Wantiing to learn to drive, but am in my sixties.

@suspenseful (40193)
Canada
April 3, 2008 7:07pm CST
I took lessons when I was in my twenties, but my husband got rid of my license when we were cleaning up the house, and now we are in our sixties, my husband has not been too well, he has arthritis and has had a small stroke. His family goes down hill, his oldest brother passed away in his sixties and his oldest sister has a form of ALS and she is in her late sixties, so I was thinking, now that I have my OLD Age Security of retaking driving lessons. Now the trouble is that we have these graduated licenses, that well, it looks okay for someone to accompany a teenager or a young person, but an older lady? Well it does seem rather funny. But if my husband does get too bad, and we want to go someplace, I do not want to get on a bus all the time, and if I take the airplane, taxis are too expensive. So what do you think? Is it too late for me to learn?
14 people like this
42 responses
@carmelanirel (20942)
• United States
4 Apr 08
It is never to late to learn to do anything suspenseful..Go for it..
@suspenseful (40193)
• Canada
10 May 08
I am saving up my money for it. Now all I have to do is to go and get the pamphlet and read up on the rules. Then I will have to learn to parallel park again. That was my hardest part of driving. It took me a whole ten lessons to get that done right. I was always afraid of hitting the car behind me and of course, not to run into any trees.
2 people like this
@suspenseful (40193)
• Canada
10 Dec 09
I hope I get it, but with my husband not being well, it will be rather hard to take the time to go. He says I am too nervous and besides the costs would be a bit too much with all the expense we have on now.
1 person likes this
• United States
10 May 08
And you will do fine, looking forward to your, "I got my license" post..
2 people like this
@sedel1027 (17846)
• Cupertino, California
4 Apr 08
I don't think it is too late for you to learn. I know AARP give lessons for free to people who join and you pay a fee to be taught if you don't belong (it is substantally cheaper than a driving school).
3 people like this
@suspenseful (40193)
• Canada
10 May 08
I do not know if we have AARP up here. Our province only has public car insurance not private. So probably I will get stuck for the whole bill. I am saving for it, but I have no idea how much it will cost. I hope it is not that much, I cannot see spending one hundred dollars for a lesson.
1 person likes this
@Polly1 (12645)
• United States
4 Apr 08
Its never too late to learn anything. Good luck, you will do fine. Do you have someone to take you out driving? I think its a good idea for you to learn.
2 people like this
@suspenseful (40193)
• Canada
10 May 08
I have my husband and I have some friends who say that they will help out. But that was a couple of years ago, and when I was starting to think about it. It takes me a while to get up my courage. Now all I do is to get enough money and get up enough nerve to say that instead of walking to the Mall, I am going to the drivers school.
1 person likes this
• United States
4 Apr 08
No as long as you have all your marbles and realize that your reaction time in a dangerous situation could be slightly less you will be fine. Go for it! You will probably be a safer and better driver than many of the younger drivers.
2 people like this
• United States
10 May 08
I could not survive without beiong able to drive my car. Having to rely on rides would drive me crazy. Anyhow age is not the problem. I find the most dangeous drivers on the road are the one who yak into a cell phone or even worse.. textmessaging while driving. So go ahead and drive...good luck!
1 person likes this
@suspenseful (40193)
• Canada
10 Jun 08
I have always lived in a big city, and it was easy to get around or walk. My father did not drive, and at the time when I went to high school, there were no driver education classes. Now I am encountering another problem, the graduated license that is design for teenagers, but not for adults who had their license and never used it or lost it not through bad driving habits, but either the actual paper being thrown away. I guess I will have to find out where I stand the next time we go to the license bureau. If I can just start catching up, and can pay for that, then I will do fine. I have already watched my husband drive and since I do learn by osmosis it will be all right.
@suspenseful (40193)
• Canada
10 May 08
I happen to be a rush person, and not a slow and careful type. But I want to learn in case something happens to my husband. It is just that the gas prices worry me. And I have no idea whether the hydro cars will be cheap enough. I hope so. I cannot stand having to ask my friends for rides all the time and in winter, it is not that fun to walk all the time.
• United States
4 Apr 08
its never too late to learn my own mom went to college when she was in her 80s i think you ned to learn for one day you will only have your self to rely on as i do now so my advice is to go for it !
3 people like this
@queenofarms (1659)
• United States
4 Apr 08
Its never to late to get your license. I would be lost if I couldn't drive. It sounds like you need them. If you drove before you can do it again.
3 people like this
@suspenseful (40193)
• Canada
5 Apr 08
I was a terrible learner. If I was good at the theory, I was bad at the driving. If I was good at the driving, I was bad at the theory and I never got the hang of the shift. And I wanted to drive at night, out in the country.
1 person likes this
@GardenGerty (157027)
• United States
4 Apr 08
No, I do not think it is too late for you to learn, and you are wise to plan ahead.You will probably make a good driver. Unless he loses his license, he can ride with you until you get your full license.
