I recently turned 60, and I bought myself a gift: the inability to drive.
I decided not to renew my license. You might be a little confused by that decision, and you’re possibly wondering if I’ve finally been driven (ha!) mad by the endless car commercials (“It’s gonna be a Subaru summer! It’s gonna be a Subaru summer!”). But there are several reasons why I did this.
I haven’t owned a car in 28 years, and financially I don’t see owning one ever again because I want to put that money toward other things. I haven’t had a license the past two years anyway (I kept putting off the renewal), and I’ve found that I don’t like driving at night because my vision isn’t the best in the dark.
I’ve also discovered that I just don’t like driving anymore in general. I don’t know how this happens exactly – can a person as they get older stop liking to drive the way they stop liking foods or bands they used to like? – but it’s something I don’t enjoy, and I don’t want to deal with it.
Bonus: I won’t have to pay for car insurance, gas, parking tickets, or maintenance and repairs. And have you seen how many car accidents are on the local news every night? The roads are a madhouse!
Pick you up at the airport? Sorry, I’d love to, but I don’t have a license!
It’s not like I’m 16 years old and decided not to get my license, or I’m 25 and I’ve decided not to renew it (but don’t get me wrong, if anyone at those ages did that, I wouldn’t see anything wrong with it). I’m 60 and I’ve been driving for almost 45 years. Does everything have to go on forever? I had a good run.
I have to tell you, when my birthday came and went (I had spaghetti, chocolate chip ice cream, and a few Blue Moon beers, if you’re wondering) and the two-year grace period to renew my license expired, I felt a sense of relief, almost a kind of Peanuts “happy dance” joy. There’s no way I’m taking a driver’s test or classes again, so there’s no turning back now!
Some people I know are acting as if I’ve suddenly decided to start smoking, or that I’ve chosen to never wear pants in public again. Which is silly (as if I’m going to start smoking!). I think my friends and family are planning some sort of vehicular intervention. We’re worried about you and we care about you, and you’re not leaving this room until you schedule an appointment with the DMV.
I’m in good company, though. Other people who don’t (or didn’t) drive include Alfred Hitchcock, Mae West, Keith Olbermann, James Baldwin, George Orwell, David Bowie, J.K. Rowling, and Ricky Gervais.
Ray Bradbury never got a license and never learned how to drive. And he lived in Los Angeles!
Did you know that 30 percent of the people in the U.S. don’t drive? That’s literally millions of people of various ages who don’t drive and/or don’t own a car, for various reasons. Now I’m one of them. But there are taxis and trains and subways and buses and planes and getting rides from other people. I’ll get around.
Sure, I’ll never fulfill my lifelong dream of delivering pizza for Domino’s, but I can always replace that dream with another. It’s a big world.
So from now on, I won’t be driving anymore. Here on Main Street or anywhere else. I’m looking forward to it. Just think of all the exercise I’ll get walking.
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Comments
My wife retired this year. I semi-retired four years ago. She insisted on keeping her car even though we don’t need it. We live on the outskirts of a major metropolitan area. We have access to busses, light rail, taxis etc. But, it would be very costly for a ride to the doctor or grocery shopping. To me, the cost of owning a car is less than shelling out money daily to use public transportation. I’m also glad that my wife can drive herself by using her own car. That way we don’t have to do car use scheduling. A case in point is I have a doctor’s appointment the same day that she has a dentist appointment. More power to people who can manage without a car, but my wife and I can’t.
You obviously live in an urban area and have easy access to whatever you need and see no real need to travel (road trip) on a whim. If that’s what “floats your boat,” best wishes. However, you cannot live that way in a rural area. Also, the idea of being confined without transportation is just totally unacceptable. I don’t want that kind of city lifestyle. I live nine miles from the closest small town and that’s not far enough away for me.
Very sensible guy, this Bob Sassone. He wants you to believe that he has done with driving , licensing, headache with parking and shelling hard earned money for gas and the trouble with owning a car but this intelligence has dawned upon him at the ripe old (young?) age of sixty but the real thing would be that his doctor has asked him to walk , a best remedy for almost all ailments except if you are suffering from Rheumatic Arthritis .Well, let us wish him all the best and let him not stumble from his avowed incarnation!
For some of us not driving is not an option….stores, pharmacies, doctors, entertainment are not within walking distance and Uber, taxis etc. are not easily available if one doesn’t live within a city. Even for walking the dog in some nice areas along the river, or playing tennis or pickleball we need a car where we live.
Also, at the ages of almost 83 & 85 my husband and I do like the freedom that comes with owning a car and being able to drive. To everyone his/her own…. — it certainly is less expensive not to have a car, that we agree on..
Bob, kudos to you for becoming drive-free! I wouldn’t be surprised if the % of Americans who choose not to drive is growing, due to the costs of vehicle ownership & increasing number of wreckless or inattentive drivers. You say that 30٪ of Americans don’t drive, but don’t forget that many are under the legal age limit. I would guess that the % of American adults (or of legal age people) who do not drive is closer to 10 or 15٪
But then again there are some people who do drive but don’t have a legal license. I suppose there’s no way to accurately determine that number of people.
But road trips!?
This might just be my favorite article, ever!
I only wish I was that “brave”!
This might be the most relatable article that I’ve read!
I only wish I was that “brave”!
ALL your reasons here for giving up driving are very valid. Let’s face it. It IS a major chore/drag/bummer. I’m sure you’ve figured ways to get where you need to go, apart from walking. Hate driving at night also, in large part due to ridiculously bright headlights.
Lots of You Tube videos now on what absolute JUNK new ‘vehicles’ are with all the b.s. “tech” to dazzle and bamboozle all of the phony “FOMO” people out there. $1,200.00 a month car payments on a $70k whatever that lives at the dealership repair dept., and all the gimmicks on it not working. All designed to rip everyone off.
The more time goes on, the more I appreciate my ’98 RAV-4, where I have the luxury of economy with great a/c. That’s all I need, and it is essential. Rude drivers, parking lots, stupid people walking around in a ‘phone daze’ are why I don’t drive anymore than I have to! The upkeep isn’t that expensive as long as it gets regular maintenance.
Don’t even get me started (either) on all of the accidents. Far worse than 35-40 years ago regardless of how careful you are. I’ve seen 3 accidents at intersections all within a 7 mile radius within the same half hour. Still and all, I do HAVE to have a vehicle out here; just on my own terms. Having a company ARCO card is really nice. Thanks for the Peanuts “happy dance” video. Still one of the best piano instrumentals ever!