Am I too fat to learn to drive?

[ElTortilla]

I'm 24 stone and a size 26.

I would love to learn to drive but I'm scared I'm going to not be able to fasten the belt or that my belly won't fit in front of the steering wheel.

Has anyone else been this overweight and taken lessons?

I don't think that size and weight are particularly good indicators since every person will carry the weight differently. Do you have any friends/family with a car so that you can see how comfortable you may feel in the driver's seat?

I would try a car and see, but I'm sure I've seen bigger people than you driving! How do you find seatbelts as a passenger?

I’d recommend learning in a specific car ie your own. You can pick it to ensure it’s comfortable for you, and properly adjust the seat, steering wheel etc. if you were to learn in an instructors car you may struggle to do it properly in a rush when you first get in and be uncomfortable.

I think the issue is more about length of your arms and legs tbh. You can push the seat back to get behind the wheel but if it's too far for your arms and legs to reach the wheel and pedals it will obviously be a problem. I second the advice to try out in a friend's car.

The only issue is if you can't reach the pedals etc when you have altered the seat and or the steering wheel to make yourself comfortable.

Try and sit in someone else's car to see how you feel.

I had exactly the same worries as you but it was ok. I think you will be fine.

Don't try learning in your own car OP, an instructor will want to have dual controls so that they can brake for you if you panic and forget.

I'd suggest ringing an instructor and telling them your concerns, I'm sure they will have taught big people before, and may well offer to come to your house for you to try their car to see if it's suitable for you, but please don't rule it out, because you think you're too big, as being able to drive can really change your life.

Find a teacher with a bigger car. Debbie and her Fiat 500 wouldnt work but some have Audi A3s or Merc A Classes.

I'm similar size/stats as you and I've never had an issue driving. I've driven very small cars and very big cars/minibuses and my size has never crossed my mind. Even at 9 months pregnant (with large bump) it didn't inhibit my ability to drive and I've never had any hint of a seatbelt not fitting. I did struggle with getting in and out of cars when pregnant, but that was due to the pregnancy and lack of flexibility/pelvic pain and to be honest getting in and out of bed was just as bad if not worse.

If you want to learn to drive, go for it!

@ElTortilla

you'll be fine. Just ring around driving instructors & ask what make & model they use. Explain your worries & theyll help. Anyone who isn't very nice isn't someone you want teaching you anyway.

initially most instructors these days will want to use a dual control car, but you should soon progress to them being comfortable with you using a normal car (then you can use whatever is comfortable for you!!)

Im big now too & I understand the worry over these things x

I don't see why it would be a problem.. You could probably reassure yourself by sitting in the driving seat of a car and fastening the belt.

When people say that you need to be able to “reach the pedals”, they don’t mean to touch them but that you need to be able to depress the clutch (left pedal) all the way to the floor - and be able to move your feet across from the accelerator to the brake + clutch quickly as this is what you'd need to do to carry out an emergency stop.

If you can’t do these comfortably, try an automatic car, which only has an accelerator and brake, rather than give up.