@mari61960 (4893)
• United States
4 Apr 08
Oh, it's never too late to get your license as long as you are able to drive...lol You could live another 40 years... You did it once, you can do it again. My best friend is 47 and has never gotten her license.. and she doesn't have anyone with a car living with her.. I don't know how she can stand it. She just walks, takes a bus or asks someone to drive her.... I wouldn't be able to stand it for too long..although I haven't actually driven my own car since around September... But I have had my license since I was 17. Blessed be, Mari
2 people like this
@stephcjh (38473)
• United States
4 Apr 08
I do not think you are ever too old to learn anything. I f you still have the desire to learn, then you will do just fine. I think you will be able to learn it just fine since the desire is within you. I wish you the best with it. I think you will do just fine.
2 people like this
@suspenseful (40193)
• Canada
10 May 08
Thank you. I will do my best. I am saving the money for it, and now I have to get the driving pamphlets and catch up on all the rules. I think it costs more now, and at least it will help when we go on vacation and have to drive all the way to Saskatoon or whereever we are going.
@mummymo (23706)
6 Apr 08
Of course it isn't too late suspenseful! I think if you want to learn you should and it sounds as though it would be good for you to learn to drive, it could make life a lot easier and give you more independance! I say you should go for it! My Gran always regrets not learning to drive in her late fifties/early sixties when my brother wanted to teach her! xxx
1 person likes this
@suspenseful (40193)
• Canada
10 Jun 08
I am still saving the money for it, and I still have to go to the license place and find out if I can just get a new license and take off driving from there. If I had enough money, and I am also including money for everything else I need, before the graduated licenses came in, it would have been easier. I told my friend that I did not want to be regarded as a teenager - I had had a license before - and when I got the pamphlet there was no provision for older people, that is those over their twenties to drive via a graduated license, it was just for the young people, so I guess they assume that if you do not learn to drive in your twenties and keep it up, you are stuck, but I did not have any money to continue and if I had kept working, we might not have been able to adopt.l
1 person likes this
@mummymo (23706)
11 Jun 08
Sounds to me that you did the best thing then honey. I do hope that you soon have the license and are able to just start driving straight away! xxx
@jairgirl (2877)
• United States
4 Apr 08
hello. i honestly feel that there is no such thing as LATE when it comes to learning, as long as you feel you are capable of doing it and you believe it is the best move for you and your husband (i feel it is) then go for it. i am afraid of learning at times but i think of the outcome of it then i am more driven to take the plunge no matter how afraid i am. by the way, i dont think it is funny to have someone at your age take the driver's license test, im sure they will admire you and see you in a positive way and not negative. anyway, i wish you all the best, good luck!
@suspenseful (40193)
• Canada
10 May 08
I do think it is funny, that is why I am nervous about it and that is why I do not like the graduated licenses. I am sure that will discourage many women my age from trying and I know one man who does not have his drivers license because he did not get it when he was younger. I think the whole situation is if you are a woman you do not want everyone to think you are too stupid to get a license or that with the graduated license, even your years do not count and it is like you are a teenager again.
@p_vadla (1685)
• India
4 Apr 08
As long as spirit is willing and flesh is strong well it won't matter. Good luck!
2 people like this
@suspenseful (40193)
• Canada
10 May 08
Yes and I have enough money to do so.
@lieanat (1137)
• Malaysia
11 May 08
Hi, suspenseful. When we have desire to learn, it's never too late even in your age now. I agree that you should take lessons again. But first of all, you must have good health condition and good eyesight before you decide to take back the lessons. This is for your own safety and others as well. Besides, do check with your local authorities whether you can drive at your age or not especially you never drive before though you had a valid license before. Lastly, if you can't take back the driving lessons, I suggest you to keep contact with local hospital which nearby your house and told them your condition and ask them to help you on the matter that you worry on. Besides, try to get helps from your neighbours or social welfare staff to seek their advice and practical steps. Hope this helps you. Take care and be strong and healthy always. Happy Mother's Day.
@suspenseful (40193)
• Canada
10 Jun 08
I am 65 not 85. And I come from a long lived family. I have good eyesight, am a little on the far sightedness so I need glasses for reading small print, but I guess you think I am going to think I will die in a couple of years, so maybe i should check out the scootrs. Maybe people die in their sixties where you come from, but not here in Canada.
@lieanat (1137)
• Malaysia
11 Jun 08
Sorry if I've offended you in my comment. I just hope you will still proceed on with your decision to learn driving. I know Canada is a good place and people are very healthy too.
@bombshell (11256)
• Germany
11 Jun 08
hi,never too late! and its a good idea that you are learning driving coz at this time you cannot trust some taxi driver and its a big advantage if you drive coz when ever or wherever you go you dont have to worry about.
1 person likes this
@suspenseful (40193)
• Canada
11 Jun 08
I still not have gotten enough money yet. I have another problem, and that is the graduated license we have up here. It seems to discourage people who are older who want to drive or want to renew their licenses. If I had had enough money and tried before the graduated license came in, I would have had no problem.
@bombshell (11256)
• Germany
13 Jun 08
ok take your time then and have a nice day.
