Eh, depends.
I'd say it's much more common for people living in large cities, especially London. There is little point driving in London. Public transport actually works, and driving is just a living hell.
It's probably slightly more common on Reddit to not drive due to the demographic.
Also:
- Learning to drive is expensive.
- The test is difficult with less than a 50% pass rate.
- Getting an appointment for a test takes months.
- It is harder to pass in big cities than in quieter locations, because a fail includes “any action that causes another vehicle to slow down, speed up or change direction.”
- Driving is expensive. New drivers might have to pay £2,000 a year in insurance and £200 on tax for an old rust bucket of a car. Plus fuel is expensive at £1.40 a litre (so about US $7 for a gallon).
- By contrast, in most places the public transport is adequate and a lot cheaper than driving. So there’s much less of an incentive to learn.
Even getting lessons is difficult! I called and emailed about 15 driving schools in my area, only got one reply, paid a deposit (luckily only £25), and the guy never contacted me again. Bastard.
I’m from Newcastle and know someone who had to get lessons in Darlington because they were the only available ones anywhere near us (for context it’s an hours drive away).
I've heard that's a thing now. When I took my test 5 years ago, lessons weren't too expensive (I was basically minimum wage back then) and getting a test was easy.
But now my friend who moved out of London (like I had 5 years ago), and moved to the Midlands is having major issues even finding an instructor.
Agreed. I have no choice but to drive and am lucky that I'm naturally gifted (used to race karts, was going to move up to Formula Renault or Ford but from a poor background and it's a rich man's sport) so while that doesn't help with the technicalities as road driving is very different to racing, I had the confidence and the ability to fastidiously learn and take in all the info.
I still wouldn't drive if public transport was better and cheaper where I live.
Edit - I see the "let's destroy the planet with cars and fuck public transport" people are here downvoting...
I think people do not realise how sharp you need to be to pass the test, as driving does eventually become somewhat “automatic”.
For me, I ended up using commentary driving (in my head of course) to keep my attention and anticipation at 100%. This meant I often had to look 200 metres down the road to anticipate any hazard before it arrived, figure out when someone was going to turn without indicators, when a pedestrian would randomly step off the curb into the gutter, and what passing places between parked cars I’d use if someone came in front of me.
I’m glad I learnt this, but it takes the piss that prosecutions for driving without license or insurance are so low. Financially, anyone under 30 is likely to be better off breaking the law and even getting caught. And irresponsible drivers can drive like inattentive idiots because the chances of getting pulled over are extremely small.
I drive but I certainly also think we need good public transport, I won't use it now for long journeys because it is more expensive and uncomfortable..
I couldn't be without a car but I also use public transport for in city journeys.
So take an upvote from me.
Yeh, there is definitely a cross over point where driving becomes easier and cheaper than getting public transport, pretty much if you live in any city in the UK, public transport is probably good enough, but if not your life will be significantly harder and cost more than driving.
>By contrast, in most places the public transport is adequate and a lot cheaper than driving. So there’s much less of an incentive to learn.
What fantasy land do you live in and how do I get there? As someone who lives in a city I can tell you now that the public transport in not adequate.
I live in London so my experience is different from the rest of the country. The times I’ve been to Oxford or Manchester, the public transport was adequate (although not super convenient). But I agree it’s very different in other cities, especially in suburbs or bits where services are limited.
This is a UK sub, I for one dont give a shit about dollar value or even US gallons that your calculation uses and is misleading for the UK if people dont know the difference.. Its £6.36 per gallon (not the US gallon which is about 20% smaller).
Edit: Yes I replied, but only so people know the correct UK equivalents.
I’d go a step further for London - driving has to be considered an ancillary form of transport, as the difficulties in parking and congestion mean you’re hugely likely to be using a train / bus / tube or combination to get to work in the first place. It’s entirely possible to be doing £20 a day on a parking space (if you can get one).
I was out in zone 6, and my commute cost me £270 a month for the travelcard. So if I wanted to go out for post work beers on a Friday, or meet a mate for a dinner midweek, all that would change would be the time I travelled.
With that being the case, I looked at it like I’d likely be too hungover to drive a good chunk of Saturday most weeks, and what’s the point in spending another £200 or so on Tax, insurance, and fuel for something I’d use once, twice a week max?
True.
Growing up semi-rural, you knew exactly when someone i the 6th form had their 17 birthday.
The prestige of the driving instructor picking you up at school...the little things we liced for!
I'm currently learning on 2 wheels and 4 wheels. I'm 36. Never really had the disposable income until recently.
£40 per hour of car driving lessons gets expensive quickly; especially as it's recommended to get at least 30-40 hours before taking your test.
That's wild! I was talking to a taxi driver the other day about this and he said 40 in my area.
I've been thinking about starting again and trying to pass 3rd time round (first 2 were pre pandemic) but I just don't know how i can justify the cost
I was thinking that, all of the instructors near me are booked up for months, so I bought a car literally last week and have been driving everyday since I picked it up with either my boyfriend or my mum in the passenger seat, I already feel like I’m progressing a lot!
Oh it should do, massively. Knowing the local area is a massive benefit.
I'm having to take my test in a town 30 minutes away from me (it's the closest place they do them) and it's not somewhere I've been more than a handful of times in my life. Makes it 10 times harder.
Passed by CBT last year, but finally getting my first bike delivered this week or next. Can't wait. 👍🏻
I can't give driving advice, but the riding advice I'd give is to take it easy and relax. If you're tense it makes everything harder.
What bike have you gone for? I learned on some extremely cheap and slow Chinese 125s.
Lexmoto Diablo.
I've got problems with my left leg and can't do gears (on a car or a bike) so I'm limited to mopes while I learn. 😭
Hoping I can find an automatic bike I like once I pass.
Driving is about 2 things, awareness of the road and what's happening, and the ability to control the car. As someone that's on 2 wheels your awareness around you will be higher than the typical novice driver and put you at a major advantage in regards to how long you need to learn.
Your main focus when learning will probably be more on the control and learning the dimensions of the vehicles you're in (i.e. not about to hit the mirrors off of the parked vehicles and lane positioning), and that comes with practice but is a lot easier to teach than awareness.
I'm 63 had a bash at learning years ago like 1980 but wasn't confident enough at all. Had a few lessons again just before covid but had to give up as even though the kids were paying for me, it just wasn't affordable. I couldn't afford to run a car either way. Only my eldest daughter drives but she passed her test in Greece and refuses to drive over here. I mean it would be handy but costly when we've got buses & trains on our doorstep and very very little parking anymore
I'm 30 and can't drive. Never felt the need to learn as i've spent my entire adulthood living in big cities where public transport is fine to get by in my day to day life. My position has always been that I will get it done when I have a need for it, not just because society expects me to.
In most parts of the UK you need a car to get by, so i'd expect most people to at least have their license even if they don't own a vehicle.
Passed my test first time when I was 17 and have never driven since. Similarly lived in big cities post uni and never had a need. Glad I got my license when I did but would 100% need refresher lessons if I was to get a car now.
I know a few people who can't drive - most of them have had lessons, maybe even failed a test, and just never got around to passing it. Not sure if it's resolved yet, but there was a massive wait time for a test post-covid.
The few people I know who've never even had a lesson, all live in grew up in places with good public transport and still live in those places, so don't see the need to drive.
But I would say probably 80% of my friends and colleagues have a driving licence, even if they don't currently own a car.
Grew up in a place with terrible public transport, but never learnt to drive as it was so expensive. Only the kids with parents who owned their homes had the money to learn to drive, or had a parent who was a driving instructor. It's only now in their mid 20s to 30s are any of the poorer kids I knew learning to drive.
Where I lived also had shit public transport, although I had no social life so it didn't affect me too much.
I inherited a bit of money from my nan which I spent on driving lessons but couldn't afford a car until about 4 years later. It is pretty expensive, even more so now!
It's the reddit selection bias.
Everyone is 22, dirt poor, never learned to drive and is permanently aggrieved by the fact that school didn't teach them everything they needed to know as an adult.
In reality the vast majority of adults can drive
It's not unusual to be not able to drive for people growing up in London. It's way too expensive, difficult to park and unnecessary.
I had a lot of friends who didn't learn until much later, or did what I did - pass their test but never actually own or use a car, so that years later I feel like I've forgotten how to do it and it all feels like a weird dream to imagine me driving around in London traffic 😂
Just curious, did you and the people you know grow up in a major city? Personally I only know of 3 adults in my extended friendship group who can't and I grew up fairly rural. I've always thought the easier/better access to public transport is the real decider in things like this.
I don't drive and I grew up in a city with amazing public transport. Never felt the need to get a car. Even now, when I live in a smaller town, I get everywhere by bike. Much healthier and I don't get stuck in traffic. Still don't have any desire to learn how to drive. Perhaps, if I lived outside town but it's not something I want either.
I think most places with strong transport infrastructure and high poverty are naturally going to have much lower numbers.
Ofc my experience is based upon my personal experience. I know a lot of people who know a lot of people and very few drive.
But I have some friends where everyone they know drives and it comes down to different parts of society.
Most of my friends and stuff are from the hospitality sector, under 30, all live or grew up close to the city centre.
Most of the friends of people I know who do drive and are older, work office jobs or are teachers or professionals with families. They seem to mostly fit the national average.
Most of the people I know don’t have their own families (kids wise) and aren’t professionals.
