to think being able to drive is KEY skill for a woman ( particularly)

[FolornHope]

or not

I remember going on a business trip years ago with two analysts (I was their manager) and asking them to bring their driving licences along as we would be hiring a car, and one of them didn't have a licence - I was horrified, and gave here an earful about how it would restrict her career.

Peachy-that is so shit , sorry.

I can't drive but I do think it's a key life skill. I'm learning atm and can't wait. I'm looking forward to having the option of putting DH on a bus to work and driving off somewhere nice for the day.

I was in a road traffic accident when I was younger which left me pretty scared. When I first tried lessons after that I had a very unsympathetic instructor who left me terrified and really nervous. My current instructor is great and I'm loving it. I do understand why people don't like it or don't want to learn though and in some parts of the country there's not much point.

i agree and i wish i could pass the FUCKING test. don't get me started. i just can't reverse around a corner. i can reverse inot a car parking space though. i think i will never pass it. i can drive. but i can't pass the test. it's really become quite bloody distressing at this point.

Can I just say; not driving does not equate to relying on a man to get you around. I can't remember the last time I relied upon a man to get me anywhere (probably back when I was in early teens and my dad drove me somewhere).

We grew up without a car, never had a problem. None of my friends at uni drove (notice that all my students seem to here). I can't drive because of poor eyesight. We did buy a car this year because of grandma's nursing home being out in the sticks, but don't use it for every day. My brother and his partner don't drive either.

MaggieAnFiaRua- you can reverse into a space but not round a corner? What a bummer, keep trying -good luck!

Moving is an option at least in part becuase the boys school has gone seriously odd altely, but apart from ds3's school at least here it is only a bus into Newport or Dwmbran, which have pretty much everything, so it could be a lot worse. I don't want to move partly becuase once dh graduates in 2012 we will know where we are then and with 2 statements can't shift about too often (unless landlady decides she wants house back, anyway)

ATM Dh is about a lot and there'salways a good chance he'll be here if needed. I expect in all truth that the thought will be worse than the reality. Even if my licence isn't taken away this time I am going to start winding right down as it will soon be and I may as well get into a routine. I'm actually lucky as I was told it would be gone a decade ago, and it stopped eteriorating for a while. BAck then we lived in a village with no nursery and 20miles fromwork,much better sorted now.

yanbu

I learnt at 17 and will make sure my children do as well.

I live rurally and life would be impossible if I didn't drive.

For me its about independence - I know I could always pile children into car and go wherever and whenever.

Not being able to drive for a few weeks post c-section drove me insane.

YABU, neither DH nor I can drive and we have never relied on people ferrying us around (I never ask for lifts).

Maybe I'll have egg on my face when they invent the magic non-greenhouse gas emitting car but I just can't deal with the pollution issues. And I would be twice the size if I am now. Also, so many people are so blase about being in control of a two-ton chunk of metal that can kill people.

peachy _ I have a good friend with macular degeneration and has deteriorated a lot lately-she can no longer drive from dusk on.Hates the winter time.

my 17yo is half-hearted about learning to drive

the 19yo drives (my land rover rather than her own ka, grrrrr) and it gives me great peace of mind knowing she is not waiting around at bus stops in the dark (not that there is v much by way of bus service) or entrusting her safety to random men - be they taxi drivers or friends of friends

It's not a key life skill if you:

• live in central London (we had nowhere to park a ruddy car and even if we had, it would have been nicked/broken into)

• have epilepsy

• are extremely committed to limiting your impact on the environment (I can't claim this one, but am sure there are people who do).

It would be handy to be able to drive and I was having lessons (having sorted out medical grounds) but they are far too expensive - just can't afford it atm with dh being made redundant and freelance work for me much harder to find.

As for little old ladies, my MIL has to rely on lifts from members of the church to get to the doctors etc. - she did drive, usually drove herself as she didn't like FIL's driving, but has given up as she's old and frail and it just would not be safe.

I think it's far better for everyone else if she keeps off the road!

(Although fair enough re. it would have been nice to have learnt when I was 17 but we didn't have the money then either - my mother was off work with a serious illness. Should have invested in lessons in the times when we were well off!)