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!

I realise some senior citizens have driving licenses but did not pass their test because driving tests only became a legal requirement in 1935.

Can't be many of them left.

The long winter evenings must just fly by at your house.

Please point out a single goady comment or anything I’ve said that’s been a dog at anyone else. You’re being very silly.

They really do. Laugh a minute.

There's been a long thread this afternoon, where the OP does drive, despite it being clear to all other posters that she can't drive safely as her knowledge of the Highway Code is lacking in several areas.

Oh, I hadn’t seen it. This thread is genuinely unrelated.

Probably because those of us who choose not to drive are so tired of assumptions that we're CFs or not proper adults that we get twitchy at the merest mention of the subject.

Well that’s a shame.

Testing was also suspended during WWII and in 1956. The Queen learned to drive during WWII and she occasionally is seen at the wheel of a Land Rover. She of course doesn't need a licence at all.

This. I don't drive and most likely, shouldn't.

I often come across other people who shouldn't drive, yet they bloody well do.

For me I believe it's a case of people saying 'don't drive' because unless they actually CAN'T (i.e for medical reasons) then they could, they just don't?

Almost anyone could jump in a car in an empty field and drive the thing. I mean, an automatic is basically a big go-kart. The 'learning to drive' part is about learning how to drive safely and within the law of the land.

I don't cut my own hair. I don't paint. I don't fish. I don't shoot. I don't put up shelves. But I definitely could do all of them if I read up on how to do it beforehand (or watched some youtube videos?) and I didn't care much about the outcome or the law. Shooting is probably the best example i.e if safety and the law wasn't a factor, anyone can shoot a bow or a gun. They just don't.

I do drive and do all of those things mentioned above btw, but if I didn't I would say I don't, not that I can't!

Can't is surely reserved for things you actually cannot do, and not because we've decided only certain people can do so legally only when they've reached a certain standard.

English is my second language, I’ve noticed that people use “I don’t drive” so I use it as well. And the question is usually “Do you drive?” rather then “Can you drive? “
However I always suspected that whatever your answer was people would feel negatively towards you: you said I don’t drive instead or can’t drive, or you made a point on environmental aspects, or you showed that you’re less capable/ skilled/ practically useless/ stupid not to understand the importance of driving etc . It’s such a minefield that I prefer to avoid any conversations in this direction. I would rather talk about my political views.

By the way “can’t drive” feels for me a bit like you can not do this physically even if you’d have plenty of lessons.

Exactly, not everybody can be good at everything. I'm sure there are things they can't do.

Interesting.
not the original point of the thread, but since it’s came up a lot…
I wonder if the perceived negativity towards non drivers is based where you live?
as I’ve said, I don’t care if anyone drives. Don’t think of them in a negative or positive way, it’s just another fact about them. Like I mentioned, my brother has chose not to learn to drive for similar reasons to many in this thread. But we live in a large city with decent public transport pretty much 24/7. It’s not often that anyone needs a lift (I genuinely don’t mind giving lifts to friends anyway), but perhaps this is why I don’t see it as an issue 🤷🏼‍♀️

Yes and there are alot of people who passed a test but don't drive well and don't know their Highway code.

Well, I absolutely agree. I can’t play the cello and I can’t ballet dance 😁

I've seen it for other things besides driving- 'I don't knit'; 'I don't dance'.

Interesting. I really don’t think I have. Regional maybe? 🤷🏼‍♀️

Have you not seen the regular threads that come up here about non drivers? People lose their shit and make all sorts of horrible assumptions about people who can't/don't drive.