Are you scared of driving / avoid it ?

[fussytodd]

I've met a lot of women recently who don't like driving and are afraid to, especially not with their kids in the car.

Is that quite common ?

I hate driving.

I am frightened changing lanes and merging

@fussytodd

To the posters saying they're anxious in cities, eg London. Is it because you're worried you'll get stuck in the wrong lane at a roundabout and won't be able to switch lanes ? Or get shouted at if you make a ' mistake ' - like being in the wrong lane and then needing to indicate and wait for someone to let you through ?

I drive in central london a lot and I get called nasty names a lot by aggressive men. I think that kind of thing puts some women off.

It's hard to say. Basically many cities like Stoke on Trent, Wolverhampton, Birmingham, Leicester (and the ones I have driven round a few times and HATED driving round,) seem very busy, and have awkward/weird road systems.

Lots of one-way systems, and points where you have a distance of 6 or 7 car lengths to whizz across 2 or 3 lanes to get to the road you need to be on. Even DH dislikes driving around these places, and he is a more confident driver than me.

I hate driving. I do it out of necessity and drive to work etc, but if I can walk anywhere I will walk. I walk to shop to gym to friends etc never drive unless I have to (which is 6 days a week anyway with work and seeing my mum)

I love driving and I'm not worried about busy roads or new places. I learned to drive in my native Netherlands, drove all over Europe including the Peripherique in the rush hour and now live in the UK. If I'm going into strange territory I operate on the principle that if I'm in the wrong lane or miss a turn, I'll work my way back and start over. Having that in the back of my mind takes the stress out of it.

I hate pushy aggressive drivers, but equally I hate timid, indecisive drivers - they're both hazards on the road.

I don't enjoy driving, it's a means to and end for me. I'm happy in most road situations, motorways don't bother me at all. Get a bit anxious in unfamiliar cities but allowing plenty of time and looking up my route beforehand helps a lot. I'll never love driving, but I'm not scared of it.

I was never interested in learning to drive when I was younger even though my mum kept offering to buy me driving lessons. When I was 19 a colleague died in a car accident and after that I became a nervous passenger and definitely didn't want t9 learn. I then changed my mind after a few years and passed my test last year but it took me a long time as I was so anxious and had no confidence. Now I enjoy driving but I still haven't plucked up the courage to go on the motorway which really frustrates me because I didn't spend all that money learning to drive just to stay local. I can get a bit nervous going new places but nowhere near what I imagined I'd be like. I just wish I could have the confidence to go on the motorway but I'm too nervous and I wouldn't risk it as I could end up being a hazard.

I love driving, and have driven all over Europe several times. Other people's driving passes me off, especially tailgaters when I am driving at the correct speed limit and can't actually move anywhere.

It's actually DH that has become the anxious driver now. Since he was shielding during Lockdown, he didn't drive for months and I don't think that helped at all, so if we go anywhere, I drive. He only drives locally. He is getting a new car, wtf for I dunno.🙄

Im terrified of driving.

I refuse to drive on motorways.

Had a lorry crash into me as a teen and drag us across the motorway the driver didn't relieze for a entire minute because he was on his phone when they slowed down it spun us into 5 other cars.

I hate motorways with a passion,

I only drive in my city and surrounding area. Terrified of motorways (changing lanes) and going to new places so I don’t do it.

I passed my test when I was 18 and then didn’t drive for 10 years so I think the fear grew then. I only started driving out of necessity- had new job in rural area.

I do rely a lot on my DH which frustrates makes me feel very pathetic! I also avoid driving in the dark if I can help it too - I feel I can’t see properly with all the headlights.

I love driving. Am apparently very good at it too.

I find it relaxing and am happy to drive anywhere.

Doesn't bother me in the slightest.

I have a short attention span and seem to get flustered easily so I don't trust myself to drive. I don't want to be the reason someone gets hurt.

