[Misc] Do you have a driving licence?

[Goring-by-Seagull]

I'm 33 and haven't learnt yet. I've had no need to really. Don't need to drive for work and I've lived in Worthing / Brighton all my life where nothing is out of walking distance.

Having said that I want a family at some point and being unable to drive is going to present some, ahem, roadblocks for days out and whatnot.

I'm currently learning and nearly 33. Like you I've never needed to, I live just a five minute walk from work and close to shops and station.

I've been forced into learning by my girlfriend (she's paying so happy days), and I hated it for a good 10 lessons but now I'm a bit more confident and don't dread it so much anymore!

I did find it very tough at first which obviously didn't help, and I felt a bit "old dog new tricks". Oh and my god there are some right tossers on the road. Makes you just want to shout "CAN'T YOU SEE MY L PLATES!?? I CAN'T DRIVE! STAY BACK!"

 

[Weststander]

Hate driving in this country - endless jams & some bizarre driving habits.

Enjoy driving on the continent.

 

[RandyWanger]

"CAN'T YOU SEE MY L PLATES!?? I CAN'T DRIVE! STAY BACK!"

Sadly, there are a lot of dickheads on the roads. Stick with it though, once you pass, you'll probably get frustrated with learners yourself.

 

[Greg Bobkin]

And have you had it long? I keep hearing that youngsters are bothering with driving these days

Is it true? There seem to be a feck of a a lot more cars on the roads year on year!

Poll shows manual car which obviously includes an automatic.

Had a license for more than 20 years and generally drive somewhere every day.

In answer to one of your questions, the number of people taking their driving test is decreasing. There was a study done in the US that showed that it was more cost-effective for people to use Ubers instead of owning and running a vehicle. Usership is a growing trend over here – including car sharing as well as using alternative forms of transport – so I wouldn't be surprised if the number of drivers/vehicles on the road falls in the years ahead.

Then – in a generation or two – when autonomous cars are the norm – they'll be no need to drive as you don't actually drive them. So the test will become obsolete...

 

[Bob!]

Had a licence for around 40 years, still have the green paper version.

 

[Badger]

I passed my driving test when I was 17, which means I've had a licence for half my life. I actually learnt to drive then because I'd saved up a bit of money to buy myself a scooter but ended up changing my mind. I'm so glad I made that decision, it's such a useful thing to have even if you don't own a car. I haven't owned a car for 3 years since I moved to Toronto but it's great when I want to hire one to get out of the city.

On the manual/automatic licence issue, I was amazed to find out you can pass your test on an automatic here but you're still allowed to drive a manual.

 

[jamie (not that one)]

I only got my driving licence when I was 31 and purely because it was convenient to do so at the time. Having a car while living in a city centre always seemed more of a hassle than anything else and I didn't feel like I was missing out on anything.

Definitely handy to have but certainly not a necessity these days unless you work in an industry where having a license is highly desirable.

 

[SUIYHP]

I've lived in London for a while so there hasn't been a need to drive a car since I got my license, but now I'm back home I'm hoping to get some driving lessons to get me back up to scratch soon.

That being said, I'm looking for a good driving instructor, any recommendations?

 

[Thunder Bolt]

I have a car and bike licence, but can't apply that :-(

My husband has both, full licenses.

 

[Biscuit]

Didn't pass my test until my mid twenties as I lived in London and, well, there was no point. I did pass first time with one minor which was nice. So I've got a full manual license, but mostly drive automatics nowadays as the wife prefers them.

 

[Saladpack Seagull]

Bike since 1974, car since 1993. The current Mrs Saladpack came complete with a four-year -old and a two-year-old so to enhance my (then) Mr Wonderful status I got a car licence. I have to admit she's always been a better driver than me, having had licences not just here but in the States and Canada too. Twenty-six years on, those small boys have grown into car licence holders (and owners) as has our daughter. Time flies.

 

[BN9 BHA]

I have had a driving licence for a car since 1983, I do not enjoy driving now though.
I have to drive for work as I'm a tradesman and need to transport tools and materials to various jobs.

 

[Tim Over Whelmed]

My husband has both, full licenses.

Yes, me too, and 7.5 tonne for some obscure reason (Age)

 

[Seat Stealer]

Full car Licence (1985) and Bus licence to carry all the non drivers about

 

[spongy]

Passed in 1996 at 17 so a full license holder for 22 years. So missed the cut and passed before the theory test came in. I think I'd pass it though without too much revision.

I also have the 7.5ton bit so must be an age thing. Came in handy when helping my brother in law move 10 years ago as the hire place had no lutons available and he couldn't drive a 7.5 ton as passed after me.

Bought my first car aged 20. Always had one since. Living in woodingdean was awful for public transport working in newhaven and Burgess hill etc. It's half hour on a bus before you can get to a train station or to rottingdean to catch another bus along the coast. Driving cut my commute time down by 2hours a day so worthwhile.

Now I live in Burgess hill and work here the car sits for 5 days and I use it on weekends. Seriously considering selling it as we have the family car that the missus uses daily to shoreham.

But I don't think I can. It comes in handy. Often at weekends we have to go in opposite directions and i hate using public transport.

Also have a 4 year old starting school in a few weeks and I will need a car to do the occasional school run as shes going to school in hassocks and we live near the triangle.

I should really sell mine whilst it's still quite valuable and buy an older runabout but I love my cars and performance. I couldn't have a car without some oomph to it so driving a 1.4 litre Astra or some sort makes me shudder.

 

[Thunder Bolt]

Yes, me too, and 7.5 tonne for some obscure reason (Age)

Yep, that too. We hired a 7.5 tonne to move home in 2004.

 

[Deleted member 2719]

Car and bike, never thought |I would get an Automatic car but it makes driving so much easier on our busy roads these days and you always have the paddles to do a quick shift if you get the chance.

 

[Eeyore]

I learned ten years ago in my late 30s. I'd always lived in the centre of Brighton and then moved to Sydney (excellent public transport), Tokyo (brilliant public transport, dreadful traffic) and Taipei (only the most lunatic of crazy adrenaline sports junkies would even attempt to drive there as a Westerner. You'd die in days). So I'd never needed to. I learned when we had kids and passed second time.

However, I don't think I've actually driven for about two years, maybe more. I walk the school run, get public transport to the office and use buses / trains everywhere else too. We have one car which Mrs GB drives everywhere and hogs on the weekend and I'm now at the point where I've totally lost my confidence and given up.

I've not driven for 10 years now. I'll need a few lessons when I decide next.

 

[Ⓩ-Ⓐ-Ⓜ-Ⓞ-Ⓡ-Ⓐ]

Since 2004 I think

 

[Coldeanseagull]

The only thing I haven't got/held a licence for is a bike......I like a wheel on each corner and a roof when on the road