To ask how did driving change your life?

[Ticketsto]

Not really an AIBU just looking for encouragement/positive stories.

I’ve been putting off driving lessons for years. I’m such an anxious person! Getting the bus to work this morning instead of the train (due to industrial actions) made my journey so much longer and it’s made me think perhaps it’s time to reconsider… I don’t have children currently and DH can drive however we both work full time so I don’t rely on him for lifts

How has passing your test changed your life? Has it changed it positively? Thanks

I really do recommend driving!

I didn’t see the point in driving for years - I was working at the time with my dad who drove me in everyday, I saw it as a waste of money and had anxiety about driving myself.

I got to a point where I wanted to look for another job, move in with my partner in another town and was sick of asking others for lifts.

It took me 3 attempts to pass my test and I had a break in between due to anxiety but honestly it was one of the best things I did and I can’t believe I didn’t do it earlier!

The anxiety was hard, I used to get palpitations as my driving instructor pulled up at my house but now I’ve been driving 4 years and was so glad I pushed through!

Freedom! I learnt and passed quite quickly, and already had a 6 month old at the time. Now I can go out whenever I want, don't have to walk in snow and rain to get emergency food shop etc. I can take the kids out when I want, drive to DH's work to suprise him etc. It saves so much time, I don't have to worry about allotting time to walk places etc. And DH doesn't have to do all the driving when we all go out.

Passed at 34 and it really did change my life - I can't believe I waited so long. So many opportunities + adventures gained and had by being able to drive

Freedom, job opportunities etc. I passed while at uni. After uni ended up straight into a job which needed driving licence, as has pretty much every job I've had since. Honestly unless someone is medically unable, or lives right in the centre of a very large city, I've never really understood why anyone wouldn't! But then I've always been very driven (haha) and hate being reliant on others.
I also get horrifically motion sick (especially on buses), which is very unusual when you're the one driving. Now vital for transporting my kids about, and we live in a village (bigger house, more green space) - these 2 aren't really compatible unless you have a car or are willing to spend hours on public transport with multiple changes. Plus things like garden centre trips etc, chuck it all in the car and good to go!

As others have said … freedom
We have recently retired and downsized ( but still live in the same rural village )
one of the things we considered was going down to one car , but as my 10 year old car passed its MOT , we kept it and I’m so relieved
I don’t really like driving , DH drives all the long journeys , but I’m not ready to give up my independence quite yet

I passed my test at 40, for no other reason than I was sick of being at everyone else's mercy when it came to gigs and the like. I don't need it for work (I've always worked from home).

While it's definitely more convenient for day-to-day stuff, it turns out that I really enjoy driving and car maintenance - I pretty much turned into a petrolhead overnight. For me, driving on quiet back roads is the only guaranteed way to clear my head.

In many parts of the country you simply cannot function if you are reliant on public transport. I used to happily use trains and buses but the trains in my area have been diabolical in recent years (long before the strikes) and our buses are regularly being cancelled due to driver shortages. I could not hold down a job in the town five miles up the road without a car. It's bloody depressing but hardly surprising under the Tories. I'd love to see public transport back in public hands!!!

Yes. I passed my test when I was 18, but I didn't have my car and my dad was shouting at me while I was driving his, so it put me off for years. My husband knew how low it made me feel that I was lacking independence. Always relied on his lifts or public transport. Then one day he bought me some extra lessons, and I never looked back. It was the best thing I did. Today I had to drive him to a&e. It wouldn't be possible to catch uber where we live. He woke me up, I put my shoes on and just drove him to hospital without asking anyone for favour or trying to catch a cab. Driving really pays off.

I passed 9 years ago in my 30s.
It’s quicker and easier to get to places. Useful for driving dc to activities/parties etc. Useful for big shops/ikea…

However I still really dislike driving. When I first passed I made myself drive into the nearest city/ to other towns. Now I basically never do that because I’m too anxious. I’m ok driving familiar roads near my house but that’s about it and I’ll avoid certain roads that I know are tight/ difficult to turn out of even if it means going the long way. My partner hasn’t really benefitted because I have a huge fear of driving other people so won’t drive him. Even if for example his car is in the garage and he needs me to take him to pick it up I’ll make him drive my car there with me as a passenger and then drive myself home. We’ve had a few nights out where I’ve been the designated driver but I can’t enjoy the evening at all because I’m too worried about having to drive home. It’s pathetic and unfounded but I can’t get past it.

I’m definitely stunted then!
Never been able to have a child, divorced twice, once because of his infidelity, and the next because he was @ violent, abusive psychopath. I don’t have a car can’t afford one, so effectively can’t drive either!
I do have a pension though😇

OP, do the lessons, take it one step at a time, and don’t put too much pressure on yourself. Learning well is better that learning fast!

DH worked very long hours, so without a car, it was very restricting.

Now we’re retired, we have only one car. I mind not having one a great deal.