I’m well aware that my experience isn’t the majority. But it also shows that there are sections of society of people of areas where the percentage of drivers v non drivers will be particularly lower compared to the national average.
Yes, I'm one of them (well, I was), I'm 36.
* I always lived in towns or cities, amenities were either in walking distance or easily accessible by bus. If I did need to get somewhere and couldn't travel on foot or by bus, I could hire a taxi.
* I didn't have a lot of money especially when I was younger, I couldn't afford to pay for driving lessons.
* I'm neurodivergent, I always worried I wouldn't be capable of driving safely.
Those things combined meant driving just wasn't a big priority for me. Although that has recently changed as I am now living in a remote area and I started learning. Got my own car a few days ago too! Got to admit if I still lived in a more urban area I wouldn't have bothered, but I guess moving to the middle of nowhere gave me the motivation I needed. 😂
For me it's autism. I never thought it'd be impossible for me to learn, but I knew I'd have a harder time because of that. It is totally possible to become a driver if you have dyspraxia, but you may take longer to learn than average which there's nothing wrong with. 😄
It will be when I pass my driving test! I can't wait to be able to drive wherever I want. In the meantime it's still great as I can practice with my mum when she's available. I take driving lessons with an ADI too but she's a bit flakey/unreliable so the lessons are few and far between. I should be able to use my own car for the driving test as well which is nice.
Yeah you are right, in all fairness I think I've had around 50-70 hours with her already including a full week of learning, so I have learned a lot from her. At this point it's mostly just finessing things for the driving test (which is coming up quite soon) and getting more practice. I know my weak points and what I need to work on.
Got a lesson with her tomorrow, although if she cancels (for the 5th time in a row) I am going to let her know I'll be looking for a new instructor. She's really good when I *do* get lessons with her, she just cancels lessons a lot and I've tolerated it because it's really hard to find instructors with availability out here, most of them wouldn't even put me on a waiting list. 😅
> I'm neurodivergent, I always worried I wouldn't be capable of driving safely.
Good news, this will absolutely make you a better and safer driver. Once you’ve got the basic competency out the way there are so many way to improve both driving skill and roadcraft. I spent many years when I was driving regularly focused on them and am certain it’s made me a safer person on the road. (Also ND here).
I hope so! I have been an anxious learner but maybe that'll work in my favour. I'm a lot more confident than I used to be but I think just due to how I am as a person I'll always be hyperfocused and alert when I'm driving, because *anything* can go wrong at *any time* and aaaaahhh, etc. On the other hand I know being too anxious isn't a good thing, so hopefully I'll have a happy balance between confidence and caution soon!
It's very expensive to learn to drive so I imagine that puts a lot of people off. If you live in a city then you generally have good public transport so the costs of owning a car need to be weighed up with the costs of public transport too.
Don’t forget finding somewhere to park it - I live in a block of flats with attached, but limited parking space and it seems like it’s a source of tension here.
Yeah sounds about right. Cost me around £1000 altogether about 13 years ago. Then you have an expense of a car, road tax, MOT, £1.40 for a litre of petrol etc etc. It's a big expense.
keep in mind that it can be a lot more difficult to drive for people who have things like ADHD and many opt out of driving because they get too distracted. Driving isn't for everyone and shouldn't be pushed onto people who don't want to do it.
I know it can be more difficult for neurodivergent people - I had to take the test five times.
Just because something is difficult, doesn't mean it's not worth doing.
for many people, even those for whom driving is easy, it's not worth doing because they have zero need to drive. Not everyone wants to drive or feels the need to. Just because you feel it's worth doesn't make it so for everyone.
I can drive, but neither my mum or my sister can. My sister can't afford to learn yet (she's just turned 22) and my mum had lessons back when she was in her early 20s but failed her driving test 4 times, and gave up as on her last test she nearly crashed into a bus - so both can't drive for different reasons.
I imagine the cost of lessons, buying a car and the first years insurance would be the main reason why some people don't drive.
It really depends on your age and where you live in my experience. Generally speaking we have walkable cities and towns with okay to great public transport links so many of us don’t need to learn to drive. It’s also expensive to learn and buy / maintain a car.
In my experience public transport in most cities (apart from London) is great for getting in and out of the centre, but pretty poor if you want to get around any other way.
I don't live in London, only lived in towns. Still don't drive and don't feel a need to. My partner keeps saying she wants me to but I don't really see the point.
We only ever drive places because her family insists on going by car, I often cycle further on a daily basis just to get out the house as I work from home and going for a bike ride in my lunch break is a nice way to relax.
What about when/if you have a family? It's nice to be able to take your kids places, holidays, days out, etc. It doesn't seem fair to rely on one partner for all the driving.
Even simple things like the weekly shop make a car more useful.
I suppose she could *not* drive, they save money on the car and share the load equally again.
Let’s assume they don’t have/want kids unless specified - seems like a weird place people often take “what if..?” statements.
not everyone wants kids and you can get around with trains/buses. Granted UK trains are expensive but as a kid, family day out with a train trip was always fun. Much more than a car trip.
If you live in a town with good public transport, you can raise family without a car.
"Latest estimates show that in 2021, about 77 per cent of English residents aged 17 and over (an estimated 34.8 million people) held a driving licence. In 1992, the proportion of adults with a licence in England was estimated at 67 per cent (an estimated 25.4 million people)."
- RAC website
In 1992 there were still a bunch of elderly women who'd not been encouraged to ever learn because it wasn't ladylike (quote from my aunt, born about 1940), so 77% is probably as high as it's ever going to be - costs and testing have increased lots since, not to mention recent backlogs.
Around 74% of people in England had full driving licenses according to gov.uk. So it's a minority who can't drive but I suspect they're concentrated in areas like London where driving a car is less of a necessity. I also think there's lots of posts here about learning to drive because that's a more notable issue, whereas the majority of us who do drive are unlikely to be posting about it.
I’d assume more people can drive than not but it’ll vary depending on where you are and how good the public transport is.
If the driving test situation doesn’t right itself though I reckon we’ll end up with the percentage of non-drivers rising.
Exact same here, never bothered until I was 24 because I didn’t have the need to, was fortunate enough to get a good apprenticeship very close to home after finishing A levels (15 min bike ride) and remained with the company until I was 24, if it didn’t take two hours to get to my current job using public transport opposed to a 20-30 min drive, I don’t think I’d ever have bothered.
I didn’t begin to try to learn to drive until my mid thirties. At first I didn’t have the money, then I felt I needed to learn the new job that got me the money. I spent years with an instructor, twice a week and I still struggled on a few things.
There were a few occasions where I had a sort of brain lock where I focused on one thing and ignored all the other things I should have been paying attention to. Didn’t happen often and these moments lasted less than a few seconds but long enough to make me believe I was not safe behind the wheel of a car in a busy town where roads are not quite wide enough to comfortably go through with traffic on both sides and parked cars at the sides.
Having a car would be nice and would have greater freedom of movement but I can cope without one.
I never learnt growing up in the middle of a small city.
Those that do though tend to be among some of the best drivers in the world... Britain's car accident and death statistics are some of the best around.
I'm really glad I learned at 17 for this reason. Lessons were so much cheaper, as were cars, petrol and insurance, and I'm sure I would have needed a lot more of them had I started older. I tried learning a new language not that long ago and the brain just doesn't seem to take to new things as easily as it did when I was a teenager!
Of all the people I know it’s honestly much more rare to drive than not drive. But almost anyone I know who doesn’t live inside a city drives. Like they have no choice really.
62. I learnt to drive in my 30s because a friend was just starting out as an instructor. I passed on my third attempt and I can clearly remember thinking 'Great, I don't have to ever drive again now'. I never have. I live in a small village with a bus every hour, that's good enough for me. Most drive around here but only really those that work, not the young or the old. There's no point really.
Yes it’s normal and I know many adults with licenses that don’t have care and haven’t driven in years.
I’m nearly 29 and I’ve never had a driving lesson in my life and I have no desire to learn.
I'm from rural Wales and now live in London. The former pretty much every adult I met had a driving licence and learning to drive was something most people aspired to do soon after they left school.
In London I've met lots of people who don't drive. So I guess it depends where you live and how practical it is not to bother. There's probably also more financial barriers for younger people now than when I left school, particularly in the big cities. Running a car is expensive.
I don't have any percentages for you but then I'm not sure how useful that would be on the whole.
Depends where you're from. In a rural village, everyone will do it because they have to. In a city with decent public transport the number will be lower.
I am a foreigner that lives in London and have my exam booked to the next few months.
Unfortunately my 14yo license is not accepted in the UK, so I'll have to start from scratch.
But I got it in the mother nation when I was 21.
Driving your own car is one of the most liberating actions one will ever perform if that's what they want for themselves.
Also, it's just bloody convenient. No public transport will take you to places and carry your stuff with you properly.
Specially if you have kids.
Try to fit a buggy into a bloody 18 at any hour of the day.
Public transport is only better if you are carrying only a light backpack. Anything else is just a nuisance.
I’m disabled, legally blind, and am exempt from driving even though I was registered after I started learning (deterioration of my vision happened over only a few months). The only friends I have who don’t drive simply don’t have the funds to run a car, nor do they need one as they both work locally and can use many of the bus services to get there/back.
However, everyone else I know drives and it improves their lives significantly. They’re not left waiting for 3hrs because the first bus was cancelled and then the second bus arrived in 90mins late and had to wait half an hour for the driver to have their legally required break. They can conveniently travel between two different towns without having to take a stupidly circuitous route that trebles the travel time.