I’m scared of cars in general tbh. The thought of getting into a little metal box and zooming along in close proximity to lots of other little metal boxes driven by random people is terrifying to me. Where I live (south London) a lot of drivers are very aggressive and/or have a death wish. I did learn and passed my test at 18 but never drove much and after a friend of mine was killed in a crash I really lost my nerve. Haven’t been behind the wheel in at least 15 years. It only hampers us on holidays when being able to drive would open up more opportunities (DH is excluded medically) but we manage fine except for the constant nagging comments from relatives who think we aren’t proper adults/parents for not driving the DC around

@PivotPivotPivottt, why don't you book a motorway lesson? Most driving instructors offer this. I remember being nervous of motorways after I first passed ( yonks ago now), and it really helped my confidence. After a couple, I went on our local one at a quiet time and it was absolutely fine.

“To the posters saying they're anxious in cities, eg London. Is it because you're worried you'll get stuck in the wrong lane at a roundabout and won't be able to switch lanes ? Or get shouted at if you make a ' mistake ' - like being in the wrong lane and then needing to indicate and wait for someone to let you through ?”

Neither. Getting stuck in a lane isn’t a disaster I just turn round when I can/push over. I just find the intensity and relentlessness of it very hard work and am worried I’ll accidentally miss a sign or turning (while concentrating on traffic, speed, finding where I’m going etc) and end up in a bus lane/special zone/wrong way up a one way system etc. It is easier now that I have a sat nav and I can google map and even street view stuff ahead of time. But mostly in central London or other big cities I’d rather use public transport.

I drive but only locally. I don't enjoy driving and have a lot of anxiety around it. I often get comments as I won't drive on the motorway or long distance for work etc and it does old me back. Lockdown didn't help as I didn't drive for months

Without wishing to sound big headed, other drivers' incompetence is a factor in my driving anxiety. The amount of times I've had to pull up sharp to avoid someone who's sailed over the mini roundabout nearest to my house at 30mph without so much as a glance to their right is enough to give anyone the heebeejeebies.

I have never been frightened of driving. Too many hesitant drivers cause accidents.

Fuck no. I love it.

[quote Pugdogmom]@PivotPivotPivottt, why don't you book a motorway lesson? Most driving instructors offer this. I remember being nervous of motorways after I first passed ( yonks ago now), and it really helped my confidence. After a couple, I went on our local one at a quiet time and it was absolutely fine.[/quote]
I have been thinking about it and also my step dad has offered to take me out on the motorway as well. I just need to bite the bullet and go for it. I'm glad it helped you I hope I can look back in a few years time and think what was I ever worried about.

I don't drive and never will. The thought terrifies me and I know for a fact I would be shit at it. I find things hard that other people can do easily and driving would fall into that category.

I hate driving. I didn't pass my test till I was 30 and I forced myself to do it because I knew it would make life easier with kids. Ironically I got a job where I have to drive a van. Weirdly I'm fine driving my van but it seems when I'm in my own car outside my town I just get so stressed!

I love the freedom that driving gives you, I don't like it if DH is in the car being an arse I've had to have words with him he's a terrible back seat driver. He also likes to remind me I've had more accidents but then I drive way more than he does always have so of course statistically I'll have had more accidents. This is one annoying feature so I'll keep him for the moment 😉

I do find when he's raising my anxiety levels then I do make more mistakes and become more flustered, so have drawn a line in the sand with him in regards to that behaviour.

I've driven in Florida, Spain, Italy (that was fun just adopt the attitude of fuck it there are no rules) France, Cyprus (on mountain roads).
I regularly drive to a particular work site and back in one day which is about 3 hours each way.

Manchester was fun recently my sat nav wasn't recognising closed roads.

Oh and I've driven a hearse, a limousine, various vans, a horsebox, a trailer horsebox

I don't mind driving but I am happy to avoid motorways wherever possible. I rarely need to use one these days so it's not a major issue for me. I am however, a much more confident driver when I'm driving alone.

When we go out DH drives there and I tend to drive back as I don't drink. I'm always happy to be a passenger though as I can have a snooze.