Do you drive?

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Prior to getting a GPS I felt that way. But the last time I had to go South I even let the GPS take me into NY City and over the GW Bridge. Usually I wuss out and use the Tappan Zee which is quite a bit further north. Didn't have a problem, even though I got sent through some strange backroads in the Bronx that were kinda scary (I think it did it automatically to avoid construction.)

Funny thing about the GPS, though: it has made me kinda lazy. There's four or five places less than ten miles from where I live that I've been to several times that there's no way in hell I could find on my own. And I swear to god the GPS finds a different way to send me to the Super-Walmart each time I go. I intellectually know that's not possible, but it sure feels like it.

PS: You should try the Boston/Cambridge/Somerville area in MA sometime. ESPECIALLY if you need to find a place to park.

Oh, and I do drive, obviously.

My car is the only place I can listen to stuff like Precious Death, Motorhead and Dio at full volume.

I must admit that parallel parking is something I avoid whenever and wherever possible. Even though I've gone from really sucking at it to only mildly sucking at it.

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What I was thinking as I was going through the thread was what a US/non-US breakout of driving/not-driving would look like. I figured US driver % would be much higher, since so much of the country has no public transportation, or what there is is a total joke. But now I'm not so sure. Just from eyeballing the responses it looks like the percentages would be similar.

Yep. I have a 2007 Toyota Yaris Hatchback. It's blue.

Mum owns a 2009 Toyota Yaris Saden, Dad owns two Toyota Tacoma trucks (2008, 2012). One for personal use, and one for his company.

Everyone in my family drives a Toyota. My sister doesn’t drive a car now, because she lives in the city. She used to drive a 2003 Toyota Echo Saden.

The office admin also owns a Toyota Tercel, so sometimes we have 5 Toyota vehicles on my property.

My previous car (also my first), was a 2005 Toyota Echo hatchback (which happens to be the same colour as the car I drive now).

Same reason. I'm trying very hard to learn. It's soo hard. I space out too easily, I do not react normally. This is why I do not want to drive and my dad is forcing me to learn how/ basically, constant pressure to learn and he does not accept the idea I may not be able to.

Basically, I feel like my depth perception is flatter than normal sometimes, and I'm afraid to turn my head and look out the window/or more-so just nervous about open spaces and fast speeds. I constantly feel I am going to slip and run into anything, not purposely, just the feeling of...if I stop focusing I will lose track and then what?

I practiced earlier on this week and almost hit a car pulling out, and they had to throw the emergency break twice because I also sped too fast through a turn, just lost the motivation or concentration. Imagine having Aspergers AND schizoaffective disorder and trying to drive!

It's not impossible, but I mean...my intuition hasn't told me if I should drive or not. I think the intuition is unsure of whether or not it is even worth thinking about? I live in the countryside too.

I had a car and a permit when I was 15 but I hardly drove it and was too anxious to take the driving test. All I could think about while driving was fatality statistics and how clumsy I am. Eventually I stopped driving altogether and sold the car without ever getting a license.

I never want to drive again, but unfortunately where I'm living now there is no public transportation and literally nothing is within walking distance.

It always scared me, plus getting lessons and doing exams is crazy expensive here!! !
And then there's MOT and car expenses!

Yes, Of course - My job depends on my driving.

Never saw any thing special about having a car though - I have often described my car as four wheels and a motor - just transport.

I drive because I need to. As simple as that.

I drive and I do it well, but I get anxious when driving outside of the places familiar to me. My eyes also tend to wander because of all the distractions. I have to tell myself to keep focused.

No, and I doubt I'm going to any time soon. I'm too clumsy, and my lack of concentration while driving is bound to be a problem.

I've almost caused accidents crossing the street on foot, I'd be really dangerous driving a car.

Yes I drive I have had my licence since I was 20 years old my first car was a mazda 323, 1984 silver it was my pride and joy.

For years Driving seemed intimidating and overwhelming for me. But I knew I would need to do it. So as soon as I turned 16 i just got it over with and learned. I knew it would just be harder for me the longer I put it off.

Once you get the hang of it, it's not hard. If you're largely making the same commute again and again, it's kind of fun. Just relax and enjoy it.

For many many years I was so set against getting my license. I was reluctant to even when it became a job requirement. I finally did back in January and I regret not getting it years ago. I have found that driving is my escape, it keeps my mind off depressive things and gives me something to do on my days off.

The average person in the US drives 12000 miles a year. In the last seven months I have driven close to 17,000 miles. I have been known to take a 500 mile drive because im bored, ive done it several times.

I also drove 250 miles for a cheeseburger, but thats a story for a different thread

I'd say I'm fairly decent at driving. My step-dad is showing my sister how to drive, and she keeps scaring the crap out of him because of the way she breaks and the turns she makes. I just sit there and laugh.

I tend to avoid going out on the highway, though. Traveling fast makes me nervous. I'm comfortable at any speed until it goes past 50 MPH.

I live in Texas, and you HAVE to know how to drive here if you wanna go anywhere. With the exception of large city centers, mass transit is almost non-existent. You either learn to drive or you stay home a lot.

EDIT -- Another problem is the issue of walking where you need to go. Texas cties and towns are so spread out geologically -- both between towns and within the city limits -- that walking is nearly impossible. There is little regard for pedestrians, and it's very unsafe. A bike is a hair better...if you don't mind nearly being run down by traffic, the heat or the mosquitos.

I actually enjoy driving. It's alone time for me, sometimes the only alone time I get for days at a time. I've been known -- when I had a decent job and gas was a buck a gallon -- to jump in the car, pick a direction and drive for hours all alone. I've solved pretty much all my problems and those of the world while behind the wheel.

I just wish I was better at it. As much driving experience as I have, I still scare both myself and other people. I get distracted by a song on the radio, signs along the road, or even just my inner thoughts. I'll be zoning out over something, and suddenly have to slam on my brakes because someone is stopped in front of me. I blatantly ran a red light -- not just blowing through a yellow at the last second, but a full-blown red light -- because I was thinking about something else. Scared me so bad that the next time I was on that road and at that light, I had a major panic attack that lasted the full 20 miles to home.

I've only had four speeding tickets since I got my license in 1976, which is amazing considering how fast I drive. I've been in several accidents, but only a couple that did any real damage to the vehicles. One good thing for me though is that I rarely talk on the phone while I'm driving, and I NEVER text! That's just stupid.

Last edited by Webalina on 29 Aug 2012, 11:58 pm, edited 1 time in total.