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26 and still can't drive!

I'm 26 nearly 27 and still can't drive yet. All my friends have been driving for about 10 years. I've had driving lessons in the past but have had to stop because they were so expensive. It gets really embarassing becuase I tell people my age and when I say I can't drive they jsut give me this look of shock. Last Christmas I worked in a supermarket as a temp and told one of my collegues who was 17 that I coul;dn't drive. He was like ''what, you are joking aren't you, you're winding me up!'' He didn't believe me for a few days he seriously thought I was pullign his leg!!

The problem is I'm quite a shy person and get extremely nervous when I had driving lessons. That's partly why I stopped.

What shall I do because it's getting really embarassing not being able to drive at my age?

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Reply 1

anna_spanner89

My mum didn't learn too drive till she was 40!! Its nothing embaressing,if you don't need too or want too fair enough. Im sure theres some people in the centre of london that don't.

Don't feel pressured cause a little 17yr old who thinks driving is the ultimate step too adulthood put you down or make you feel embaressed, everyone works with new skills at different paces

Reply 2

studyboy

You have your own reasons. Don't try to explain your life to other people, or you may get a headache. No doubt people will be astonished but I am sure no one will treat you lesser for not being able to drive!!

Reply 3

rye225

Yeah the norm is 17, im 17 and passed like a couple of weeks ago. I suggest you just get it out of the way because once its done its done and if you keep having a few lessons here and a few lesson there then you are going to forget most of what you are being taught!

Reply 4

Chrrye

It is a non-ability which will save you a lot of money...
:smile:

Get a longterm driving friend to insure as a learner on their car and get them to take you out regularly for practice. Someone you are comfortable with.
Though you might still have to have some normal lessons to make sure you pass your test on the little things (mirrors, seatbelt engine etc.)

Good Luck :smile:

Reply 5

Vincente

Bite the bullet and keep taking lessons (additionally get any private practice on a friend or family's car if they can get the necessary insurance) until you are confident on the road and pass the test of course. There will be lessons which will go pear shaped and you may hit certain periods of plateau but thats all in the learning process. Quite frankly some people are naturally good at learning to drive (though confidence is a factor I guess) and could get it done in 4-5 months whilst others will take longer. True you are outside of the normal range which I consider as being between the ages of 17-21 but that shouldn't really matter at all to be honest. But don't drag your feet on it and just stop when you think its getting tough or stressful otherwise you are just delaying what is a relatively important thing.....unless you live in London!

Best of luck.

Reply 6

JohnnyHouse

I'm also 26 and cant drive, I really cant be bothered, I dont want a car it will take a lot of finance away from me.

Reply 7

T. Hereford

JohnnyHouse

I'm also 26 and cant drive, I really cant be bothered, I dont want a car it will take a lot of finance away from me.

Wow, there's someone my age who doesn't drive!!!!! :eek:

We should form a club mate. lol :biggrin:

Do you also get that funny look when you tell people you can't drive?

The lad I was referring to even told me to ''sort my life out''!!!!

Reply 8

queque

well get off your *****g bum and start having driving lessons and stop moaning.

Reply 9

Ed.

David Mitchell can't drive and he must be about 30 - but then he is very funny.

Reply 10

JohnnyHouse

actually no I dont, I will be 27 when I start uni I was thinking of starting a society to pull my finger out.

I have loads of friends my own age who dont drive.

I wouldnt worry too much about it.

Reply 11

JohnnyHouse

i'll be the only 27 year old wanting to learn and full of 18 year olds who take the piss out of me :smile:

Reply 12

Mr Sparkle

Ed.

David Mitchell can't drive and he must be about 30 - but then he is very funny.

Neither can Dylan Moran or Ricky Gervais! :biggrin:

Reply 13

02mik_e

Just get round using an oyster card :frown:

Reply 14

Vincente

The lad I was referring to even told me to ''sort my life out''!!!!

I wouldn't take this fellow too serious. My cousin is taking his driving test for the forth time (though rumours are circulating that it is actually his fifth) next week and he is 24! He is also a Oxford law graduate a very soon a fully trained barrister so any attempts to attack his inability to drive (myself on one occasion) usually involves him [lawyer] rebuking anyone in response and asking what their job is!

Reply 15

Ed.

Mr Sparkle

Neither can Dylan Moran or Ricky Gervais! :biggrin:

Is there some as to now unrecognised link between driving ability and comic ability ? The better a person can drive the less funny he is ?

Reply 16

monkeyhead

I'm almost 19 and passed my test when I was 17. I've been in a car on my own twice since passing. Simply because I cant afford it and nor can my family. As I'm off to uni this September and I'm going to be even more limited with money there too and really there's no need for me to have a car there (it would be more of a luxury expense). Bascially I cant see me having my own car and driving about for a good few years yet!

Reply 17

lucho22

Chauffeur-driven limousine is the way to go anyway - why drive when you can have someone do it for you :wink:

. I haven't learnt to drive either principally because I think I'd be a terrible driver. I have terrible hand-eye coordination, no spacial awareness, get angry at other drivers even as a passenger, and am so useless with directions that I sometimes get lost in St Andrews, a town of 3 roads!! Some of us just aren't meant for driving...

Reply 18

DeepStar

You just have to make the step and go for it - as hard as it may be for you to overcome your nerves Im sure you will feel a lot better once you start driving. Although I dont see people treating you any different just because you cant drive!

Good luck!

Reply 19