Should I drive again after 15 years?

I have a few friends who won’t drive because their husbands bought big cars. I can’t help feeling that this is a subtle way of keeping the ‘little woman’ in her place. Personally there would have been a hell of a fuss kicked up if my DH had done this.
Many women let themselves get into the position of their husbands doing all the driving. If they are then widowed they often find that they no longer have the nerve to get back behind the wheel. This often leads to them having problems with their everyday activities.
Keep on driving, ladies!

I never have a need to go very far, but last year the County Council sent a letter out saying you could ring to book a driving instructor who would appraise your driving. I don’t particularly want to kill anyone, so I booked it and a very nice lady came and sat in the car for an hour, we went places I didn’t know existed and at the end she told me she thought my driving was very good. I feel much more confident now. She did say, however, that she found it was the people who WERE all right who booked the hour, NOT the ones who had problems.

You won’t know until you try, I don’t think anyone can advise, everyone is different, just book refresher lessons and see how you feel behind the wheel if you feel confident enough go for it

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

I drive an automatic now. I am almost 80 and have been driving for almost 60 years, but I love the automatic. Once it's in drive you just need to think about steering and braking.. I would say have a few lessons then go for it.

I'd suggest a few refresher lessons with a driver who specialises in automatics if I were you and then why not try a semi-automatic LadyBella? You get the best of both worlds. Driving can be a pleasure with less to think about.

I drive a little Smart for Two and it's great. It has a lovely system - you can drive in automatic and the letter 'A' is on the dashboard or press a little button on the auto shift which gives you the number of the gear you're in. You push this lever up to go up a gear and down to go down a gear. All very logical - if you see a big hill coming up you respond accordingly and Bob's your Uncle.

A friend in a similar situation a few years ago took a job she needed to drive to. We spent many days traveling places to allow her to gain confidence, sometimes me taking her there first then her driving there. She is still not a confident driver, meaning she won't drive further than 30 miles, use motorways or venture somewhere new on her own but she's ok and safe. Please do lessons or have a friend to go places with you , go for it

Nissan Micra is a great little car and automatic too. Highly reccomend.

I tried driving again recently and had not driven since the 80s. I had an hour long refresher lesson before driving alone. I lasted 2 months and gave up. I HATED it! Other drivers are so crazy! The traffic is appalling everywhere and I was just a bag of nerves! I'll stick to my bicycle and the bus thank you!

I would really urge you to start again. I think so very important for a lady to drive. Best thing I ever did. Good luck with it.

Not sure of your age but at 70 we need to reapply for a licence. It’s easy and quick, done online.

yes go for it but do as all posters have correctly advised and have lessons first

Go for it.
If you feel your resolve weakening have a lesson in a driving school car and feel the joy!
I walk a lot, wont use public transport yet, butvthe car is liberating to get places out of the usual and the independence..!

Go for it. A few refresher lessons and you'll be fine.
A lot of women find it's hard to maintain driving confidence if their OH drives all the time and you don't need to drive to work etc.
It's worth making the effort for the freedom and independence it brings.
If you don't like motorways or long drives to unfamiliar places, stick to what you're happy with and gradually go further afield if you want/need to.
Good luck.

Definitely take a refresher course. Most driving instructors would be happy to do this. Certainly don’t buy a car until you are certain you are safe to drive.

After 15 years of not driving, you'll need a refresher course.

I don't particularly like driving, but it's convenient to do so, and my job involves driving about (locally). There is no pleasure in driving - traffic, speed humps and cameras, finding places to park, etc.

Yes! Do it - it's freedom! Modern small cars are so easy to drive and you can get a one hour session for seniors from the Institute of Advanced Motoring where they give you some tips and hints.

Absolutely you should! I did after 20 years. I had a couple of lessons to get the ‘feel’ of driving again and bought a small car. Haven’t looked back and go to places and do things I would never have been able to do on public transport. Am especially grateful that I did it given the current climate.
Just go for it and enjoy.

Go for it. You will enjoy the freedom.

I go with the other suggestions of having some lessons. I have never given up driving but when I was 65 I had some lessons because my parking wasn’t very good and I hated turning right into a busy road. The lessons were great: resolved my problems and gave me confidence that I was doing a lot right with my driving.

oh assuming you kept up your driving licence?

I have driven since I was early 20`s, always been self reliant in that respect.. lockup was not helpful as I wasn`t allowed out!
so the first time, (with friends encouragement) I got my little car going, and drove just round the local roads,

It was a bit scary, but amazing how it became the norm again.

so I say go for it... but I guess it depends on your locality, can`t dh take you to a quiet road or roads, if you have none nearby and see how you go..

I have an Aygo a small Toyota Automatic and it keeps me on the move and independent. My Mum was a widow ans I was so glad she could drive and I saw what a difference it made to her life.

If public transport is very good in your area, do use it. I hadn't been on a bus since March before last weekend and was pleasantly surprised at how clean it was, how everyone wore face coverings and social distanced, with a limit on the numbers allowed on the bus. What the world definitely does not need are more cars on the roads. Please consider the climate before buying a new car, however small.

Thank you all for being so positive. I will definitely consider an automatic car as, having driven one before, I agree how much easier it is. I was wondering about lessons... yes it's a good idea. Thank you! I feel ready!