Has Your Attitude About Driving Change At All Since You Were Younger?

SeaBreeze

SeaBreeze

Endlessly Groovin'
Location
USA
I never loved driving, but I have driven quite a bit over the years. Now that I'm older and retired, I find that I really don't care for highway driving at all, but will take highways when needed. When I was young I used to drive a bit over the limit sometimes, although I never had a speeding or traffic violation.

Now I pretty much drive the limit, and just exceed it now and then, slow right down when I notice it. I got used to 55mph limits on the highways in the past, so 65 and higher makes me much more alert and a bit stressed. Even when young, I was never the type of driver to lay back in the seat with my arm out the window and just cruise down the highway in a casual and relaxed state.

Has your attitude toward driving changed now that you're a senior? Do you take different routes to avoid highways, drive slower or faster...or have you stopped driving completely? Have you had any bad experiences while driving in your 'golden years'? :drive:
 

Yes! The first vehicles I ever owned were both motorcycles and I loved driving them. One of them I drove across the country and it was wonderful. Then I bought my parents hand-me-down and had nothing but trouble with it so got rid of it and purchased a Van and had it for a while but then something happened and I stopped driving altogether. My husband did all the driving and I walked or rode my bicycle. This went on for years but I was a bit of a hermit for about 10 years so it didn’t really bother me. Once I started healing , I wanted some more independence so purchased my own small sports car. It’s a standard transmission and drives so nice & smooth. I still drive on highways but prefer single lane highways or back roads. It’s less stressful, less noisy, less polluted, less populated making it more relaxing but I still like to drive.
 
In my youth, I always considered myself half Mario Andretti half Evel Knievel
Taking on all challenges

Now?

I have a new challenge
DCiyDA3.jpg
 

When I was working I used to drive all over the eastern United States at all hours in all kinds of weather because it was more efficient for me than flying.

Thirteen years into retirement I live in fear of driving on the major highways especially the elevated sections and bridges.

I stick to the byways and backroads poking along at the speed of life.

These days my biggest frustration is the people that will not pass me and prefer to ride my back bumper until I slow down and pull to the side of the road.
 
Used to love it , now hate it...advanced aging gives one a distaste for many things, but not a good drink.:)
 
I've always enjoyed driving. In my younger years, I often drag raced my cars at the track, and while in Europe, I got an FIA "novice" license, and raced an Austin Healey on weekends at a local airport race. I used to be able to drive many hours nonstop....except for gas, meals, bathroom stops, etc., but anymore 3 or 4 hours on the road is pretty much my limit. I've had my fair share of speeding tickets, but never anything more serious. I like to drive fast, if road and traffic conditions permit, and was a bit disappointed to find that our Impala LTZ is governed to about 118MPH...it would easily do 140....but, I only "tested" that feature one time. The RULE I try to follow is to "stay with the flow of traffic"...if everyone is doing 75, so am I...if traffic is heavy and moving at 45, that's the speed I do. Those who are driving either too slow, or weaving in and out of traffic at higher speeds are just as dangerous to those around them as drunks or cell phone idiots.
 
I've liked to drive since getting my license at 17. Speed doesn't bother me. Freeway driving - even in heavier traffic - is less stressful than streets because there are so many fewer distractions. No bicycles, pedestrians, oncoming traffic, vehicles making left or right turns, signals, stop signs, errant dogs or squirrels, etc.
 
I never "loved" it, but was ok with it, even enjoyed it a few times. But now, I don't like it much at all and I'll try to lump shopping and errands into one trip and get it over with.
 
I'm ok with driving but avoid heavy traffic these days. Since I was sideswiped a couple months ago I'm much more tense about traffic.
 
We were pretty shocked to see that most of the I-25, in Colorado, is now 75mph. That means many are going 85 and I'll be the Colorado State Patrol get a nice amount of money for them speeders (when caught). We drove on that freeway and pretty much kept up with traffic, but our rental car was a new/2018 VW Passat.

As for me, I don't mind driving on freeways and do all of the freeway driving around town when my wife is in the Durango. We will share the driving on highways and freeways when we go someplace for a short vacation...….like Orlando. She doesn't like night driving, so I do all of that.

