Are you sad or glad you don't drive?

Stephanie - posted on 03/03/2013

sad-i'm actually over my fear-but dont have financial means to get a car with all of my medical bills

Maria - posted on 06/26/2012

Where do I start? I am 28 and had my permit once but was terrified. My father had set me back with doubt after my one sister was hit by a drunk lawyer of whom she had pins in her leg and a trach. I have a phobia of driving and to have a fiance that is a police officer, well I can't help but feel stupid. My friends have a hunch I don't have my license at a local hangout so I go out when my girlfriends pick me up. It's sad and recently moved out of my parents to a apartment complex so now I need to take the permit again. Theres not alot of support groups or anywhere I can go for a class like back in high school. Ugghhh, need help. At least my bf is very supportive and backs me up 100%

Fina - posted on 10/30/2009

I wish I had just gotten my license at 16, like everyone else. At this point (10 years later), I've built driving up to be this scary thing. Living in the suburbs of Western PA, you can't go ANYWHERE without a car. I actually don't mind being home all the time right now, but as my daughter gets older I know I'll need to drive her places and the thought of driving really scares me. It's something I need to learn to overcome though.

Amy - posted on 10/23/2009

J a, sad at times that I can not drive. I am visually impaired and legally blind. I will never be able to drive. My husband can not drive either because of seizures. The doctors told him they will never give him promission to drive because of his health. It is very hard to get from point a to point b. We have transportation. It is expensive to take a bus or a cab anywhere.

I always have to ask family or friends to help out. They are understanding. I have had comments like why don't you take a cab or bus? Are you going to pay for my cab or bus fair?

I have an 8 year old son. He helps me alot. Tells me when cars are coming. I walk everywhere I can. I am terrified of the snow freezing rain, ice and sleet. I have poor balance.

So I am afraid of falling. It is a pain to ask people for rides. I feel I do not have a schedule of my own I have to go by everyone else's schedule. It makes it hard to plan anything. I am home alot and that DRIVES ME NUTS. I am very active so when I can not get a ride I get upset. I am used to it. I have dealt with it all my life but I wish I could drive. I also am glad I do not drive because of my vision and it could hurt me and other. My son always says Mom I wish you and Dad could drive. I say to him so do I honey so do I. I am glad this group is around.

Toni - posted on 10/14/2009

I'm generally not bothered by it, if I wanted to drive I would, its a question of how great is your need, mine isnt that great as I make my other half drive instead, its great on a night out as I always get to have a glass or two of wine.

Chandra - posted on 10/08/2009

Quoting Noelani:

Sad for me since my family & I moved to a new state & living in a rural community where walking or biking 1 hr to the grocery store is out of the question & no public transportation exist in my area I have to rely on my husband alot when it comes to appts & grocery shopping among other things. I don't have family or friends to rely/help me out here & it does get hard for me to do anything that requires driving. I do have my permit & I know the basics of driving but am completely terrified behind the wheel. I try to make do with what I have at home by taking my boys 4 yrs old & 9 mos outside to play with the dogs or on the playset or open the garage door and set up the kids table for them. My husband keeps pushing me to get my license but he doesn't know the feeling I get when I'm behind the wheel no matter how much I tell him he doesn't understand. Eventually, I'll have to conquer my fear when or how long is the question.

I know exactly how you feel because i feel the same way.I too moved to a rural area no friends or family or public trans and my husband works alot night and day shifts and alot of overtime so i have to make sure that we get every thing we need on his days off it's getting harder and harder for me not to drive but i am terrified as well to drive!!

Tricia - posted on 08/29/2009

It's sad for me. I don't drive because of a medical condition and I hate not being able to make appts or plan outings without checking timetables or planning a lift with family or friends. I feel bad for my son because I have to tell him he can't play sports or we can't go somewhere cause there is no way of getting there. I would love to be able to duck to the shops for bread and milk instead of having to walk half hour each way or, again, have to rely on someone else. It is hard to ask friends or family if they could drive u places all the time - even though mine are understanding and supportive, I don't like putting them out all the time. I used to live in the city where public transport was constant, regular, cheap and easy to get to. I have now moved to the coast and buses and trains are not as regular and take longer to get anywhere cause they go round all the back streets and stop all stations. Because everything is so much further away it is also more expensive to get too and taxis are almost out of the question because of the cost and distance to travel in this area....Some people have said I should just go for my licence anyway and not mention my medical condition but I would rather walk everywhere in the pouring rain or spend lots of money getting somewhere then risking the lives of myself and other people.

Sandra - posted on 08/29/2009

I would love to be able to drive, but I have epilepsy and cannot. I used to be able to because my seizures were controlled, which makes it even harder because I know what it is like to have that feeling of freedom. I have a lot of public transportation options in my area, but I think with kids it is hard because of all of the doctor's appts, birthday parties, etc. that my husband needs to be responsible for. This group of people is nice, though, because now I know I'm not alone out there. I always seem to feel like I am.

Noelani - posted on 08/26/2009

Sad for me since my family & I moved to a new state & living in a rural community where walking or biking 1 hr to the grocery store is out of the question & no public transportation exist in my area I have to rely on my husband alot when it comes to appts & grocery shopping among other things. I don't have family or friends to rely/help me out here & it does get hard for me to do anything that requires driving. I do have my permit & I know the basics of driving but am completely terrified behind the wheel. I try to make do with what I have at home by taking my boys 4 yrs old & 9 mos outside to play with the dogs or on the playset or open the garage door and set up the kids table for them. My husband keeps pushing me to get my license but he doesn't know the feeling I get when I'm behind the wheel no matter how much I tell him he doesn't understand. Eventually, I'll have to conquer my fear when or how long is the question.