When you have small children who are just starting out walking and won’t sit in the pram anymore as much as YOU can walk 30-40 minutes no bother it takes FOREVER with little legs and you need to get back as well, and they need naps and feeding. It just means you can go to so many more things.

I would say I’m glad I didn’t start out my adult life driving though as being good at walking places and getting public transport are also handy skills!

In practical terms I wouldn't be able to do my job without it and it's allowed me to take the DC places I otherwise couldn't.

On a personal level it's one of my achievements I'm most proud of. I'm very qualified and have a fairly successful career but I found driving incredibly hard. I have no natural coordination (especially going backwards) and am incredibly anxious. I usually just avoid things I find so hard but persisted with the driving (it took over a year and my lessons often ended in tears). Now I'm fairly confident and actually enjoy it. It massively boosted my self esteem to know I can persist and get over my anxieties.

Freedom!! No reliance on public transport or other people. Saves time and did I mention freedom

I am also an anxious person. I was far more anxious using pubic transport, wondering if the bus would come on time to go to work, using 2 buses for work, factoring in loads of time to get buses and meet a friend etc.

I learnt at 23. I bought a car as soon as I could drive a small amount. I used my car 5 days a week for years, only taking a week off for summer hols. If you are anxious you need to drive at quiet times at first, drive nearly every day to get used to the car. This is important even if you don't need tp go on an errand as it keeps confience up.

sings George Michael FREEDOM at top of her lungs

I was a similar age. Had lessons at 18 but got nowhere. Passed after 3 moths first time. Kicking my self for not doing it earlier. I really enjoy driving!

I learnt in my 30s.... And passed my test a week before my DH had to have an operation. Cue me ferrying him around to appointments until well enough to drive again, then he ended up having a heart operation so we would have struggled to get to appointments, work for me and school for kids without driving. It just made it all so much simpler than organising bus times and taxis.

What will you lose by giving it a try? When you could gain so much from trying. Even if you decide isn't for you then at least you can say you have tried. X good luck

It means the person you are always getting a lift from gets their freedom back too.

It amazes me how non drivers think nothing of people they put on for lifts, even for simple things like going to the supermarket.

I can't really think how it changed it by learning as I passed my test 25 years ago this week!

But. After my ex and I split I only had the car a couple of days a week, until my parents very generously bought me a little runaround.

I could go for coffee with friends at their houses on my days off.
I took 2 buses to my workplace which is 4 miles away and it took me betwen 40-75 minutes. Now it's 20-30 in rush hour.
I can do the shopping whenever it suits me! I didn't have to fit shopping and volunteer work and other errands into one day.
A couple of weeks ago the rain was torrential. I ran the kids up to school - it's only 5 minutes walk but we got really wet just getting in the car!

It gives you freedom.

Thanks all. You all made valid points about why it’s so important to learn to drive especially if DH falls ill and can’t drive himself (had never thought of that). Also we want to start a family within a year so would be really handy with childcare. I live in the greater area of a city but the public transport here isn’t so great unless you’re going into the city centre.

I applied for my provisional license today and contacted the instructor who my husband passed his test with! Due to start lessons with him in the new year… I’m so nervous but excited and DH is over the moon - promises to help me however he can.

Thanks for the positivity all 😁

I passed my test and funded my first car when I was 18.

Benefits:
You can get a job that involves driving / travelling as part of the role. This has majorly opened up the type of job I can do.
You don’t have to check public transport timetables just to go anywhere. And risk them not turning up.

You’re not relying on other drivers to give you lifts to places. Independence!

You can buy BIG things without having to worry about getting it home. Again, a non-driver would have to rely on a driver to help.

I do still prefer walking places to driving where possible. I do still get public transport regularly as it is often cheaper than petrol & parking charges. But my goodness it is so easy to just get in the car and go somewhere last minute.

Also with the learning to drive part: it is a skill. You will get better with practice but also a positive attitude. I was 17 when I was learning and if I had a bad lesson I would just think of all the people who I knew who could drive and think “If they can do it then so can I”.

I didn't pass until 35. It was such a chore and so expensive to do lessons and I didn't see the point as I had access to public transport and just didn't understand this 'freedom' that people talked about. I just thought well I can walk or get a cab or the train it's fine!

I learnt to drive so that I could do about three journeys a year easier (they were train journeys that involved a couple of changes or meant at Christmas it was always replacement bus service). However - it really is true what everyone says. It's SO MUCH EASIER. Driving is pretty fun, especially if you have an automatic so it's not a stress at junctions! And it's just no stress at all to just jump in the car and go where I want to go rather than plan it out.

My car is my little sanctuary. I NEVER thought I would be bothered about driving but I have gone full circle. Keep at it. I'm

Well everyone is different but I LOVE LOVE LOVE driving!! It's my space to daydream, to listen to the radio, to talk to myself!!! To sing silly Christmas songs!!! To be alone :) ahhhh...it's my heaven and genuinely, my mental health would not be the same without my car. 🚗