drive all over the UK with the satnav of course.

It just makes life easier

Good luck. I love driving from the moment I could and found it very easy and passed first time so I'm afraid a little bit different to you, but it was just liberating. I still love driving and enjoy it practically every time I get in the car. I grew up in the middle of Devon so learning to drive gave me so much freedom and I could go anywhere. It did change a lot of things for me and I would recommend it to anyone.

Took me 7 attempts! It was really just nerves on the day as I always failed for something different. Driving well over 25 years now and have had various jobs that I couldn't have taken if I couldn't drive, and I wouldn't have moved to the area I am in now if I couldn't as the local public transport isn't great. I wouldn't be without it now; it makes ferrying my child to various clubs so much easier too. Keep going, you will get there. If I can, anyone can.

@DinosaurDiana

Keep going. I passed on my fifth attempt. It wasn’t my driving that was the problem, it was my nerves on test day. Don’t give up, you’ll get there.

Same Same Same

The thing that surprised me was the sense of freedom and enjoyment I felt the first time I drove alone. It was a completely different drivng experience.

Good luck OP

Took me 5 times to pass. I didn't think it would ever happen! I was not confident and very aware I could cause an accident/ kill someone which made me nervous and hesitant. My parents really pushed me to learn and I'm glad they did.

I've now been driving 20 years and am confident, have driven on London and other big cities no problem.

It has opened up opportunities for me. I couldn't have had my career without driving as it requires transport in the middle of the night. Total game changer with kids too.

It took me 3 attempts and I was 25 when I passed. It's the freedom. I have so many options on where I can go rather than planning out transport routes. I'm also taking us in a UK holiday this year (we've done this the last 2 years as well).

It meant freedom and independence for me as I grew up in the country.

I spent nearly 10 years in London, had a car the last 4 years but drove about 4 times a year.

Moved out of London, drive loads again and bloody love it!

Freedom and flexibility as others have said.

I learnt at 17 (still failed 3 times though!) but for me it was not having to get lifts from my parents.

Needing lifts from anyone is a bit humiliating tbh

I live in a really shitty part of the north west with terrible public transport and nothing to do for miles and miles around (at least things that haven’t already been done a million times already!) so I needed to drive for my own mental health as I was dying inside! Driving has given me so much freedom and we all have a much better life for it.

I hated learning to drive though. I had some terrible instructors though (had one who gave no instruction, another who gave too much and barely let me drive and then one who would grab the wheel for no reason and then apologise later for it! That one totally ruined my confidence and I stopped driving for a year) and I just could not get my head around manual driving. I could drive a manual but never to the point I felt I could pass a test. I switched to an automatic and passed 1st time (and finally got a decent instructor!). I think switching to auto was the best thing I ever did. Some people just aren’t meant for manual driving and dealing with that extra peddle, I was one of them!

Last summer back from uni before full time work (term time, live in job). Abusive childhood home, was trying to keep the peace. Day of job starting, got into my banger car which i had worked like crazy during my final year to afford the insurance on. Drove away from my abuser forever, I could go anywhere in the country, work anywhere, settle anywhere, could drive for work if I had to. The look on their face at the window, I’ll never forget.

Learning how to drive was horrible horrible horrible. There’s always someone else whose done it in in twenty lessons, passed with one minor! I won’t say how long it took me 😂 But I am bloody proud of myself and you will be of yourself too!!

I passed 5th time..I love the freedom, and feel.it buys me time compared to using public transport

It changed my life as I wasnt reliant on my OH to take me anywhere. Public transport non existent. I could get various jobs that I wouldnt have been able to get to otherwise.Also when he died I wasnt totally stuck as my friend now is because she never learnt and as shes nearly 80 wont learn now. Best thing I ever did

Is it nerves affecting your driving in the test?

I was SO nervous, failed 3 times, out of desperation got a hypnosis CD specifically for driving tests (this was over 10 years ago!)
Passed the next test after listening once, gave it to a friend who had failed 7 times due to nerves and she also passed after listening to it once.
Something similar might be worth trying.

I’m still learning but so far

-not having to rely on anyone
-independence
-freedom
-cheaper living (yes really) I keep missing out in some absolute steals and great stuff because I don’t have transport
-wider job opportunities

I absolutely HATED learning to drive. Everything about it. I hated the overwhelming anxiety I'd get before and during every lesson. It used to make me physically sick.
My driving test was so scary, probably the most anxious I've ever been in my whole life!

But I am SO glad I stuck to it and I can honestly say it's changed my life in so many ways. I wish I did it before I had kids. DS was 4.5 months old when I started. I did 4 hours or more each week (2 x 2hr lessons) and he was 6 months when I passed.

It's made childcare options much greater.
Flexibility with work e.g overtime shifts (like you my partner used to drive me around and his working hours differed greatly to mine)
It gave me so much freedom. To go anywhere at anytime I want... no relying on public transport timetables etc.

Please see it though. I've never met anyone who regrets learning to drive. Good luck!

I hate driving but it was essential for me to learn cos my job moved somewhere not accessible by public transport.
I still hate driving, but it means I can visit my mum in the nursing home, means if I need to do a big shop (I rarely do this as I normally walk everywhere) I can just fit it all in the car.
I am still driving to work
I do not drive much other then to work really but it gives you options.
So a few years ago I was having to make daily trips to the hospital cos my dad was dying. I was also working full time. Having the car meant I could drive up there of the evening and stay as long as I needed to.
I have real trouble with new routes etc but I am going to try and learn to do the longish drive to a relatives house maybe (1.5hrs) because the train is long and expensive and people have to pick me up/drop me off so if I can get that down I will happy
Like I say it gives you options I really recommend you stick with it 🙂
I have an automatic licence (I could not drive manual) I can recommend it if you are having issues if you doing manual it made it much safer for me 👍

I HATED learning to drive as well, and took 5 attempts to pass. Even when I did eventually pass, I didn't really enjoy driving until I got a sat-nav.

Driving is completely life-changing in terms of independence.

I wouildn't have met my DH of 30 years if I hadn't learned to drive. I met him when I joined a choir. I wouldn't have been able to get to the rehearsal venue without a car!

I got fat!!

I failed my test 5 times when I was 17/18 so I gave up. I took more lessons and passed when I was 30 (needed to drive for new job). I got lazy and piled on weight... I put about 4 stone on over about 5 years.. just crept up as am nowhere near as active now. I no longer walk the short distance to the local shops, walk to meet friends, walk to the bus stop etc. All totally my fault but driving definitely made me lazy.

However I do love the freedom of being able to go wherever I want whenever I want.

I also took five goes to pass and feel so much more confident driving an automatic and having sat nav.