1 person likes this
@winterose (39887)
• Canada
5 Apr 08
as long as there is no law against it then it is never too late, go for it I applaud you. I am 53 and I don't know how to drive, I am just a big chicken, but then I never had the money for a car anyway so there really wasn't any pressing need for it in my case.
1 person likes this
@winterose (39887)
• Canada
12 May 08
what was that old song, about the little old lady from pasedena that was driving, go granny, go granny, go granny go!
1 person likes this
@suspenseful (40193)
• Canada
10 May 08
There was no need until my husband had his small stroke. And then there is me not wanting to depend on my friends to pick me up to go anywhere. Then what if I want to visit my granddaughter? My husband thinks it would bother them but she is making strange with me and I want her to get used to me.
1 person likes this
@Lakota12 (42600)
• United States
4 Apr 08
heck no my sis in law taught herself in her late 50s just a goood thing we had lots of country roads she would signal one way and turn the other but she soon learned how to do it. and if you have drove before no much to do but to drive.
1 person likes this
@Lakota12 (42600)
• United States
12 May 08
save money and have hubby teach you
@suspenseful (40193)
• Canada
10 May 08
If I learn to drive, I will have to save plenty of money and that is just for the lessons. That is why I have not done so since I was in my twenties. So now I am saving up for the lessons. WE live in a city, and the only time I would need a car is if my husband could no longer drive. So I will be a secondary driver.
@slickcut (8141)
• United States
4 Apr 08
Forget your age,its never to late to do anything you wish to do...I think you NEED to learn to drive under the circumstances...I have no idea what it would be like not to drive,i have driven since my early teens...By all means please learn,it will be to your advantage to learn............
@suspenseful (40193)
• Canada
10 May 08
I never could afford to drive before. Never had enough money to buy a car, and the time I did, I ran into a tree and my husband said I should not drive anymore. But now that is not that well, and if by chance, the doctor says he might have more strokes, then I might have to know how to drive and besides if something happens, I want to go places.
@slickcut (8141)
• United States
10 May 08
you are very wise in your thinking.I do know that since your husband has already had some strokes it is time for you to learn,it is not hard..When you learn its just like taking the next breath..You never know what the future holds,as you said ,if something should happen with your husband ,you will just be stuck at home..My mother gave up driving and she regreted doing so,she was at everyones mercy,and made her feel bad to beg for rides...I worked and could not be there all the time,i did what i could,but she had problems sometimes....
1 person likes this
• United States
4 Apr 08
You are never too old to learn how to drive. In fact you give me plenty of hope. I will be 27 this year, and have only been officially behind the wheel once in my life, and that was only in the park driving in a circle!!! My mom is supposed to be teaching me, but she has been saying that for over a year. My grandma has taken up that cross to bear, but she will only do it after she gets insurance for me on her car. I am so tired of riding the bus everywhere it makes me want to scream. Plus, the bus here isn't like American Express, it doesn't go everywhere I want to be lol.javascript:__doPostBack('ctl00$cphMainContent$btSubmit','') preview response Again, as long as you have the faculties to do so, your reflexes are still in tact, and you can see well, either with or without glasses, then there should be no problem in you learning how to drive.
@suspenseful (40193)
• Canada
10 May 08
I need reading glasses for small print and my reflexes are fine. In fact, my husband asks what am I screaming at or who scared me when I jump.
1 person likes this
• United States
10 May 08
I don't know why that code is in my discussion, or why its posted twice. Anyways, that is good on both counts. I am almost the same way. I need the glasses to read small to medium print from time to time. I can read it all to start off, but after so long my eyes get tired and go blurry. You let me know when you start your lessons, K?
1 person likes this
@Aingealicia (1905)
• United States
6 Apr 08
It is never to late to learn. Go for it. Just watch out for the other idiots on the road. Ainge
1 person likes this
@suspenseful (40193)
• Canada
10 May 08
They should watch out for me. I am a bit on the fast side. I want to get somewhere in a hurry. I will be probably taking all the back roads.
• United States
11 May 08
Too funny. Just be careful out there and have fun. Ainge
1 person likes this
• Hong Kong
1 Aug 09
hi, I am a 59 lady and got my driving licence 25 years ago. I only drove once after getting the licence. Now my daughter will have driving licence soon and i can drive her car. Is it too late for me to learn driving again, i feel a bit scare and i hesitate about doing it since I live in a crowded traffic city, HK.
1 person likes this
@suspenseful (40193)
• Canada
10 Dec 09
That is like what I was those 30 years ago. My husband decided that I was too nervous and we did not have enough money to afford two cars and also pay for a mortgage on our house so guess who no longer drove. Now my husband cannot drive because of his als and I cannot drive so we are stuck and have to go with friends and I do not have enough money to start driving again and get what I needed that I could not afford before. I also live in a city. Had we lived in the country, then I could have practiced driving in fields and also in empty parking lots, but here we have to pay for every lesson. They used to cost $20 each when I was in my 20s, but they are way more now.