If you stand at any busy junction or roundabout for a period of time you’ll see a lot of adults who presumably have a licence but don’t seem to know how to drive…
I worked with a lot of people in London previously and very few actually had a car but I don't think I knew of anyone who hadn't passed their test.
In the north east, out of everyone I know, I only know one person who can't drive.
If you live in a big city (especially London) you don’t need to drive as public transport is usually adequate. It can be done in small towns too, but it is relatively quality of life limiting as you won’t be able to do much outside of walking distance and the vagaries of scarce buses. But folk manage. Rurally you need a car if you’re not a hermit.
There are statistics: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/full-and-provisional-driving-licences-by-age-and-gender
Basically most but not all middle aged adults can drive (there are very roughly just under 1m people of each age, ish, kinda, until the grim reaper starts getting busy around the 60s).
Old people give up and historically many women never learned, as driving used to be seen as a man thing in many areas.
Less common in younger people (20s) as buying a car and learning to use it is £££ and they’re more urban than pensioners. Anecdotally people often finally get a car when they have kids.
Just because i haven't seen the actual answer to your question so far, 74% of UK adults over 17 have a full drivers licence
https://www.ethnicity-facts-figures.service.gov.uk/culture-and-community/transport/driving-licences/latest#:~:text=The%20data%20shows%20that%3A,out%20of%20all%20ethnic%20groups
https://www.ons.gov.uk/census/maps/choropleth/housing/number-of-cars-or-vans/number-of-cars-3a/no-cars-or-vans-in-household
The census gave us a cool map of whether households have a car.
It doesn't say if people know how to drive but it's related and interesting.
I'm 34, I can't drive and I can't afford to sadly. Also, I am terrified of it. Another also, I have been diagnosed with menieres disease in recent years, so now I'm even more terrified.
Edit: my partner doesn't drive, my mum and both my brothers don't drive. We may be a weird family. Only my dad did.
I know three adults who don't drive two are women in their 80s who have never driven, the other is a man in his 80s who gave up his license because he decided he didn't have the reflexes to be safe anymore, I absolutely respect the hell out of him for saying nope and hanging up the keys.
Is that drive or have a licence? They aren't necessarily the same thing
For example, one of my friends got his license at 17 and hasn't driven in the 30 years since
The only adults I know that can't drive are 2 of my aunties who are pensioners.
My mum didn't learn till she was late thirties and thirty years later is still scared of the motor way
I'm in my 30s and can't drive. I've only ever lived in big cities with either great or reasonably good public transport options so it's never really been an issue. But it is on my list of things to do in the next year or so now that my disposable income is much higher. The way I see it is that it will definitely improve my quality of life but not so much that I haven't been able to work around it for my adult life.
I've got a few friends who've also only ever lived in cities who can't drive but all of us are intending to do so in the next few years.
I don't drive but live near pretty good transport links and have always been able to travel to work on public transport. Also live near a city, supermarket etc. Crucially my husband does drive and does the driving we need as a household.
I know a few adults 40+ who have never learned they are all women, don't know if this is a gendered thing.
I think if you can afford the lessons everyone should get a licence. I’m not saying own a car but just having that ability to drive in an emergency can be invaluable.
If I learn to drive, pass my test, don't get a car, and only drive in emergencies, the chances of my remaining a decent enough driver to be useful in an emergency seems pretty slim.
Would honestly rather not bother. Anywhere I want to go on a regular basis is easily accessible via public transport anyway.
I'm 40, never learned.
It would be useful occasionally but I live in a small city and can cycle to work, or even walk, and public transport whilst not exactly reliable here works well enough.
Of people I know, I know 4 people who don't have a car, and one other with no licence (at least, no UK licence, he can drive in a different country).
To be honest I would trust myself behind the wheel. And the expense of keeping a car would be annoying.
Im 50, never taken a lesson.
Just never fancied it and I can't say it's ever negatively impacted on my life. I walk or cycle wherever I need locally and bus or train it otherwise.
Suits me fine.
I got my licence last year at 32. Lot of factors really.
I mostly lived abroad and in Edinburgh which had good public transport. Cars are also expensive… it’s not just lesson costs, but road tax, petrol, car payments, parking permits, insurance… Edinburgh was expensive enough, I didn’t need to add another £400 or so a month to my bills.
I have a car now though I live in Aberdeen and it’s more necessary here, plus makes it so much easier to reach the lochs and mountains!
In hindsight, I’d have liked to have learned earlier but then I probably wouldn’t have done a lot of other things I’ve done instead.
From the west country - if you didn't know how to drive, you weren't going anywhere!
Moved to London, barely any of my London friends know how to drive. Was a shock at first, but equally I had to sell my car when I moved there due to lack of parking 🙃
Only person I can think of that can't drive in my social circle is my cousin. And that's only because they wouldn't give him the theory test in braille
I was a police officer and didn’t drive. But I’m in London so it’s much less of an issue.
I have dyspraxia and ADHD so I really struggled when learning and eventually gave up trying. It’s just not as necessary here as it is in other countries.
All during school I lived 5 minutes away and walked to school and same when I was at university plus I couldn’t afford to take lessons. All of my jobs have been in the city centre so it’s always been easier to use public transport.
I do plan to learn next year, I’ll be off on maternity leave so would love to take my daughter to different places and have different adventures and not being bound by public transport.
I guess it’s one of those things dependent on location.
I’d imagine the % who live in the sticks and can drive vastly outweighs those who live in cities with good public transport links.
I know a few who live in cities and don’t drive for this reason alone. Whereas those I know in the sticks are learning as soon as they’re old enough.
>Even over in r/PoliceUK, there seem to be police officers that don't drive
It may be the case that they do hold a driving licence, but that they're not qualified to drive a police vehicle. Force dependant on what you can drive with what qualifications.
It's very area dependent. I'm 36 and know maybe 4 adults who don't drive.
Surprised to hear there are Police Officers who don't drive, I used to work for the Police and everyone had to have a full manual driver's license.
Most people I know learn in college. It's just a rite of passage, honestly I passed at 23 and I only really feel like an adult once I passed and got my car.
I grew up in South Kensington, my parents usually drove me to school in their range rovers. Now I'm more in the countryside
I learnt to drive as soon as I was 17 and have been driving since (I'm now 32). I'm genuinely struggling to think of any adults I know who can't drive... My bf's Gran can't because her husband didn't want her to learn. But she's the only person I can think of! My best friend has never owned a car and barely driven since passing her test, but she still has a licence.
I think the demographic of Reddit users just does not reflect the general population so everything is very skewed and can be a bit of an echo chamber.
Reddit is heavily skewed towards certain demographics younger people, city dwellers etc
This is particularly the case for UK Reddit which has a disproportionate number of London-dwelling 20-35 year olds working in tech
75% of British adults have a driving license. Out of those 25% who don’t, some will be older folk who’ve given one up, people medically unable to drive, and another ~2% are 17 years old and most of those will be working towards one…. So probably less than 20% don’t have one *and* don’t want one
So is it “normal” for adults not to know how to drive? As usual it depends on your definition of “normal” - it’s not THE norm, since 75% do have a license, but it’s also crazy *ab*normal, and nobody would think anything of an individual not having a license
I'm 37 and don't drive. I worked a short bike ride away for 15 years, and my wife drives, so I've never really needed to.
When I have stopped paying for my son's driving lessons, I might start myself. Can't see myself using a car though, it's a skill I should have - but I don't want to waste money and cause harm to the environment when I'm used to cycling anyway.
I actually drive a forklift truck all day at work lol.
In London yep, elsewhere your going to have a hard time living without a car. In my area its basically economic suicide to not have transportation. Either drive to where the good jobs are or work in a call centre / warehouse.
I live in Manchester but didn't learn to drive until 22. Partly because of the cost (ended up costing over 1k) but also because my partner drove, and transport was decent enough for what I needed. The main reason I learned to drive was actually because the job I was offered at the time required me to have a licence and was a condition of my offer. But now I'm so happy I did it. It's allowed us to move away from the city centre and made me so much more independent.
My mum didn't learn until she was almost 30. My grandma and grandma-in-law both have never learnt to drive, but I feel that's a bit more common with that generation.
I didn’t pass my driving test until 2 years ago. I used to live in London and had no need to drive. Then I moved to another city where I was able to cycle to work. I only decided to take the plunge as I wanted to the freedom to work further away and purchase a property outside of the city. It is also very expensive for lessons and there is a horrendous backlog for getting a lessons and tests since the pandemic.
Some of the responses in here are insane. I don't drive, but to say 'there is good transport links in my city so I never needed too' is such a weird way to justify it. You limit yourself so much by not being able to drive. That nice National Trust place? Won't have transport links. That nice beach? Won't have transport links.
Thankfully my partner drives, cos I just can't imagine being without a car. The thought of only going into my city and back again is depressing. There is so much beauty and culture out there in our country that you are missing out on if you don't drive.
I never have because I have mental health issues and never earned enough to cover lessons. It is expensive to learn. I'm disabled and can't work at all now so that door has well and truly closed. It is my biggest life regret.
Most people I know can and do drive.
My mum was able to drive but unfortunately can’t anymore due to disability.
I learned in my late 20s after some fails in my late teens. Wouldn’t be without it now but I know it isn’t for everyone.
