Who drives?

[Vroomvroombeepbeep]

Purely out of curiosity...

I was sat in the car with my DD at the services, watching the world go by, when she asked me: "Why is it always the man who drives?".

I looked, and she was right - every car with both men and women in it, a man was at the wheel! I didn't really know what to say to her...

So, when you're in a car with a member of the opposite sex, who's driving and why?

YABU - the woman
YANBU - the man

My DH is a very good and confident driver and he has many years of experience whereas I’m only 2 years in and more anxious so if we are going somewhere together I prefer him to drive.

Generally, when we all go out as a family I drive and my wife is in the passenger seat. We do swap over sometimes - if we're on a particularly long journey (>2 hours, say) then we'll swap when we take a break - but the default situation is for me to be driving.

This is because:
(i) the larger car is the one I drive daily (because I have a longer commute on the motorway and a nice big car park on arrival, while she has a shorter drive and needs to park in tight spaces) and so I'm more confident with the size of the car and the controls (e.g., cruise control etc) which the other smaller car doesn't have;
(ii) I enjoy driving and generally prefer to do something 'interactive' while travelling, while she prefers to relax (and take the occasional nap); and
(iii) I tend to get travel sick if I don't look out of the window constantly, so struggle with other 'in-car' tasks like sending/reading messages, reading about the places we're travelling to/past etc.

Whoever's car it is, I suppose. But in our family car, dh and I can both drive it and, as long as he hasn't been drinking, he drives. I hate driving with passengers. It's not because he's a man. It's just because he's distracting. I hate it when the dc sit in the front seat too (I don't mind them in the back if they're quiet).

If I'm going somewhere with a friend, I also always make up an excuse for some really urgent thing I have to do that means I absolutely cannot also drive them there and they have to drive themselves, just to get out of car sharing with them. I don't like people in my car while I'm driving.

It's my car, I drive it, I enjoy driving it. DH is very happy to be a passenger.

Same here

I'm not usually in the car with anyone other than my husband and he doesn’t drive 😅 rarely I’ll have my dad in the car who does drive but as he’s driven over 200 miles to visit me I’ll do the driving so he gets a break

50/50

Always me. I love driving and the car is mine, no one else is allowed to drive it 😁

Depends. If we are going on a trip as a family my partner drives because we go in his car which is bigger. If we going into town as a couple, then I prefer taking my car as it smaller and I don't let my partner drive my car unless his is in a garage.

DH usually drives as he prefers to. I'll drive if I'm dropping him off or picking him up. Or if he just doesn't feel like driving.

He 100% drives when we're pulling our caravan. I refuse to. Tried once and it's just too long (combined length 52 ft) and trying to maneuver in traffic panicked me.

To balance us, DiL is the main driver for her and DS. He hates driving and she loves it.

Horses for courses.

I drive as I enjoy it (even the M25), he makes me nervous driving ... but also he can work in the car (review and write up information and meetings notes etc) and I can't so it works well for us.

Sorry not rtft, but my DH usually drives long distances because I don't get carsick so I can look up the route, traffic updates etc. DH would vom if he used his phone as a passenger.

Me until I’m too tired. I’m a much better driver than dh, he agrees. He’s so much slower to react and always misses turns, drives me insane. He’d happily drive so it works well but 75% of the time it’s me

He usually drives when we go out locally or to the nearest city. He has a petrol, CAZ compliant car.

Holidays, day trips, the second nearest city with no CAZ I tend to drive as I have a diesel that isn't CAZ exempt but is economical on long journeys.

We're both insured on each other's cars, but both prefer to drive our own if we can help it.

Also, it’s my car

Men are generally better drivers for longer trips, so not surprised of this observation at motorway services. I think for the popping into town type trips women will drive!

I drive, I'm a better driver. He didn't drive for the first 10 years of our relationship so it would be weird to switch. He does occasionally but 99% of the time, it's me.

What a strange thing to say.

I drive 95% of the time, I enjoy driving and I'm a terrible passenger whereas DP finds it boring a loses concentration easily. I also have the better long distance car so we are generally in that when travelling together and although DP is insured i'm an even worse passenger in my own car! I could happily drive 7/8 hours without a second thought although DP does insist on taking over for a bit on longer journeys.

He drives his car. I drive mine. Most of the time we go out in my car. I have a 5 door car. His is only 3 door so it's easier for our family to go in mine as it's roomier than his.
I also do all the motorway driving. I am more confident at driving than him.

I do as DH drives all day for work.. I don't mind,

I don’t like driving, DH likes it. He is a terrible passenger and it makes me even more stressed than I already get when driving. It’s just easier and we’ve fallen into a routine.

We are about 50/50.

DH is better at driving and better with Sat Navs. I prefer him to drive. Part of it is laziness as well.

I think we shared it - one of us drove going, one of us drove back. But on balance he probably drove more. I drove more day to day as ferrying kids around whereas he took the train to work, but I'd say it was a 45/55 split me/him if both in the car.