Can’t drive vs don’t drive

[Peashoots]

Why do people say they “don’t drive”, when they can’t drive? I can’t play the cello or ballet dance, I would say “I can’t play the cello” not “I don’t play the cello” or “I can’t ballet dance” not “I don’t ballet dance”. I think every person I know IRL who can’t drive says “I don’t drive”. Im not talking about people who have a licence but choose not to drive, btw. Anyone else notice this? Doesn’t particularly bother me, just an observation!

Perhaps they think they could drive if they took lessons

I would say I don't play the cello. Because let's face it, I could pick up a cello and play it, it would just sound shit.

I guess because the opposite also applies. Most drivers say "I drive" not "I can drive".

I can't drive. Due to spacial awareness being nonexistent. (Never taken a single lesson as im terrified ill crash)
I even took out insurance on my mobility scooter just in case I crashed it into anyone.
I've never said, nor heard, anyone saying that they DONT drive, only that they CANT drive.

I’m embarrassed I can’t drive at my age frankly, despite taking lessons several, indeed, many, times throughout my life. I have never passed my test.

I think saying ‘I don’t drive’ makes you sound less of a loser than ‘I can’t drive’. But I do say ‘I can’t drive/have never passed my test’ some variation of that. I mean I can drive, I could get in a car and operate it if my life depended on it, I just wouldn’t be super-good at it.

I think a lot of people feel a bit embarrassed that they can't drive so they say don't so it appears "not as bad"
I passed a year ago at 41 it took me 20 years to get my arse into gear.

I choose not to drive (environmental reasons). Saying “I can’t drive” sounds to me as though I would if I could. I wouldn’t, so I say “I don’t drive” instead.

(I’d also say “I don’t play the cello”)

I say that I don't drive because it's true. I can drive (passed my test) but I've never driven since.

Oh sorry, I see you said that!

@mowly77 how old are you if you don't mind me asking? I passed at 41 like I said upthread and honestly it can be done

Not quite the point but while we are still early in the thread, why do people on here look down on people who don't /can't drive when it's so expensive and dangerous in the wrong hands ? I don't get it.

I can’t and don’t drive but I can play the cello (and do).

Ha! Fair enough.

It’s a shame people feel that way. Well done for passing your test 😊

You legally can't, but you physically probably could. So you probably can.thats why you say you don't.

If the apocalypse came and I needed to drive, I could. Even though I 'don't'.

This makes a lot of sense

Totally agree with Op. I always find it irritating when people say they “don’t” drive. Petty I know, but there you go

I can’t speak for anyone else, but I genuinely don’t. I wish I relied less on my car, especially given the increasing cost of running it, but it’s essential for work.

See, before I took lessons, I genuinely honestly wouldn’t have been able to operate a car at all. Maybe an automatic (to a point) but definitely not manual. I’d never sat behind the wheel until my first lesson, it took me time to get to grips with literally operating and controlling a car.

I know someone who passed a test but chooses not to drive so she says 'I don't drive'.

I suppose it could be argued that 'don't' and 'can't' are two different things.

'Don't ' being like the example above and 'can't' being more that someone has tried - had lessons but literally 'can't' pick it up. My mum's brother is in the can't camp - he had lessons when younger but would close his eyes every time there was oncoming traffic 😲 several instructors tried apparently but none managed to teach him!

I suppose because a lot of people do know how to drive in theory, so technically could. But they don’t have a license. So they don’t.

I don't have a problem with this, but what I do find massively annoying is people who say, "yeah I can drive . Haven't passed my test but I can drive"
So why don't you take a driving test then, since you can drive?😡😡

Yeah, I did specify in the OP that I was referring to o my people who don’t hold a licence and cannot drive, not people who have a driving licence but choose not to use a car.

Oh I agree with this 🙄