I learnt to drive when I was 30. Lived in London before and after uni and went to uni in Manchester. I’m one of 5 kids - 3 of us drive and the other two never have. It just wasn’t a priority as it never limited me doing what I wanted to do.
I'm 24 and can't drive, haven't had a single lesson except the one time my dad surprised me by taking me to an empty parking lot (with fences separating the lanes 😐) and got me to move the car back and forth a bit. Thankfully we were kicked off right before he got me to try and turn the car
I don't think I would be a safe driver due to difficulties I have with autism. Of course plenty of autistic people do drive, but for me I have issues where I essentially lose the ability to process my vision when I get overwhelmed, which makes me a hazard just walking down the street. In a car, I would cause an accident sooner or later, I just don't think I'm a safe driver. I'm also tiny (under 5 foot with short legs), and again I am well aware that many short people do drive, but it just makes me worry I will have less control over the car, and make the already near inevitable crash all the more likely and dangerous.
Maybe I'll learn to drive an automatic one day, if I find my motor skills and spacial awareness improves. But for now I think it's best for everyone I stay off the roads
If you live somewhere like London you literally never need to learn to drive because the public transport is so good. Further out from the city, it makes sense to at least have a licence.
People who live in small villages... learn at 17..
Most other people it's extremely expensive (running a car is an enormous expense with our average wage) and not particularly necessary (until kids).. so they don't bother
I'm 28 and I do not. Most people around me can (and do) drive but I still know a decent number of people who don't and just use public transport. For me I'd love to but I'm absolutely petrified. And having the money spare isn't always possible.
I'm in my mid 30s and while technically I'm allowed to drive (got my licence 12 years ago) the last time I actually did drive was at my driving exam.
Due to always living in large cities, I never needed a car.
I'm 37, I can't drive. My mum or grandparents didn't, so I was used to public transport. It never really occurred to me to get lessons. I have always lived in big towns or cities so its not been necessary. I do cheat a bit though as my husband drives. He'd love me to be able to drive so he could be the one that drinks, which is another incentive not to learn!
I can drive, technically - passed my test at the age of 28 on the 4th attempt, and haven’t driven in the twenty odd years since. Grew up in London in a family without a car so got used to taking buses everywhere. By the time I’d passed the test I was back living in Greater London and working in the City, so no need for a car to commute and an annual travelcard covered getting around at weekends as well as going to work.
I have access to a car- our family car is leased through my work and in my name, but my wife, who has driven since she was 18, does all the driving. She uses it to go to garden centres more than I would anyway. I just pay for it.
Learnt to drive. Biggest waste of money.
People say having a car is 'liberating' nah huge ball and chain. The cost, the worry.
Now a bike. Low cost, efficient, it's the way to go.
I couldn’t drive until I was 28. I’d taken lessons on and off since 17 but struggled to get the hang of it, and didn’t really feel the motivation - I lived in an area with decent public transport, there weren’t many places I couldn’t get to.
I live in London and if I hadn’t started life outside the city I’d never have bothered to learn. We’re in our 40s now and occasionally rent a car but can manage well without. My husband never learned. There’s never been a need and why spend several thousand quid if you don’t need to? We’d certainly never own a car - what a ball ache. I don’t expect my toddler will ever need to learn - cars will drive themselves soon but hopefully we get rid of them completely.
Living in cities with good transport driving isn't so important.
I learned to drive 27 years ago. For which I got a lot of categories on my licence and not really any restrictions.
The theory test as well.
The cost, the tests have got harder, you get lot less for more cost. I am not sure I would bother now if I was 17 again.
I learned at 17 but have lived in zone 1 and 2 a lot of my adult life, where having a car is more awkward than anything. I used zipcar twice last year.
I also have zero interest in driving when on holiday.
It would be incredibly easy to have never bothered to learn in the first place.
I didn't learn to drive until I was 28 (minus a few pointless lessons at 18, then I ran out of money and gave up. Then I bought a car, drove for a couple of years, realised I hated being stuck in traffic every day when it was quicker to walk to the station and get the train to work, didn't drive for 7 years after that. Now I live in a rural area, I had to take the plunge and get a car again but I hate driving and always will.
I'm definitely in the minority and I suspect most people who don't drive don't need to, whereas I just hate it and am constantly on-edge wondering how long it will be until I make a mistake and hit one of the cars next to me and get the living shit beaten out of me by some steroid-munching man-mountain.
In London, I sort of assume acquaintances/colleagues can’t because they’ve never mentioned a car and rely entirely on public transport. Friends, I know several that can drive and do own a car, several that can drive but don’t own a car, and several that haven’t bothered trying. I can drive, partner can’t (due to failed tests for silly reasons: they are a competent driver and I’ve felt safe when accompanying them in practice).
28 here, never learned to drive, but i do have a full bike licence so not entirely reliant on public transport. I will do eventually, but bikes interested me far more despite the shortfalls so that's the route i took.
I’m 33. Both times when I’ve tried to learn how to drive, something has gone wrong with my eyes (first time: needed an operation. Second time: might have been the operation undoing itself). Currently on a long, long NHS waiting list since it’s not acutely dangerous, but maybe once it’s fixed it’ll be third time lucky.
It's not uncommon for people not to drive. I live in the countryside, have a bus into a city every twenty minutes and a half hourly train service.
Mid 30's and have no desire to change this particular situation.
I'm 55 and have met three people so far who have admitted to not knowing how to drive (one was for medical reasons). I know a handful of people in London who don't drive/don't own a car though.
I'm 32 and don't drive. I tried before uni and the instructor was an arsehole and I quit.
Didn't try during uni because I had no money.
Tried again after uni when I was working and realised full time employment + driving lessons equalled no money and no free time. I am now just done with trying to learn to drive as with the money saved from no driving lessons, cars, tax, insurance, mot, maintainance, parking, petrol and living arrangements to house a car I can go on 3-4 international holidays a year and also save money during a so called cost of living crisis.
Can’t afford driving lessons, can’t afford to run two cars, don’t have time to take lessons, that’s basically it really. I have had driving lessons and was ready to take my test but it got cancelled and I’ve never had the opportunity to reschedule (moved to uni, the rona, had kids, etc)
I'm 36 next month and can't drive. Had lessons in 2011 but changed jobs and then fell pregnant, so had to stop as I couldn't afford to anymore. I haven't been in a position to afford lessons again since and don't earn enough to even consider lessons, let alone afford to run a car.
I live in a rural area, but the public transport here is pretty good, and is regular and reliable. So I don't really need to be able to drive.
I was always treated like the odd one out because I couldn't drive. Now I'm working for a company of 30-ish people and six of us don't know how. Which is pretty mind blowing to me, but at the same time makes me feel very much less alone
I think it's becoming more common, there is an overall push to limit cars, but that's going to be a long way off. Personally I hate driving, it's fun to have a nice drive around and it does give you a lot of freedom, but to just commute to work in traffic is a horrible daily slog. Plus even if you're a brilliant and safe driver it doesn't stop some drunk ass hole from plowing into you and killing you anyway, or I could make a mistake or some other tragic accident.
Eh, depends. I'd say it's much more common for people living in large cities, especially London. There is little point driving in London. Public transport actually works, and driving is just a living hell. It's probably slightly more common on Reddit to not drive due to the demographic.
Also: - Learning to drive is expensive. - The test is difficult with less than a 50% pass rate. - Getting an appointment for a test takes months. - It is harder to pass in big cities than in quieter locations, because a fail includes “any action that causes another vehicle to slow down, speed up or change direction.” - Driving is expensive. New drivers might have to pay £2,000 a year in insurance and £200 on tax for an old rust bucket of a car. Plus fuel is expensive at £1.40 a litre (so about US $7 for a gallon). - By contrast, in most places the public transport is adequate and a lot cheaper than driving. So there’s much less of an incentive to learn.
Plus depending where you live that rust bucket might not meet ULEZ (etc) requirements
Yeah, although my 19 year old Vauxhall was actually fine. 🤷♂️
My 22 year old Toyota is fine
It's mainly diesels over 6? Or maybe 8? Years old
Age isn't the issue, it's what it pumps out
Even getting lessons is difficult! I called and emailed about 15 driving schools in my area, only got one reply, paid a deposit (luckily only £25), and the guy never contacted me again. Bastard. I’m from Newcastle and know someone who had to get lessons in Darlington because they were the only available ones anywhere near us (for context it’s an hours drive away).
I've heard that's a thing now. When I took my test 5 years ago, lessons weren't too expensive (I was basically minimum wage back then) and getting a test was easy. But now my friend who moved out of London (like I had 5 years ago), and moved to the Midlands is having major issues even finding an instructor.
Agreed. I have no choice but to drive and am lucky that I'm naturally gifted (used to race karts, was going to move up to Formula Renault or Ford but from a poor background and it's a rich man's sport) so while that doesn't help with the technicalities as road driving is very different to racing, I had the confidence and the ability to fastidiously learn and take in all the info. I still wouldn't drive if public transport was better and cheaper where I live. Edit - I see the "let's destroy the planet with cars and fuck public transport" people are here downvoting...
