Am I the only 42 year old not having a driverlicense?
By anetteh
@anetteh (3590)
Sweden
January 10, 2008 1:58pm CST
In Sweden we take our Driver license when we are 18. When I was in that age I decided not to have one. I did not have to. I relied on the local communication to get where I needed to go. When I started to work, I could use my bike. Now, I am forced to have driver license, since my work lies about ten minutes with car away from home. It take me 20 minutes with bike, however, in this time of the year it is crusial since the darkness and there are no lights on the road I go. I work, day´s, evenings, and weekends...so....why not get the license you may think. Well, it is very expensive here, I do not have the budget for it, and then you need a car...and all the things around that.....I am a part time working single mother of a son with ADHD. It is not an investment I am glad to do....and not want to.
Am I the only 42 year old female without an driver license?
1 person likes this
8 responses
@pastorkayte (2255)
• United States
11 Jan 08
Probably, but not alone I was 29 when I got mine. I was happy to walk or ride with my husband everywhere. But after the move to the east coast I found that not everything is located within walking distance and I had to get one. But here it is not very expensive and even less to renew every five or more years
@anetteh (3590)
• Sweden
13 Jan 08
Well, a car and license here in Sweden are very expensive. As a single mother working only part time I can not afford it. I no longer need to since me and my boss made the changes in my working schedule so I now can use my hard working money on other more needed things.
Thank you for responding.
@Mamaof2 (574)
• Canada
11 Jan 08
Hey, thats ok. I am 28 and never even thought of getting my license! Everyone has there reasons around it and it is ok. My reason is that I am not 100% comfortable in the car and feel that I would be even worse if I were behind the wheel. I do not want to put anyones life in danger, let alone my families...so I choose not to drive until I am confident. I often think that having a car to drive would make life much easier, but then in another sense it is a huge commitment. Like you said, you have to get the car and along with the car comes all the expenses!
@anetteh (3590)
• Sweden
13 Jan 08
thank you for responding, I feel you are so right. I was in a car accident with my sister driving for some years ago and I do not feel comfortable in a car any more after that. Now I have made the changes in my working schedule so I no longer feel I have to take it. And can use my money on better needed things. I also feel I do not really need it for enjoying reason either...there are different transportations I can use when needed...only the local bus transportation are the problem in evenings and weekends.....but there are solutions you can take.
@SViswan (12051)
• India
11 Jan 08
I'm not 42...but I don't have a driver's license either.
When I was 18, my dad asked me to learn to drive...but my mother and grandmother (with who I was living at that point) refused to let me take lessons because they were scared. And I ended up never learning to drive.
Now, that I have a family and a busy husband whose business keeps him away from home most of the time, I really need to drive and can't. Before my younger son was born, I would walk to most places or take public transport...but now it gets difficult with a 13 month old and I realize that I need to drive.
I think I will be learning to drive soon...but I'm not sure how long it will be before I muster up the courage to use the car everywhere (in India's traffic)
@anetteh (3590)
• Sweden
13 Jan 08
Thank´s for responding. I read an article the other day about a new car coming from India, worth only 16 000 sec. However a car is expensive in any cost. I have made changes in my schedule so I can now stay over night when ever I have to. I am not in need for a car for enjoying things, only to get to my job, however, that is no longer the case, so I stay as I am.
@cher913 (25781)
• Canada
10 Jan 08
no rest assured that you are not the only person in the world like that...i too, am a closet non driver! i take public transit...
i am an only child and would have had to fight for use of the vehicle when i was growing up, then after i married we never had enough money for lessons (it costs $100- here in ontario, canada to get your beginners and usually that money is better used elsewhere)
also, now, i have knee problems, so it would be hard to drive too anyways.
@anetteh (3590)
• Sweden
13 Jan 08
Thank´s for response, I think it is to expensive to take the license, and to have a car in the first place. And I am pleased since me and my boss made the changes in my working list so I no longer have to take it. I can instead stay over night at work the times I have to work the evenings. That will be five nights per month and it work fine with me.
@eyewitness (1575)
• Netherlands
11 Jan 08
You're definately not the only woman.I mean my mom never wanted a drivers license and she's 51 and i know plenty of women of your age who don't have a driver license.
It's expensive and people can take advantage of you.
My mom was afraid to drive in a car and still is so she has my father who drives all the time and i drive her a lot so she doesn't need one the rest she just goes by bike or just walking.
@mollyrose (414)
• United States
10 Jan 08
Well my brother is 24 and doesn't have his drivers license but it is mostly due to bad luck. Everytime he attempts to get his license something happens like my car breaks down. He tried 5 times and something always happened that stopped him. It sucks because we live in a small town and their isn't really any public transportation for young people its just for old people and I get sick having to drive him everywhere. I don't believe your alone because their are alot of men and women your age who don't have licenses and don't feel the need for one. Me I am 26 and have one but it took me 6 times to get mine. lol
@lilaclady (28206)
• Australia
10 Jan 08
I admire people who can get by without having to rely on a car, they are so expensive to maintain especially now with petrol prices, I have a couple of friends who manage to get around on the public transport system, they just put on their back pack and choof off and they don't have to worry about car insurances and maintenances, I think they are wise people and probably a lot healthier for it...
@anetteh (3590)
• Sweden
13 Jan 08
Thank you for your response, I am feeling just like that. My budget do not including having a car. I have to increase my working hours if I have to have one. I do not want that. I am quite pleased as it is. I have time to spend with my computer and my son. Which I would not have if I had to work full time. I do not have the mental strength for doing that. It is shore expensive with a car...and all around it. The money I do not have. I also consider our world for not use a car.
@kykidd (6812)
• United States
10 Jan 08
No most certainly not. As a matter of fact there are people in New York City who are 3rd generation of a family not to have a driver's license. A lot of people there find it easier to get around using public transportation. The subway is a great thing.
@anetteh (3590)
• Sweden
13 Jan 08
Oh my god, thank you for that response. I thought I was the only one. My local public transportation do not function to well in evenings and weekends and my working hours are both days, evenings and weekends. So sometimes i feel forced to take my license. However My boss have made it easier for me not to feel that anymore. I have decided not to take it, and instead wait for a apartment to be free and move instead. I also have made some changes in my working duelist so I can stay over night at work, in the end I am only going to sleep and go up and work again.
