Why are there so many scared woman drivers ? Woman up and learn how to drive !

[unfeelingwife]

I've seen so many posts about scared women drivers.

What's that all about ? Why can't women drive confidently ? Is it because men are arseholes on the roads ? I know a few women in real life who won't drive on motorways or when it's dark etc.

Why ?? Why are there fewer men who are scared to drive ? Or is that just in my circle ? I drive everywhere, including long road trips to different countries, with my babies and I'm just not scared. I know women who just refuse to drive and their husbands drive them around....

Ive been in a few accidents, by the way. It hasn't put me off. Everyone is different of course, but is it men who've put women off driving ? With their shouting and insults/ road rage ?

@JustDanceAddict

A lot of my friends are driving wusses as am I! I passed a bit later on (late 20s) and I’d be happy never to drive again if I didn’t have to and it’s a means to an end for me.

Me too, I drive but I don't like it at all. It's boring and stressful and there are so many impatient and aggressive drivers, for instance there are at least 4 junctions in my town where you have to be super aggressive and break the Highway Code to turn right and it's horrible.

I can't wait until driverless cars are the norm.

@ThanksItHasPockets

To address the OP, I know a lot of men of a certain age who will not be driven by their wife (I suspect they find it emasculating) and make snide comments about their wife’s driving. That kind of behaviour erodes and undermines confidence over time.

Judging by this thread, I don't blame them!!

YABU. I am terrified of driving because of other drivers. I have seen too many people drive the wrong way down (in a bus lane) the main road near me. Or bomb down it at a terrifying speed. And pedestrians who just walk out without looking to ensure it's clear first. They genuinely don't seem to care about their own lives or vehicles so why would they care about mine?

@TheLette

YABU. I am terrified of driving because of other drivers. I have seen too many people drive the wrong way down (in a bus lane) the main road near me. Or bomb down it at a terrifying speed. And pedestrians who just walk out without looking to ensure it's clear first. They genuinely don't seem to care about their own lives or vehicles so why would they care about mine?

I live and drive in London, where are you driving?

I can only speak for myself but I’m partially deaf, have an anxiety disorder and get dizzy spells. I think I’m doing everyone a favour by not driving.

@BABAHOTEL in london you're lucky if you can get up to 15 miles an hour anywhere. The main issue is trying to get two cars to squeeze down the same road at the same time. So you can never get to any dangerous speeds. The main issue is not scratching your car when passing other cars and parked cars and also keeping your cool when predominantly male drivers shout at you for being careful about not scratching your car on those ridiculously tight bollards/ parked cars in the middle of the road everywhere.

@OnaBegonia - I’m a “nervy driver”. I’m autistic and have dyspraxia. Does that mean I should “stay off the road”?

Also you wouldn’t know either of these by looking at me, or unless you knew me very well, but you’d be free to judge away if my husband came to pick me up at night because I prefer not to drive when it’s dark

@ThanksItHasPockets Christ alive good spot! I meant machismo.
Silly autocorrect...I don't think anybody wants to think about driving in the bedroom

[quote unfeelingwife]@BABAHOTEL in london you're lucky if you can get up to 15 miles an hour anywhere. The main issue is trying to get two cars to squeeze down the same road at the same time. So you can never get to any dangerous speeds. The main issue is not scratching your car when passing other cars and parked cars and also keeping your cool when predominantly male drivers shout at you for being careful about not scratching your car on those ridiculously tight bollards/ parked cars in the middle of the road everywhere. [/quote]
Agree with everything up until the male driver bit.

You keep using the trite 'super pathetic'
Stop right there.

I haven't driven on a motorway for over twenty years. This came after driving from Birmingham to London every week for about a year.
I can't explain it. I can't even do dual carriageways anymore. Again , I can't explain it.

Please stop judging... I bet there are perfectly ordinary things that you can't bear to do that other people would judge you as being 'super pathetic!'

(And I’ve never had an accident. I’m a very careful driver, I don’t drive “too slowly ” and I passed my test first time. I just feel overwhelmed and anxious at night or when driving new routes. It doesn’t mean I shouldn’t be allowed a driving licence)

@ButtockUp

You keep using the trite 'super pathetic' Stop right there.

I haven't driven on a motorway for over twenty years. This came after driving from Birmingham to London every week for about a year.
I can't explain it. I can't even do dual carriageways anymore. Again , I can't explain it.

Please stop judging... I bet there are perfectly ordinary things that you can't bear to do that other people would judge you as being 'super pathetic!'

I already said a million times that I'm sure there are so many things I do and don't do that people think are super pathetic. Such is life ! But I try not to get touchy about things. I can't be good at everything and I can't please everyone. Not everyone will like what I say/ think and how I live my life. Case and point the many commenters calling me an arsehole etc on here. That's not a problem for me.

