Do you drive?

Yes I drive and am a confident daytime driver i passed my test at 24 and am now 68. I live in Surrey but drove up to Wales this week to see a friend I’m fine with motorways. However I don’t like night driving very much nowadays and only so short journeys when absolutely necessary.

I fell in love with driving on my first lesson and have driven ever since.
Driving fast playing loud music was one of my greatest pleasures, but I'm more careful these days as I don't want to lose my licence.

No never wanted to learn, even at 18 when my father was keen for me to learn. I know most women my age (70) drive. Possibly no confidence in traffic, I realise it would give me more flexibility to get out and about. At the moment DH does all the driving so doesn’t really matter, would have to rely on public transport otherwise.

The day I passed my test (I was 20) was one of the best days of my life. I love driving and do most of our driving if OH and I are together. Also, I don’t really like being driven.

I never learned to drive. I did have a series of lessons once when I was in my late 20s. I had such bad panic attacks I had to give them up. I think i would just freeze in an emergency. The problem is that driving requires you to do a number of things at once and Ive never been very good at that.

However Ive always lived in a big city with good public transport links so I made do with buses and taxis. I used to use the train a lot for intercity travel. Nowadays I dont like to go out much so its a taxi or a relative door to door.

Yes, switch between manual and automatic and ride an electric bike.

I learnt to drive over 40 years ago because we were living out in the country with no shops and one bus a week on market day. I avoid night driving now if I can because of the headlights but that's about the only change I've made. I've just renewed my licence again. Whether I will renew it again when I'm 79 remains to be seen.

My neighbour had to give up driving due to her health condition/medication. She says when she sees me driving out, at odd hours, sometimes 3 times a day, she really feels sad that she is unable to drive. The one thing though I find, I’m losing confidence in night driving. I think I will, sooner rather than later, give up night driving

Yes my life and options would have been much more limited if I couldn't drive. Unfortunately the way society is constructed nowadays it can be difficult to manage without a car. My sister doesn't drive and it really has been a drawback.

I always said it would annoy me if there was a car available and I had to ask someone else to drive me in it so I learned to drive at 17 - still going strong.
My DH never wanted to drive a car but did have a small motorbike for a few years.

Many women who drive in our rural area, won't do it further afield - that applies to all ages, I think.
I drive anywhere that I need to.

You’ll have to shoot me before I stop driving in Uk or in Spain motorways, nighttime and all - why would anyone not want the independence that being able to hop into your car at a moment’s notice gives?

Yes, I do use my bus pass and railcard but other people’s timetables and tardiness drive me mad!

I've never enjoyed driving. I did it as a necessity - for work, and because I have always lived in rural areas. Previously a car was useful if you lived in a village, although I would often prefer to use the bus. Now, I would find it very difficult if I didn't drive, as buses are few, and unreliable.
My mum loved driving, and hated being a passenger - she had a good working knowledge of mechanics as well. But I conform much more to the stereotype - so when we are together DH drives and I just take over for an hour or two on long journeys. I'm quite a good 'co-driver' though!

Yes I drive. I am glad I do.

I'm 69 and drive everywhere, motorways everywhere. It's use it or lose it now. It would be easy to let DH drive everywhere but I shall keep on. Recently bought me a small run about but I tend to use the bigger car for good and netball because of carrying kit.

I love driving too.

Never had the confidence

I really loved cars and driving. Unfortunately it wasn’t possible to drive again following my brain injury.

yes

Maybe you have Bluebelle I did say mostly women, not exclusively. I think Uber do well locally here.

I know of three women, my age 60+ who’ve never driven and the same number of late 20’s early 30’s women too and we don’t live in a big town with good public transport. I do drive.

I ve never driven and feel no loss and no it’s not all women both my male boss and two male workers in their thirtie/ forties don’t drive …neither my mum or dad drove and no one in my family owned a car my best friend has never driven either
I walk cycle or use my free bus pass I spend a LOT less money than drivers and I don’t pollute the world maybe I ve got it right
All my children learnt to drive at 17

If I didn’t drive, I would have a very limited life as I cannot walk very well and rely on my car. I’m 65 and have been driving since I was 21. I’ve driven all sorts of vehicles over the years including vans and mini buses and am confident on motorways and night driving. I’ve driven all around the UK and in parts of Europe when I was divorced and took my children camping in France and Belgium.

I enjoy driving and recently bought a new car, my first automatic, which I love. It has an on board computer with blue tooth for my phone and once I got used to the new features, I love the reversing camera, parking sensors, sat nav, heated front windscreen, automatic wipers and so on - turning into a Motörhead in my old age!

I am 79 and I drive. My mother also learned to drive. I have a neighbour who is around age 40 and she does not drive. My immediate female neighbour does not drive. She came to this country with her husband and family a few years ago- her husband and 4 adult children in their late teens and early 20's all drive.

Of course! It gives me independence.

I've lived abroad in places I couldn't drive and hated having to rely on public transport and taxis.

My mum could drive, but could never afford a car so didn't drive. My DD isn't interested in learning. Happy to ask for lifts though!

I had to stop driving. three years ago after a stroke, ironically I didn’t enjoy driving but now my husband’s not so good and we feel marooned! Very frustrating depending on occasional help from other people, the council here issues taxi vouchers, very appreciated but only for few journeys.