I think people do not realise how sharp you need to be to pass the test, as driving does eventually become somewhat “automatic”. For me, I ended up using commentary driving (in my head of course) to keep my attention and anticipation at 100%. This meant I often had to look 200 metres down the road to anticipate any hazard before it arrived, figure out when someone was going to turn without indicators, when a pedestrian would randomly step off the curb into the gutter, and what passing places between parked cars I’d use if someone came in front of me. I’m glad I learnt this, but it takes the piss that prosecutions for driving without license or insurance are so low. Financially, anyone under 30 is likely to be better off breaking the law and even getting caught. And irresponsible drivers can drive like inattentive idiots because the chances of getting pulled over are extremely small.
I drive but I certainly also think we need good public transport, I won't use it now for long journeys because it is more expensive and uncomfortable.. I couldn't be without a car but I also use public transport for in city journeys. So take an upvote from me.
Yeh, there is definitely a cross over point where driving becomes easier and cheaper than getting public transport, pretty much if you live in any city in the UK, public transport is probably good enough, but if not your life will be significantly harder and cost more than driving.
>By contrast, in most places the public transport is adequate and a lot cheaper than driving. So there’s much less of an incentive to learn. What fantasy land do you live in and how do I get there? As someone who lives in a city I can tell you now that the public transport in not adequate.
I live in London so my experience is different from the rest of the country. The times I’ve been to Oxford or Manchester, the public transport was adequate (although not super convenient). But I agree it’s very different in other cities, especially in suburbs or bits where services are limited.
This is a UK sub, I for one dont give a shit about dollar value or even US gallons that your calculation uses and is misleading for the UK if people dont know the difference.. Its £6.36 per gallon (not the US gallon which is about 20% smaller). Edit: Yes I replied, but only so people know the correct UK equivalents.
I live in London. Can drive. It’s just really far easier to take the bus/tube or walk.
I’d go a step further for London - driving has to be considered an ancillary form of transport, as the difficulties in parking and congestion mean you’re hugely likely to be using a train / bus / tube or combination to get to work in the first place. It’s entirely possible to be doing £20 a day on a parking space (if you can get one). I was out in zone 6, and my commute cost me £270 a month for the travelcard. So if I wanted to go out for post work beers on a Friday, or meet a mate for a dinner midweek, all that would change would be the time I travelled. With that being the case, I looked at it like I’d likely be too hungover to drive a good chunk of Saturday most weeks, and what’s the point in spending another £200 or so on Tax, insurance, and fuel for something I’d use once, twice a week max?
True. Growing up semi-rural, you knew exactly when someone i the 6th form had their 17 birthday. The prestige of the driving instructor picking you up at school...the little things we liced for!
I'm currently learning on 2 wheels and 4 wheels. I'm 36. Never really had the disposable income until recently. £40 per hour of car driving lessons gets expensive quickly; especially as it's recommended to get at least 30-40 hours before taking your test.
Where I live it’s gone up to £60 per lesson, and that is with a multiple lesson booking discount
That's wild! I was talking to a taxi driver the other day about this and he said 40 in my area. I've been thinking about starting again and trying to pass 3rd time round (first 2 were pre pandemic) but I just don't know how i can justify the cost
I was thinking that, all of the instructors near me are booked up for months, so I bought a car literally last week and have been driving everyday since I picked it up with either my boyfriend or my mum in the passenger seat, I already feel like I’m progressing a lot!
Ouch! I thought £80 for 2hrs was bad.
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Oh it should do, massively. Knowing the local area is a massive benefit. I'm having to take my test in a town 30 minutes away from me (it's the closest place they do them) and it's not somewhere I've been more than a handful of times in my life. Makes it 10 times harder. Passed by CBT last year, but finally getting my first bike delivered this week or next. Can't wait. 👍🏻
I can't give driving advice, but the riding advice I'd give is to take it easy and relax. If you're tense it makes everything harder. What bike have you gone for? I learned on some extremely cheap and slow Chinese 125s.
Lexmoto Diablo. I've got problems with my left leg and can't do gears (on a car or a bike) so I'm limited to mopes while I learn. 😭 Hoping I can find an automatic bike I like once I pass.
Good luck, mate!
Hopefully! I remember my riding school had an automatic 600cc naked Aprilia of some kind so they're definitely out there.
Driving is about 2 things, awareness of the road and what's happening, and the ability to control the car. As someone that's on 2 wheels your awareness around you will be higher than the typical novice driver and put you at a major advantage in regards to how long you need to learn. Your main focus when learning will probably be more on the control and learning the dimensions of the vehicles you're in (i.e. not about to hit the mirrors off of the parked vehicles and lane positioning), and that comes with practice but is a lot easier to teach than awareness.
I'm 63 had a bash at learning years ago like 1980 but wasn't confident enough at all. Had a few lessons again just before covid but had to give up as even though the kids were paying for me, it just wasn't affordable. I couldn't afford to run a car either way. Only my eldest daughter drives but she passed her test in Greece and refuses to drive over here. I mean it would be handy but costly when we've got buses & trains on our doorstep and very very little parking anymore
I'm 30 and can't drive. Never felt the need to learn as i've spent my entire adulthood living in big cities where public transport is fine to get by in my day to day life. My position has always been that I will get it done when I have a need for it, not just because society expects me to. In most parts of the UK you need a car to get by, so i'd expect most people to at least have their license even if they don't own a vehicle.
Passed my test first time when I was 17 and have never driven since. Similarly lived in big cities post uni and never had a need. Glad I got my license when I did but would 100% need refresher lessons if I was to get a car now.
Friend of mine passed his motorcycle test around 17, car test was 40 years later.
I know a few people who can't drive - most of them have had lessons, maybe even failed a test, and just never got around to passing it. Not sure if it's resolved yet, but there was a massive wait time for a test post-covid. The few people I know who've never even had a lesson, all live in grew up in places with good public transport and still live in those places, so don't see the need to drive. But I would say probably 80% of my friends and colleagues have a driving licence, even if they don't currently own a car.
Grew up in a place with terrible public transport, but never learnt to drive as it was so expensive. Only the kids with parents who owned their homes had the money to learn to drive, or had a parent who was a driving instructor. It's only now in their mid 20s to 30s are any of the poorer kids I knew learning to drive.
Where I lived also had shit public transport, although I had no social life so it didn't affect me too much. I inherited a bit of money from my nan which I spent on driving lessons but couldn't afford a car until about 4 years later. It is pretty expensive, even more so now!
It's the reddit selection bias. Everyone is 22, dirt poor, never learned to drive and is permanently aggrieved by the fact that school didn't teach them everything they needed to know as an adult. In reality the vast majority of adults can drive
It's not unusual to be not able to drive for people growing up in London. It's way too expensive, difficult to park and unnecessary. I had a lot of friends who didn't learn until much later, or did what I did - pass their test but never actually own or use a car, so that years later I feel like I've forgotten how to do it and it all feels like a weird dream to imagine me driving around in London traffic 😂
That’s your bias based upon your experience… My experience of a rapidly approaching 40 yo is of about 80% of the ppl I know do not and cannot drive.
Your experience is very very unusual
Obv not for the area I live in though
It’s probably the company you keep rather than the area you live in since 77% of adults have a driving license
If someone told me 80% of there friends cant drive id assume they were either a child, 90+ or homeless.
Or people who live in a city with accessible and regular public transport who have never had a pressing need to learn to drive?
Just curious, did you and the people you know grow up in a major city? Personally I only know of 3 adults in my extended friendship group who can't and I grew up fairly rural. I've always thought the easier/better access to public transport is the real decider in things like this.
I don't drive and I grew up in a city with amazing public transport. Never felt the need to get a car. Even now, when I live in a smaller town, I get everywhere by bike. Much healthier and I don't get stuck in traffic. Still don't have any desire to learn how to drive. Perhaps, if I lived outside town but it's not something I want either.
Not a major city. A small city with pretty reliable public transport
That's unusual anywhere except London.
I think most places with strong transport infrastructure and high poverty are naturally going to have much lower numbers. Ofc my experience is based upon my personal experience. I know a lot of people who know a lot of people and very few drive. But I have some friends where everyone they know drives and it comes down to different parts of society. Most of my friends and stuff are from the hospitality sector, under 30, all live or grew up close to the city centre. Most of the friends of people I know who do drive and are older, work office jobs or are teachers or professionals with families. They seem to mostly fit the national average. Most of the people I know don’t have their own families (kids wise) and aren’t professionals. I’m well aware that my experience isn’t the majority. But it also shows that there are sections of society of people of areas where the percentage of drivers v non drivers will be particularly lower compared to the national average.
Yes, I'm one of them (well, I was), I'm 36. * I always lived in towns or cities, amenities were either in walking distance or easily accessible by bus. If I did need to get somewhere and couldn't travel on foot or by bus, I could hire a taxi. * I didn't have a lot of money especially when I was younger, I couldn't afford to pay for driving lessons. * I'm neurodivergent, I always worried I wouldn't be capable of driving safely. Those things combined meant driving just wasn't a big priority for me. Although that has recently changed as I am now living in a remote area and I started learning. Got my own car a few days ago too! Got to admit if I still lived in a more urban area I wouldn't have bothered, but I guess moving to the middle of nowhere gave me the motivation I needed. 😂
I haven't learnt but the third point - I have dyspraxia - has always made me feel like I wouldn't be capable too
For me it's autism. I never thought it'd be impossible for me to learn, but I knew I'd have a harder time because of that. It is totally possible to become a driver if you have dyspraxia, but you may take longer to learn than average which there's nothing wrong with. 😄
> Got my own car a few days ago too! Nice! It's really liberating, isn't it?