I'm so pathetic about spiders, I already mentioned that. I'm also pathetic in so many aspects and have been judged as such on here before. People just can't be 100 percent understanding at all times I think and sometimes things others do are strange to us and we do judge. The not driving thing because you're scared you've offended someone or are seen as less than perfect, I find very odd. If you're genuinely disabled or can't see and have an actual phobia, that's different isn't it. If you're afraid of bad judgement of others, then I think it's pathetic not to drive for that reason. I'm entitled to my opinion. You're entitled to think my opinion and I are also pathetic.

@Custardtartandcoffee

(And I’ve never had an accident. I’m a very careful driver, I don’t drive “too slowly ” and I passed my test first time. I just feel overwhelmed and anxious at night or when driving new routes. It doesn’t mean I shouldn’t be allowed a driving licence)

I passed my test second time

Can drive in the dark

Can drive on dual carriageways

Can drive on motorways

Can drive to places I've never been before

So you passing first time, does not make you a better or more competent driver!

An awful lot of women seem unwilling to put themselves in a slightly uncomfortable situation. I despair when I hear 'I'll drive on roads I know' because a road is a road, and the skill on driving on them is the same. I know one person who will happily drive on certain local motorways, but not on others in a different part of the country which just seems ridiculous to me

@BABAHOTEL - I never claimed I was a better or more competent driver than anyone else

[quote Custardtartandcoffee]@BABAHOTEL - I never claimed I was a better or more competent driver than anyone else [/quote]
Bit hey "you parsec first time"

You're an incompetent driver, if you can't navigate every situation!

*passed

@PrincessPaws

An awful lot of women seem unwilling to put themselves in a slightly uncomfortable situation. I despair when I hear 'I'll drive on roads I know' because a road is a road, and the skill on driving on them is the same. I know one person who will happily drive on certain local motorways, but not on others in a different part of the country which just seems ridiculous to me

Totally agree!

@Frezia

"I'm not like them other girls. I'm a cool girl." ...

😁😁😁

[quote Custardtartandcoffee]@BABAHOTEL - I never claimed I was a better or more competent driver than anyone else [/quote]
You implied it - why else would you say you're a careful driver and passed your test first time? Passing is somewhat luck.

A license just proves that you passed the test and demonstrated basic control. Doesn't mean you can drive properly. There are a lot of people on the road who shouldn't have a license because they're aggressive, rude, speed monsters who are in danger of killing someone else! Probably more so than people who are too anxious as these will stay off the roads....

I know someone who has never put petrol in her car, relies on her husband to do it 🤷‍♀️

@Nidan2Sandan

I dont think a nervous driver should be on the road, full stop. If you're not capable of jumping in your car and driving anywhere, you shouldn't be driving.

So, whilst I agree with you in so far as I dont understand the level of nerves people have driving and yes, mostly women. I'd be happier if they stayed off the road altogether and let their "man" do the driving if needs be. If they're pootling down a clear 60mph road at 40mph because they're scared , they're a risk.

Equally, speeders and aggressive drivers should also get off the road. Both types of driver are as bad as each other.

Just wondering how you think people should achieve this level of confidence if they aren't allowed on the road? Most people don't walk put of the test centre capable of jumping in their car and driving anywhere do they? It takes time, and practice, and during that time their driving performance might not always be fantastic. I was a perfectly confident driver used to driving long distances on all types of road, right up until the point when a very over confident young man going the opposite way took a bend in the road too quickly, ended up on my side of the road and hit me head on. I bet he thought he was a great driver who could drive anywhere with ease. Confidence doesn't ensure competence. It has taken me a long time to drive again, even after my physical injuries had healed sufficiently. But pathetic though it might be, being in a ditch, trapped in my car with multiple injuries through absolutely no fault of my own did put me off driving a teeny bit. Now I'm just back behind the wheel I am hesitant at times, and I do drive below the speed limit quite often. I had refresher lessons which helped a lot, and I didn't drive alone until my instructor thought I was ready. But the only way I am ever going to fully regain confidence is by driving more. And whilst that is happening I'll probably annoy people like you. But sorry, getting my life back together is more important to me than causing minor inconvenience to other drivers for a few months and I have no intention of staying off the roads because I'm not brimming with confidence. Not that I am suggesting every nervous driver is in the same position, but you just don't know the reason, and you never know, it might be you one day.

@Nidan2Sandan can you please explain how slow driving is still considered a risk when cyclists are allowed on the same roads?
Don't quite understand.

Of course on a motorway and places where cyclists aren't allowed fair enough. But articles about the risks of slow driving speak about rear ending slow cars, overtaking and road rage. Yet somehow none of this applies when it's a cyclist instead of another car? You're supposed to give the same overtaking distance

@AgeingDoc I definitely think you should be on the road and I applaud you for getting back out there and trying to overcome your fears.

A lot of drivers are vile unfortunately and act like unhinged idiots on the road and there's no excuse for it. This is what puts a lot of people off driving.

Take your time and practice and ignore the idiots as best as you can.

Also I find it idiotic that 'other drivers' road rage' is one of the risks of slow driving.
IF people can't control their emotions when in charge of a 100 tonne hunk of metal they should not be on the road!