Do you drive?

I think it's often a lack of confidence, plus in the more traditional past 'a man took the lady out' therefore he did the driving.

OTOH, DH loved it when I learned to drive in my mid 50's and picked up the keys on our way out for a day trip, then he drove us back. Fair's fair, and it took the heat off him.

I find I have lost confidence in driving after lockdown, which annoys me because relying on buses is not good. My DH decided to drive everywhere so I just haven’t driven for ages!

Cathsoc62
I seriously think you need to report your husband ……..

We’ve always lived in places where driving was pretty much essential. 3 children all going in different directions for clubs and activities would never have been doable either if I hadn’t driven. DH had 30 miles to travel to work and at that time we couldn’t afford to live any closer. Rule of thumb was house prices increased by £1k for every mile nearer the town. This was 1982.

All the children passed their tests at 17 - what a relief! Ds currently has 25 mile drive to school, dd1 has 20 mile drive and dd2 was driving 40 for work pre pandemic. These figures are one way. I’m so glad I drive, particularly after my hip surgery, life wouid have been much more difficult without my own transport

I had to give up driving in 2001 due to my health conditions ( MS )
I feel so sad because I loved driving and get really pissed off when people come to me complaining about gazolin’s price.
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I'm 65 and still drive, live in a rural area so it's a necessity, not over keen on night driving because of the amount of deer on our roads!
Have just decided to give up my PSV license for driving a coach, only because the cost and hassle of a yearly medical. Also delighted to have driven them for 20+ years without any incidents on the road, and with the bad, mad drivers on the roads now I'm better off out of it!!

I drive at 78 and will continue to do so as long as I’m able. Like others though I don’t care for night driving, especially if it’s raining. I’ve bought an expensive pair of over glasses for eliminating headlamp glare but haven’t tried then yet.

I learned to drive aged 19 in 1974 - ouch!! It's the single most useful thing I have ever done. It's enabled me to be independent, not having to rely on unreliable friends/partners, and be able to teach my children to drive. I think it's an essential life skill, even if I was still living in London. Having lived in Bristol, and now Weston-Super-Mare, I think it's doubly essential, because public transport is unreliable, doesn't go where I want to go, and is expensive. We have had a hybrid car for a few years, and we are about to jump into the fully electric car choice very soon. I do have to say though, we wouldn't be able to afford the fully electric car if DH wasn't disabled and on PIP. I totally dread the time that I am too decrepid to drive, although my DH is probably going to be in that position in the next couple of years. He will only be 65ish.

I love driving, passed at 17 and now 62.
I think the younger women who don't drive, it is probably alot to do with the cost to learn these days. It's so expensive and then keeping a car on the road on top

I am 80, I still have a driving licence but do not have a car. I live in the centre of Brighton and Brighton is not conducive to driving, nowhere to park, the Green Party are trying to make the centre of Brighton car free, nightmare.

I drive and have for years but not on motorways or dual carriageways. I have thought about taking refresher lessons to help me conquer this fear. I am happy to drive locally, though, and find it very useful, especially as I have had to take my husband and mother to hospital for cataract surgery. We do the traditional thing of my husband driving for long journeys. He likes to drive and I prefer being a passenger by choice. My mother still drives but very short journeys and I take her shopping. I have friends who can’t/don’t drive and l agree that it is mainly women. I learned to drive in a manual car but have had an automatic for the last few years and would not go back to a manual by choice.

I am 78 and can drive although I prefer to take the bus or walk if I go out alone. DH does most of the driving these days but it was really useful to be able to drive when he had his three hip operations, taking him to hospital appointments, shopping etc.

I’m 64 and don’t drive. It was something I didn’t take to, despite having a number of lessons. I’m fortunate to have a good local public transport system which is free for the over 60s. I also walk a lot.

I have been driving for over 40 years and I could not imagine never having learnt. There is not public transport to where I work, I regularly do school runs and 5 times year I drive from Essex to Germany to visit family. I do know that I could fly to Germany but that would limit the amount of shopping I bring back

I have a licence but I dont drive, havnt driven in almost 15 years. My husband does all the driving

I don't drive anymore because my sunglasses are too dark to be legal. I used to drive every day, even when we lived in Spain, but developed migraines so now have darker sunglasses.

I passed my test 30 years ago (fifth attempt) but havnt driven since. It was too scarey and I'm not good at quick decision making. Luckily I live in an area with excellent public transport and I think the world is a safer place without me on the roads!

I past my test at 21 and from that day on I wanted to teach driving. I did so for 45 years and retired at 70, having been self employed throughout. I loved it. Meeting so many people, young and old and I loved the challenge. I am 76 now and still driving, but only in day light hours, Nothing phases me. I know the road rules inside out and backwards, which helps. But the day will come when I have to give up and don't know how I will cope psychologically. As it's been my life.

Yes, I’m 61 and have been driving since I was 17, although I didn’t have my own car for years. My Dad was very keen for me to learn and used to take me out in his car - it was a nightmare and I very often used to arrive home in tears. I sat with my two children whilst they practised and I now know what he went through! I can’t imagine not being able to drive now as it gives independence.

I did drive, but always hated it, when I retired it seemed silly, and expensive, having two cars, as my husband had a brand new motobility car, so I gave mine to a neighbour, a young family, as I wouldn't have got much money selling it, then my husband died, and the car had to be returned! I am almost 75, and do not want the expense of purchasing and maintaining a car, or the hassle of driving, but do miss the freedom, and hate being reliant on either lifts or public transport!

Learned to drive over 30 years ago because I felt that I should. Always felt very anxious. When I worked within easy walking distance I didn't need to. We have one car which my husband needs for work. I haven't driven for at least 25 years, but I've started feeling lately that I should have refresher lessons so that I can get to places that local bus does not serve. Anxiety is my main problem though.

When I was young 1930s few families had cars. In fact only two of us in the whole school whose fathers had a car.
My husband had a company car and I was learning to do so until one of the other reps had an accident then it was forbidden for wives to use company cars. We couldn’t afford our own car so I used public transport and my bicycle. When husband took early retirement and was given the car I started to learn again and even drove long distances but then we went abroad and was not allowed because I hadn’t passed a test. So I never drove again.

I drive and am very happy doing so. Planning on doing less, however; we're moving closer in to town and will be able to do nearly all our day-to-day activities on foot, and even some of the further afield ones will be pretty much as easy by bus (bus pass in September, hoorah!)

I plan to stop driving when I'm eighty if not forced to beforehand. My father kept driving into his nineties and it was not good. Your reactions slow and your skill and experience are not enough to compensate.

I can drive but currently don't due to my disability. I was fed up seeing my car sitting on the drive and not going anywhere so gave it to my son. I loved my car and didn't plan on selling it, luckily he feels the same. I hate having to rely on others to get to my Hospital appointments in central London all the time but it is what it is.

65 and I've never driven. Sort of wish I'd learned years ago but certainly don't feel the inclination now to have lessons.