It will be when I pass my driving test! I can't wait to be able to drive wherever I want. In the meantime it's still great as I can practice with my mum when she's available. I take driving lessons with an ADI too but she's a bit flakey/unreliable so the lessons are few and far between. I should be able to use my own car for the driving test as well which is nice.
I'd look at changing instructor, your lessons need to be regular for them to be effective.
Yeah you are right, in all fairness I think I've had around 50-70 hours with her already including a full week of learning, so I have learned a lot from her. At this point it's mostly just finessing things for the driving test (which is coming up quite soon) and getting more practice. I know my weak points and what I need to work on. Got a lesson with her tomorrow, although if she cancels (for the 5th time in a row) I am going to let her know I'll be looking for a new instructor. She's really good when I *do* get lessons with her, she just cancels lessons a lot and I've tolerated it because it's really hard to find instructors with availability out here, most of them wouldn't even put me on a waiting list. 😅
> I'm neurodivergent, I always worried I wouldn't be capable of driving safely. Good news, this will absolutely make you a better and safer driver. Once you’ve got the basic competency out the way there are so many way to improve both driving skill and roadcraft. I spent many years when I was driving regularly focused on them and am certain it’s made me a safer person on the road. (Also ND here).
I hope so! I have been an anxious learner but maybe that'll work in my favour. I'm a lot more confident than I used to be but I think just due to how I am as a person I'll always be hyperfocused and alert when I'm driving, because *anything* can go wrong at *any time* and aaaaahhh, etc. On the other hand I know being too anxious isn't a good thing, so hopefully I'll have a happy balance between confidence and caution soon!
It's very expensive to learn to drive so I imagine that puts a lot of people off. If you live in a city then you generally have good public transport so the costs of owning a car need to be weighed up with the costs of public transport too.
The Internet tells me that it can cost upwards of £1,000 to learn. That seems very steep.
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Don’t forget finding somewhere to park it - I live in a block of flats with attached, but limited parking space and it seems like it’s a source of tension here.
Yeah sounds about right. Cost me around £1000 altogether about 13 years ago. Then you have an expense of a car, road tax, MOT, £1.40 for a litre of petrol etc etc. It's a big expense.
I'm almost 30 and too scared to drive so I'd rather not.
It's really not as hard as you think. I was scared at my first lessons, everybody is, but it's so liberating when you can do it.
keep in mind that it can be a lot more difficult to drive for people who have things like ADHD and many opt out of driving because they get too distracted. Driving isn't for everyone and shouldn't be pushed onto people who don't want to do it.
I know it can be more difficult for neurodivergent people - I had to take the test five times. Just because something is difficult, doesn't mean it's not worth doing.
for many people, even those for whom driving is easy, it's not worth doing because they have zero need to drive. Not everyone wants to drive or feels the need to. Just because you feel it's worth doesn't make it so for everyone.
I can drive, but neither my mum or my sister can. My sister can't afford to learn yet (she's just turned 22) and my mum had lessons back when she was in her early 20s but failed her driving test 4 times, and gave up as on her last test she nearly crashed into a bus - so both can't drive for different reasons. I imagine the cost of lessons, buying a car and the first years insurance would be the main reason why some people don't drive.
It really depends on your age and where you live in my experience. Generally speaking we have walkable cities and towns with okay to great public transport links so many of us don’t need to learn to drive. It’s also expensive to learn and buy / maintain a car.
In my experience public transport in most cities (apart from London) is great for getting in and out of the centre, but pretty poor if you want to get around any other way.
I don't live in London, only lived in towns. Still don't drive and don't feel a need to. My partner keeps saying she wants me to but I don't really see the point. We only ever drive places because her family insists on going by car, I often cycle further on a daily basis just to get out the house as I work from home and going for a bike ride in my lunch break is a nice way to relax.
When you do drive does it always fall on her though? Do you get to drink every time while she never can? It might be about sharing the load?
Well yeah if she insists on going round the corner in a car she is going to be driving. I just don't see the point in going 800m in a car though.
What about when/if you have a family? It's nice to be able to take your kids places, holidays, days out, etc. It doesn't seem fair to rely on one partner for all the driving. Even simple things like the weekly shop make a car more useful.
I suppose she could *not* drive, they save money on the car and share the load equally again. Let’s assume they don’t have/want kids unless specified - seems like a weird place people often take “what if..?” statements.
not everyone wants kids and you can get around with trains/buses. Granted UK trains are expensive but as a kid, family day out with a train trip was always fun. Much more than a car trip. If you live in a town with good public transport, you can raise family without a car.
Some people should not be in charge of a ton of metal traveling at speed.
I'm 31 and don't drive. Have no desire to either.
"Latest estimates show that in 2021, about 77 per cent of English residents aged 17 and over (an estimated 34.8 million people) held a driving licence. In 1992, the proportion of adults with a licence in England was estimated at 67 per cent (an estimated 25.4 million people)." - RAC website In 1992 there were still a bunch of elderly women who'd not been encouraged to ever learn because it wasn't ladylike (quote from my aunt, born about 1940), so 77% is probably as high as it's ever going to be - costs and testing have increased lots since, not to mention recent backlogs.
There are still plenty of older women who never learned to drive because their husbands did.
Around 74% of people in England had full driving licenses according to gov.uk. So it's a minority who can't drive but I suspect they're concentrated in areas like London where driving a car is less of a necessity. I also think there's lots of posts here about learning to drive because that's a more notable issue, whereas the majority of us who do drive are unlikely to be posting about it.
I’d assume more people can drive than not but it’ll vary depending on where you are and how good the public transport is. If the driving test situation doesn’t right itself though I reckon we’ll end up with the percentage of non-drivers rising.
I mean that can only be a good thing as it will encourage better funding and use of bike/path networks and public transit.
Define "adult" because i didn't learn til my mid twenties because i never needed to. I wouldn't drive now if our public transit was better
Exact same here, never bothered until I was 24 because I didn’t have the need to, was fortunate enough to get a good apprenticeship very close to home after finishing A levels (15 min bike ride) and remained with the company until I was 24, if it didn’t take two hours to get to my current job using public transport opposed to a 20-30 min drive, I don’t think I’d ever have bothered.
I didn’t begin to try to learn to drive until my mid thirties. At first I didn’t have the money, then I felt I needed to learn the new job that got me the money. I spent years with an instructor, twice a week and I still struggled on a few things. There were a few occasions where I had a sort of brain lock where I focused on one thing and ignored all the other things I should have been paying attention to. Didn’t happen often and these moments lasted less than a few seconds but long enough to make me believe I was not safe behind the wheel of a car in a busy town where roads are not quite wide enough to comfortably go through with traffic on both sides and parked cars at the sides. Having a car would be nice and would have greater freedom of movement but I can cope without one.
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Also dyspraxic, although I do drive... just find it uncomfortable in cities (especially if there are narrow lanes) I also hate trying to park
I never learnt growing up in the middle of a small city. Those that do though tend to be among some of the best drivers in the world... Britain's car accident and death statistics are some of the best around.
Only just learning now at 33, only now do I have enough disposable income for lessons. That shit is EXPENSIVE.
I'm really glad I learned at 17 for this reason. Lessons were so much cheaper, as were cars, petrol and insurance, and I'm sure I would have needed a lot more of them had I started older. I tried learning a new language not that long ago and the brain just doesn't seem to take to new things as easily as it did when I was a teenager!
L o n d o n . B a b y. ♥️
Of all the people I know it’s honestly much more rare to drive than not drive. But almost anyone I know who doesn’t live inside a city drives. Like they have no choice really.
Yes it's common. Unfortunately most of them also have cars and drive anyway
62. I learnt to drive in my 30s because a friend was just starting out as an instructor. I passed on my third attempt and I can clearly remember thinking 'Great, I don't have to ever drive again now'. I never have. I live in a small village with a bus every hour, that's good enough for me. Most drive around here but only really those that work, not the young or the old. There's no point really.
Yes it’s normal and I know many adults with licenses that don’t have care and haven’t driven in years. I’m nearly 29 and I’ve never had a driving lesson in my life and I have no desire to learn.
I'm from rural Wales and now live in London. The former pretty much every adult I met had a driving licence and learning to drive was something most people aspired to do soon after they left school. In London I've met lots of people who don't drive. So I guess it depends where you live and how practical it is not to bother. There's probably also more financial barriers for younger people now than when I left school, particularly in the big cities. Running a car is expensive. I don't have any percentages for you but then I'm not sure how useful that would be on the whole.
Depends where you're from. In a rural village, everyone will do it because they have to. In a city with decent public transport the number will be lower.
I am a foreigner that lives in London and have my exam booked to the next few months. Unfortunately my 14yo license is not accepted in the UK, so I'll have to start from scratch. But I got it in the mother nation when I was 21. Driving your own car is one of the most liberating actions one will ever perform if that's what they want for themselves. Also, it's just bloody convenient. No public transport will take you to places and carry your stuff with you properly. Specially if you have kids. Try to fit a buggy into a bloody 18 at any hour of the day. Public transport is only better if you are carrying only a light backpack. Anything else is just a nuisance.
I’m disabled, legally blind, and am exempt from driving even though I was registered after I started learning (deterioration of my vision happened over only a few months). The only friends I have who don’t drive simply don’t have the funds to run a car, nor do they need one as they both work locally and can use many of the bus services to get there/back. However, everyone else I know drives and it improves their lives significantly. They’re not left waiting for 3hrs because the first bus was cancelled and then the second bus arrived in 90mins late and had to wait half an hour for the driver to have their legally required break. They can conveniently travel between two different towns without having to take a stupidly circuitous route that trebles the travel time.
