To be constantly surprised that people 'don't drive'?

[MissEloiseBridgerton]

Every day on here, and on my own social media, I am shocked that soooo many people don't drive. My local FB group is constantly people asking for favours because they don't drive, they want a dump run, or someone to deliver second hand stuff to them. On here, the barriers to work, to childcare, to anything is so often that they don't drive!

For me growing up, learning to drive was just what you did. I don't have any friends who didn't learn to drive at 17. Most had cheap runarounds or borrowed parents car.

I totally understand it's expensive and costly to run a car but I don't think I realised how many people never learned!

I didn't have the money to learn at 17 and parents who didn't care enough to give me the money or teach me.

It can be surprising to realise that many people are and/or disabled.

But you know now.

Like you say OP it is expensive.

Many 16-18 year olds will be working to save for uni, not driving lessons and a car.

Most universities you can’t bring cars/there’s no point, and then by the time they graduate again it’s a money issue for many.

I get you

I didn’t learn until I was 24 but that was due to cost (I paid my own way through uni)

but it’s very prohibiting not to drive (unless you live in the city)

I've started learning and stopped so many times, life keeps getting in the way !!
I don't find it that easy either, manual completely messed my mind up with all the different things to remember, but I am autistic and don't think that helps with my coordination

At 17 I assume your parents paid. Lucky you. I couldn’t afford to learn until I was 35, when I’d moved from a city with good public transport to a more rural area where you really do need a car. We’re looking at lessons for ds and it’s coming at nearly £35 an hour. That’s a huge expense

Same here 😞 Just another thing on a long list of things that you can live without but many others take for granted like braces, haircuts, eye tests, being taken to do sports and so on. I could list more but it's too upsetting for this time in the morning.

£60 an hour here !!

People don’t drive for a multitude of reasons, none of which anyone has to justify to you and which are none of your business.

I’m always surprised at this too. For me it’s a normal and natural step to growing up and increasing independence. Lessons are expensive but a very worthy investment, even if you can’t afford to run a car.

I can drive but rarely do. Not a necessity for where I live and what I do. If I was starting now I would think again about learning as it's not a necessity for my life and public transport here is fit for my purposes. Appreciate that's not a universal situation.

That is cheap the average here in the NW for a good ADI is £45 an hour. Autos £50 an hour.

It depends where they lived. I have a license but don’t (and probably could not) drive.

But I have never needed. I have always lived in big cities with advanced public transport systems so never prioritised saving for a car.

I did save and pay for my own lessons at 25. Passed my test and then never for behind the wheel of a car again. But I have friends in their 40s / 50s who never learned to drive and in her 60s my mother never has.

Oh, I'm so pleased to learn it's a worthy investment; I'll dm my bank details. Thanks ever so much 😊

There was no way I could have afforded to learn to drive, then buy a car and keep it on the road at 17. My dad was in no position to help out (my mum had long gone).
I grew up in a very rural area, even so it was only the likes of farmer's daughters and sons who were on the road.
I ended up learning aged 30 when we were starting a family.

Is the only way to learn via lessons in the UK?
In Australia: I had about three lessons (maybe $100 total) then just drove with parents as supervising drivers between 16-18 before going for my license test.

Some parents simply can't afford to - doesn't mean they don't care 🙄

Yes but having lived in Australia and seen the quality of driving there….I prefer the UK method! 😂

Not learning to drive is fine in itself. I know people who don’t drive and are completely self sufficient, they’ll get the tube, cycle or walk. I also know people who don’t drive but are constantly asking for lifts or driving ‘favours’ and almost expect drivers to help out at their whim. So not driving isn’t the issue, but feeling entitled to lifts etc. suggests that individual needs to prioritise learning how to drive.

I don't drive ,I did learn & had a car for a bit when younger,I was on a learner licence (I'm in Ireland) but it ran out before I got to do my full test,then all the regulations changed so now I have to do the process again & I am intending to, but I've 2 young kids with an inconsistent father so even booking my learner permit test is hard & expensive €45, then you have to have it's 12 lessons I think which is over €500 then your test which is €85, that's not including a pre test or anything so it's a lot

It surprises me too. I had a part time job and I paid for my lessons. I was desperate to learn as my dad used to sometimes pick me up from work as I felt guilty.
I actively avoid ppl who don’t drive. I’ve had ppl ask for lifts who are miles out of my direction.

I can't drive for medical reasons and people treat me like I'm stupid when I say I don't drive and then proceed to ask me multiple questions about why not, it's very annoying.

My kids will all learn ASAP but other people driving or not is none of my business, can't understand why some people get so opinionated about it.

@MissEloiseBridgerton I suggest having a very good think about reasons why people might not do things the way you you do, and pay attention to the replies on your thread. Don't remain wilfully ignorant.
My daughter has a licence and owns a car. Her partner now drives it because she is fairly recently disabled. She can still drive, but suffering from pain, fatigue and brain fog, it's safer for herself and others on the road if she doesn't.

Is that a good enough reason for you?

In my case , neither of my parents drove , and I find the thought of driving terrifying. I would love to able to drive , but the thought of causing an accident scares me too much . I’m 51 now , so I don’t think it wil ever happen.

Ikwym but for me the biggest shock is still the number of older women who have never learnt because their dh drives and they are totally reliant in older age. I know 4 older ladies who are all in the same situation (although all had good household incomes and could easily have afforded lessons) but now feel too old to learn. When their dhs pass away they'll be reliant on dcs and goodwill of neighbours. They prevented themselves from having an independent life, very short sighted decision.