Sara - posted on 08/25/2009

I am perfectly happy not to drive. I love bike riding and walking. I have 3 kids. I wear the baby on my back, have a wagon, and a bike cart. I would only wish to have safer walking areas and bike trails.

Katie - posted on 07/26/2009

Hi Tamara and Lesli! Welcome to the group and thanks so much for sharing your stories. People have no idea how hard it is for non-drivers.....I actually think its a real confidence crusher....and prevents us from doing things so many drivers can do on a daily basis and they take for granted. But I suppose all we can do is thank our lucky stars for the dry and warm days.....and prepare ourselves to the best of our abilities for the bad weather walking,e.g, good quality rainwear,warm clothing and for those of you with pushchairs....an excellent rain-proof plastic cover for baby.



Yes it is soooooooo hard in horrific weather....but we must try to remain positive....and be glad of the nice days,fresh air into our lungs and wonderful exercise which is so beneficial to all of us.

I wish you all safe and happy journeys xxxx :)

Lesli - posted on 07/26/2009

It makes me incredibly sad. My boyfriend is from 2000 miles from where I live so when we found out we were having a baby we settled on a town in my home state near the town he went to college (because he was used to it and it's bigger than my home town). Unfortunately for both of us, though, we don't really know people around here and my parents are an hour away. Because I don't drive, I can only see them maybe once a month, unless they come to see me. It's really upsetting when they have a new family member that they don't get to see very often, and I miss them, too. I would also like to be able to go grab something from the store if I need it while my boyfriend is working. We're pretty secluded in our neighborhood and walking really isn't an option because it's mostly residential aside from a bread store for about 10 miles.

Nathalie - posted on 07/22/2009

I do feel your pain... I hate to ask also so I wait a long time before my request. Good luck to you!

Nathalie

Tamara - posted on 07/18/2009

Its very upsetting to me. I have ADHD and we're trying to adjust my meds so I can try to learn to drive. As it stands, my attention wanders too much to be behind the wheel with any kind of safety. If I want to get anywhere I have to ask for a ride which is a lot harder than people think. Walking to get where I want to go or taking a bus is out of the question so I'm stuck at home pretty much 7 days a week unless I can get my MIL or husband to take me somewhere.

Katie - posted on 07/05/2009

Hi Laura,welcome to the group and thank you for joining! I'm terribly sorry you were in a car accident years ago,it must have been such a frightening experience,and thank God you survived to tell the tale. I think you are SO BRAVE to drive,I think its such a courageous step you took,after a horrible horrible stressful event in your life. I think your kids are extremely lucky to have such a dedicated and commited mother who put her own fears aside to concentrate on making journeys in bad weather easier and more comfortable for them on a daily basis.....WELL DONE!! And I mean that sincerely! It must have been terrifying, but I bet your confidence has gone from strength to strength behind the wheel,and it is a lifelong skill,to be able to drive......wish I had a teeny tiny bit of your guts and determination Laura!! I understand perfectly why you wouldn't wish to do the long journeys on highways/motorways......thats very daunting indeed, noone would blame you for that decision in the slightest. And I'm sure your kids totally understand too..... they're very very lucky to have you for the school runs,etc,etc. You are living proof that even the most nervous person,after such an ordeal as a crash,can pick themselves up,dust themselves off and stay focused on their goal and aims,you are an inspiration Laura! I wish you many more safe and happy journeys,and come visit us again! Regards,Katie xxxxxx :)

Laura - posted on 07/04/2009

Hi everyone ... My name is Laura i thought i would join with you all. I completely understand you all . I was in a horrible car accident when i was young and i always had a fear for driving . I started having kids and knew i would have to drive someday , i could never bring myself to drive .Well i started having more children so i gave it a shot when i was 27 yrs old ,i had 2 children then. I actually learned enough to get my license but i still would'nt drive . Then i had 2 more children so i tried again and i was 31 yrs old , it took me a long time , but i did somewhat drive . My husband was really great about it but it got so hard for him working full time and taking days off for doctor appt. and other stuff .
He never made me but i still felt bad .So i will drive around now but i won't drive on the highways or drive real far .I am 42 yrs old now and have 6 kids now , and it does help to drive for doctors and emergencies , but my husband is still doing most of it .
I thought i would join because i so understand how all of you feel and i remember people being rude about me not driving and some giving me a hard way to go.
I feel bad sometimes still b/c there are alot of places my kids want to go and i can't take them if it is all highway . Of course six-flags is all highway to get there , so they have had to miss some things b/c of me .
Hope to chat with all of you sooner or later , i am on here alot working in the book club and i plan on coming here too.
Laura

Katie - posted on 06/25/2009

Very funny Wanda!!!! I feel the same too sometimes!! I reckon a lot of car crashes have been prevented by my not driving!!!! LOL xx :)

Wanda - posted on 06/18/2009

Not sad really...sometimes I wish I did drive but then I remember how much safer the streets are without me behind the wheel. LOL

Sarah - posted on 06/18/2009

As Nathalie said, i get sad when me and kids get soaked through!
Most of the time it doesn't bother me tho, it's good excercise! :)

Ulanda - posted on 06/17/2009

i must say i am happy not to every now and again because knowing me i'd be one of the stupid ones that you get angry with because i won't move out of the way... but in all regards i would prefer to drive because it would make it much easier to get from a-b.

Katie - posted on 06/17/2009

oh Nathalie,I feel your pain my dear,really I do.....I'm in the same position as you,love the walk on a fine day.......on a bad day its impossible to endure.Its a world drivers don't understand(or care about either.....we're just the down and outs in their eyes) My heart goes out to you xxx

Nathalie - posted on 06/17/2009

Makes me really sad sometimes. When I get home completely soaked and frozen after running to school and preschool for the 2nd, 3rd or 4th in one day. But makes me feel good that I, at least, get that exercise in one day.