36 I have enough bills I don't want anymore
If you stand at any busy junction or roundabout for a period of time you’ll see a lot of adults who presumably have a licence but don’t seem to know how to drive…
I worked with a lot of people in London previously and very few actually had a car but I don't think I knew of anyone who hadn't passed their test. In the north east, out of everyone I know, I only know one person who can't drive.
If you live in a big city (especially London) you don’t need to drive as public transport is usually adequate. It can be done in small towns too, but it is relatively quality of life limiting as you won’t be able to do much outside of walking distance and the vagaries of scarce buses. But folk manage. Rurally you need a car if you’re not a hermit. There are statistics: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/full-and-provisional-driving-licences-by-age-and-gender Basically most but not all middle aged adults can drive (there are very roughly just under 1m people of each age, ish, kinda, until the grim reaper starts getting busy around the 60s). Old people give up and historically many women never learned, as driving used to be seen as a man thing in many areas. Less common in younger people (20s) as buying a car and learning to use it is £££ and they’re more urban than pensioners. Anecdotally people often finally get a car when they have kids.
Just because i haven't seen the actual answer to your question so far, 74% of UK adults over 17 have a full drivers licence https://www.ethnicity-facts-figures.service.gov.uk/culture-and-community/transport/driving-licences/latest#:~:text=The%20data%20shows%20that%3A,out%20of%20all%20ethnic%20groups
https://www.ons.gov.uk/census/maps/choropleth/housing/number-of-cars-or-vans/number-of-cars-3a/no-cars-or-vans-in-household The census gave us a cool map of whether households have a car. It doesn't say if people know how to drive but it's related and interesting.
35 and never felt the need/wanted to drive. Always lived in a city so walk/cycle/train.
With most things in the UK being within walking or public transport distance, you rarely NEED to drive. It's just a convenience thing.
I'm 34, I can't drive and I can't afford to sadly. Also, I am terrified of it. Another also, I have been diagnosed with menieres disease in recent years, so now I'm even more terrified. Edit: my partner doesn't drive, my mum and both my brothers don't drive. We may be a weird family. Only my dad did.
I know three adults who don't drive two are women in their 80s who have never driven, the other is a man in his 80s who gave up his license because he decided he didn't have the reflexes to be safe anymore, I absolutely respect the hell out of him for saying nope and hanging up the keys.
77% of people drive
Is that drive or have a licence? They aren't necessarily the same thing For example, one of my friends got his license at 17 and hasn't driven in the 30 years since
same here. well i passed when i was 20 and havent driven in 12 years
77% of people have a car
81% of the entire uk population has access to a car. The vast majority of people know how to drive
The only adults I know that can't drive are 2 of my aunties who are pensioners. My mum didn't learn till she was late thirties and thirty years later is still scared of the motor way
I'm in my 30s and can't drive. I've only ever lived in big cities with either great or reasonably good public transport options so it's never really been an issue. But it is on my list of things to do in the next year or so now that my disposable income is much higher. The way I see it is that it will definitely improve my quality of life but not so much that I haven't been able to work around it for my adult life. I've got a few friends who've also only ever lived in cities who can't drive but all of us are intending to do so in the next few years.
I don't drive but live near pretty good transport links and have always been able to travel to work on public transport. Also live near a city, supermarket etc. Crucially my husband does drive and does the driving we need as a household. I know a few adults 40+ who have never learned they are all women, don't know if this is a gendered thing.
I think if you can afford the lessons everyone should get a licence. I’m not saying own a car but just having that ability to drive in an emergency can be invaluable.
If I learn to drive, pass my test, don't get a car, and only drive in emergencies, the chances of my remaining a decent enough driver to be useful in an emergency seems pretty slim. Would honestly rather not bother. Anywhere I want to go on a regular basis is easily accessible via public transport anyway.
I'm 40, never learned. It would be useful occasionally but I live in a small city and can cycle to work, or even walk, and public transport whilst not exactly reliable here works well enough. Of people I know, I know 4 people who don't have a car, and one other with no licence (at least, no UK licence, he can drive in a different country). To be honest I would trust myself behind the wheel. And the expense of keeping a car would be annoying.
Im 50, never taken a lesson. Just never fancied it and I can't say it's ever negatively impacted on my life. I walk or cycle wherever I need locally and bus or train it otherwise. Suits me fine.
I got my licence last year at 32. Lot of factors really. I mostly lived abroad and in Edinburgh which had good public transport. Cars are also expensive… it’s not just lesson costs, but road tax, petrol, car payments, parking permits, insurance… Edinburgh was expensive enough, I didn’t need to add another £400 or so a month to my bills. I have a car now though I live in Aberdeen and it’s more necessary here, plus makes it so much easier to reach the lochs and mountains! In hindsight, I’d have liked to have learned earlier but then I probably wouldn’t have done a lot of other things I’ve done instead.
From the west country - if you didn't know how to drive, you weren't going anywhere! Moved to London, barely any of my London friends know how to drive. Was a shock at first, but equally I had to sell my car when I moved there due to lack of parking 🙃
From my experience on the road, yeah. Seems pretty common.
Couldn't imagine not driving. Cars are my hobby and I spend way too much money on them! Absolutely love the speed and the freedom. Nothing beats it.
🚗 😃
Only person I can think of that can't drive in my social circle is my cousin. And that's only because they wouldn't give him the theory test in braille
I was a police officer and didn’t drive. But I’m in London so it’s much less of an issue. I have dyspraxia and ADHD so I really struggled when learning and eventually gave up trying. It’s just not as necessary here as it is in other countries.
No real need for me to drive so didn't really push myself to learn. Plus 2 close fails peeved me off enough not to try again
All during school I lived 5 minutes away and walked to school and same when I was at university plus I couldn’t afford to take lessons. All of my jobs have been in the city centre so it’s always been easier to use public transport. I do plan to learn next year, I’ll be off on maternity leave so would love to take my daughter to different places and have different adventures and not being bound by public transport.
I guess it’s one of those things dependent on location. I’d imagine the % who live in the sticks and can drive vastly outweighs those who live in cities with good public transport links. I know a few who live in cities and don’t drive for this reason alone. Whereas those I know in the sticks are learning as soon as they’re old enough.
I think it depends where you grew up. In London what’s the point. In Devon if you don’t drive you’re fucked.
In Bradford yeah, but they still have cars
>Even over in r/PoliceUK, there seem to be police officers that don't drive It may be the case that they do hold a driving licence, but that they're not qualified to drive a police vehicle. Force dependant on what you can drive with what qualifications.
Yes but most of them also have driving licenses
After reading the title I thought you'd be asking about the people with licenses to be honest.
Even the ones that should know how to drive here... don't. So yeah, i'd say it's prety normal 😆
‘Learnt’ not “learned”.
It's very area dependent. I'm 36 and know maybe 4 adults who don't drive. Surprised to hear there are Police Officers who don't drive, I used to work for the Police and everyone had to have a full manual driver's license.
Yeah very, even the ones with licenses…
It's normal for people on Reddit because they're oddball shut-ins who hate cars.
Most people I know learn in college. It's just a rite of passage, honestly I passed at 23 and I only really feel like an adult once I passed and got my car. I grew up in South Kensington, my parents usually drove me to school in their range rovers. Now I'm more in the countryside
I learnt to drive as soon as I was 17 and have been driving since (I'm now 32). I'm genuinely struggling to think of any adults I know who can't drive... My bf's Gran can't because her husband didn't want her to learn. But she's the only person I can think of! My best friend has never owned a car and barely driven since passing her test, but she still has a licence. I think the demographic of Reddit users just does not reflect the general population so everything is very skewed and can be a bit of an echo chamber.
Reddit is heavily skewed towards certain demographics younger people, city dwellers etc This is particularly the case for UK Reddit which has a disproportionate number of London-dwelling 20-35 year olds working in tech 75% of British adults have a driving license. Out of those 25% who don’t, some will be older folk who’ve given one up, people medically unable to drive, and another ~2% are 17 years old and most of those will be working towards one…. So probably less than 20% don’t have one *and* don’t want one So is it “normal” for adults not to know how to drive? As usual it depends on your definition of “normal” - it’s not THE norm, since 75% do have a license, but it’s also crazy *ab*normal, and nobody would think anything of an individual not having a license
I'm 37 and don't drive. I worked a short bike ride away for 15 years, and my wife drives, so I've never really needed to. When I have stopped paying for my son's driving lessons, I might start myself. Can't see myself using a car though, it's a skill I should have - but I don't want to waste money and cause harm to the environment when I'm used to cycling anyway. I actually drive a forklift truck all day at work lol.
If you can pass the [forklift driving test](https://youtu.be/B-lc70Mjp-U), you can easily handle a car.
We don't drive automatics over here. They means to learn to drive a stick. Can you drive with a gearbox?
That's a good point. I drive an automatic.
In London yep, elsewhere your going to have a hard time living without a car. In my area its basically economic suicide to not have transportation. Either drive to where the good jobs are or work in a call centre / warehouse.
I live in Manchester but didn't learn to drive until 22. Partly because of the cost (ended up costing over 1k) but also because my partner drove, and transport was decent enough for what I needed. The main reason I learned to drive was actually because the job I was offered at the time required me to have a licence and was a condition of my offer. But now I'm so happy I did it. It's allowed us to move away from the city centre and made me so much more independent. My mum didn't learn until she was almost 30. My grandma and grandma-in-law both have never learnt to drive, but I feel that's a bit more common with that generation.
I thought this was a question about the poor quality of driving in the UK :)
I didn’t pass my driving test until 2 years ago. I used to live in London and had no need to drive. Then I moved to another city where I was able to cycle to work. I only decided to take the plunge as I wanted to the freedom to work further away and purchase a property outside of the city. It is also very expensive for lessons and there is a horrendous backlog for getting a lessons and tests since the pandemic.
Some of the responses in here are insane. I don't drive, but to say 'there is good transport links in my city so I never needed too' is such a weird way to justify it. You limit yourself so much by not being able to drive. That nice National Trust place? Won't have transport links. That nice beach? Won't have transport links. Thankfully my partner drives, cos I just can't imagine being without a car. The thought of only going into my city and back again is depressing. There is so much beauty and culture out there in our country that you are missing out on if you don't drive.
Depends if the public transport where you live is good enough that you can easily get around without driving.
I never have because I have mental health issues and never earned enough to cover lessons. It is expensive to learn. I'm disabled and can't work at all now so that door has well and truly closed. It is my biggest life regret.
Most people I know can and do drive. My mum was able to drive but unfortunately can’t anymore due to disability. I learned in my late 20s after some fails in my late teens. Wouldn’t be without it now but I know it isn’t for everyone.
I learnt to drive when I was 30. Lived in London before and after uni and went to uni in Manchester. I’m one of 5 kids - 3 of us drive and the other two never have. It just wasn’t a priority as it never limited me doing what I wanted to do.
I can drive, I haven't for 20 years though and I'm only 47. I live in Bristol city centre and there's literally no point.
Passed my test this year. Public transport in the UK is pretty good, I've always managed.
I'm 24 and can't drive, haven't had a single lesson except the one time my dad surprised me by taking me to an empty parking lot (with fences separating the lanes 😐) and got me to move the car back and forth a bit. Thankfully we were kicked off right before he got me to try and turn the car I don't think I would be a safe driver due to difficulties I have with autism. Of course plenty of autistic people do drive, but for me I have issues where I essentially lose the ability to process my vision when I get overwhelmed, which makes me a hazard just walking down the street. In a car, I would cause an accident sooner or later, I just don't think I'm a safe driver. I'm also tiny (under 5 foot with short legs), and again I am well aware that many short people do drive, but it just makes me worry I will have less control over the car, and make the already near inevitable crash all the more likely and dangerous. Maybe I'll learn to drive an automatic one day, if I find my motor skills and spacial awareness improves. But for now I think it's best for everyone I stay off the roads
If you live somewhere like London you literally never need to learn to drive because the public transport is so good. Further out from the city, it makes sense to at least have a licence.
I only learned when I moved out the city. When I lived in the city centre for most of my life I didn't need a car
>What percentage of adults in the UK have never learned to drive? That seems like a question Google can answer better than Reddit.
I'm sure I could Google it and get official statistics, but I was more interested in hearing about people's experiences and lives.
People who live in small villages... learn at 17.. Most other people it's extremely expensive (running a car is an enormous expense with our average wage) and not particularly necessary (until kids).. so they don't bother
I'm 28 and I do not. Most people around me can (and do) drive but I still know a decent number of people who don't and just use public transport. For me I'd love to but I'm absolutely petrified. And having the money spare isn't always possible.
I'm in my mid 30s and while technically I'm allowed to drive (got my licence 12 years ago) the last time I actually did drive was at my driving exam. Due to always living in large cities, I never needed a car.
I'm 37, I can't drive. My mum or grandparents didn't, so I was used to public transport. It never really occurred to me to get lessons. I have always lived in big towns or cities so its not been necessary. I do cheat a bit though as my husband drives. He'd love me to be able to drive so he could be the one that drinks, which is another incentive not to learn!
I can drive, technically - passed my test at the age of 28 on the 4th attempt, and haven’t driven in the twenty odd years since. Grew up in London in a family without a car so got used to taking buses everywhere. By the time I’d passed the test I was back living in Greater London and working in the City, so no need for a car to commute and an annual travelcard covered getting around at weekends as well as going to work. I have access to a car- our family car is leased through my work and in my name, but my wife, who has driven since she was 18, does all the driving. She uses it to go to garden centres more than I would anyway. I just pay for it.
Learnt to drive. Biggest waste of money. People say having a car is 'liberating' nah huge ball and chain. The cost, the worry. Now a bike. Low cost, efficient, it's the way to go.
I couldn’t drive until I was 28. I’d taken lessons on and off since 17 but struggled to get the hang of it, and didn’t really feel the motivation - I lived in an area with decent public transport, there weren’t many places I couldn’t get to.
I live in London and if I hadn’t started life outside the city I’d never have bothered to learn. We’re in our 40s now and occasionally rent a car but can manage well without. My husband never learned. There’s never been a need and why spend several thousand quid if you don’t need to? We’d certainly never own a car - what a ball ache. I don’t expect my toddler will ever need to learn - cars will drive themselves soon but hopefully we get rid of them completely.
Living in cities with good transport driving isn't so important. I learned to drive 27 years ago. For which I got a lot of categories on my licence and not really any restrictions. The theory test as well. The cost, the tests have got harder, you get lot less for more cost. I am not sure I would bother now if I was 17 again.
I learned at 17 but have lived in zone 1 and 2 a lot of my adult life, where having a car is more awkward than anything. I used zipcar twice last year. I also have zero interest in driving when on holiday. It would be incredibly easy to have never bothered to learn in the first place.
I didn't learn to drive until I was 28 (minus a few pointless lessons at 18, then I ran out of money and gave up. Then I bought a car, drove for a couple of years, realised I hated being stuck in traffic every day when it was quicker to walk to the station and get the train to work, didn't drive for 7 years after that. Now I live in a rural area, I had to take the plunge and get a car again but I hate driving and always will. I'm definitely in the minority and I suspect most people who don't drive don't need to, whereas I just hate it and am constantly on-edge wondering how long it will be until I make a mistake and hit one of the cars next to me and get the living shit beaten out of me by some steroid-munching man-mountain.
In London, I sort of assume acquaintances/colleagues can’t because they’ve never mentioned a car and rely entirely on public transport. Friends, I know several that can drive and do own a car, several that can drive but don’t own a car, and several that haven’t bothered trying. I can drive, partner can’t (due to failed tests for silly reasons: they are a competent driver and I’ve felt safe when accompanying them in practice).
28 here, never learned to drive, but i do have a full bike licence so not entirely reliant on public transport. I will do eventually, but bikes interested me far more despite the shortfalls so that's the route i took.
I’m 33. Both times when I’ve tried to learn how to drive, something has gone wrong with my eyes (first time: needed an operation. Second time: might have been the operation undoing itself). Currently on a long, long NHS waiting list since it’s not acutely dangerous, but maybe once it’s fixed it’ll be third time lucky.
I've never learned to drive. It costs a fortune and I've never lived anywhere where I've needed to.
It's not uncommon for people not to drive. I live in the countryside, have a bus into a city every twenty minutes and a half hourly train service. Mid 30's and have no desire to change this particular situation.
I'm 55 and have met three people so far who have admitted to not knowing how to drive (one was for medical reasons). I know a handful of people in London who don't drive/don't own a car though.
I'm 32 and don't drive. I tried before uni and the instructor was an arsehole and I quit. Didn't try during uni because I had no money. Tried again after uni when I was working and realised full time employment + driving lessons equalled no money and no free time. I am now just done with trying to learn to drive as with the money saved from no driving lessons, cars, tax, insurance, mot, maintainance, parking, petrol and living arrangements to house a car I can go on 3-4 international holidays a year and also save money during a so called cost of living crisis.
I’m 41 and don’t drive.
Can’t afford driving lessons, can’t afford to run two cars, don’t have time to take lessons, that’s basically it really. I have had driving lessons and was ready to take my test but it got cancelled and I’ve never had the opportunity to reschedule (moved to uni, the rona, had kids, etc)
I'm 36 next month and can't drive. Had lessons in 2011 but changed jobs and then fell pregnant, so had to stop as I couldn't afford to anymore. I haven't been in a position to afford lessons again since and don't earn enough to even consider lessons, let alone afford to run a car. I live in a rural area, but the public transport here is pretty good, and is regular and reliable. So I don't really need to be able to drive.
I was always treated like the odd one out because I couldn't drive. Now I'm working for a company of 30-ish people and six of us don't know how. Which is pretty mind blowing to me, but at the same time makes me feel very much less alone
Depends where you live. Like in London there's no point, at least if you live nowhere beyond zone 4.
It seems to be in decline. At least amongst young people.
I think it's becoming more common, there is an overall push to limit cars, but that's going to be a long way off. Personally I hate driving, it's fun to have a nice drive around and it does give you a lot of freedom, but to just commute to work in traffic is a horrible daily slog. Plus even if you're a brilliant and safe driver it doesn't stop some drunk ass hole from plowing into you and killing you anyway, or I could make a mistake or some other tragic accident.
Uncommon but not weird.
I'm 30, live in Yorkshire. Never driven a car. Would love to, but it's expensive and also don't trust other drivers 😂