I remember, when we lived in So California, and rode with my wife's mother, she got into the Fast Lane and drove way to slow for traffic behind her. That was back in 2000 and she was in her early 80's. Drivers behind her were flashing their headlights and tooting their horns, but she kept the slow speed she was going. She finally got out of the Fast Lane and a few drivers flipped her off as they drove by her. Never again did wife and I ride with her!

One of the nice things about northern Colorado is that the towns and small cities are pretty "slow paced", but if a person does get on the I-25, be ready to push the accelerator down to at least 75.
 
hearlady said:
I'm ok with driving but avoid heavy traffic these days. Since I was sideswiped a couple months ago I'm much more tense about traffic.
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Yes, I can imagine.

Once on the Interstate highway, a pickup truck in front was losing a large wooden Adirondack chair and the lanes to the left and right of me were blocked. Finally, before the chair fell off the back, the right lane cleared and I just missed it, even though I was tapping my brakes. Whew.
 
i use to love driving but i only take the car out about every two weeks--i go to the doctor or get prescriptions filled--there is nothing that i need to buy --i order on line
 
RadishRose said:
I never "loved" it, but was ok with it, even enjoyed it a few times. But now, I don't like it much at all and I'll try to lump shopping and errands into one trip and get it over with.
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Me too. I don't really mind the driving so much, it's changing into my street clothes and loading up whatever is going with that puts me off. Have my list? Shopping bags? House-keys and whatever else? And now, with a 2-month-old baby to care for, I have to load up a well-supplied diaper bag, a stroller, a boppy seat and bottles. Oh, and the baby.

What's changed about my driving in my senior years is, it takes me longer to read signs, especially the directional signs on the freeway. I use surface roads more. Makes for a longer trip but I never have to worry about missing an exit. U-turns are a snap.
 
Aunt Bea said:
When I was working I used to drive all over the eastern United States at all hours in all kinds of weather because it was more efficient for me than flying.

Thirteen years into retirement I live in fear of driving on the major highways especially the elevated sections and bridges.

I stick to the byways and backroads poking along at the speed of life.

These days my biggest frustration is the people that will not pass me and prefer to ride my back bumper until I slow down and pull to the side of the road.
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Tailgating is the worst sin a driver can commit. It's all so prevalent.
 
My son in law got transferred to Texas a few years ago. The drive from where I live to where they live is about 10 hours. I usually get gas in a smaller town so I can go straight through Amarillo and Lubbock without stopping. Those on/off ramps are scary when people fly out at you and don't even look. It's terrifying down there. The speed limit is 75 mph even on two lane rural roads. Lots of semi trucks going around me like I'm standing still. I also hate the tailgating and that's a horrible problem down there. I used to not mind driving in the mountains but not sure my reflexes are good enough to do that any more.
 
I'm in my late 50's and fine with freeway driving. I don't like to drive. I can't remember how I felt about it when I was younger, I probably didn't mind. But now I don't like it. Like the freedom. I'm tired of the traffic, gun the engine pass you drivers so half the time you can meet them at the next red light or they got to their destination 1 minute faster than you got to yours. Gets on my nerves and it's wasteful.
 
Yes, it has change for me. I do not like driving as much as I used to. I just want to get where I am going and be done with it. I very much dislike driving at night. I feel I cannot always see as well as I should and feel less in control.
It may partly be that in my last job before retirement I had to drive a lot. When I was younger, I used to like to take long drives in the country if I needed to think thins over, or needed to clear my head. I have not wanted to do that in years, and it has nothing to do with gas prices.
 
RadishRose said:
I never "loved" it, but was ok with it, even enjoyed it a few times. But now, I don't like it much at all and I'll try to lump shopping and errands into one trip and get it over with.
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I do all my errands in one trip too. When I was younger I did not mind freeway driving but now, I do. I have enough trouble with folks here in my neighborhood who cannot handle a 4 way stop. If they do not want to take turns, I let them take my turn. I would rather do that than have an accident.
 
It would help if people would state their age, believe me it makes a big difference. I didn't love nor hate driving, it was a priceless convenience. Then in my early 60's I started having trouble seeing at night but HAD to because I worked night shift. I retired at 63 and only drove at night when I had no choice. Still I had no problem with driving until I hit my early 70's and now at 75 I almost get panicky when I need to drive somewhere but calm down once behind the wheel. I very seldom drive on the highways and avoid them if possible and no longer drive when it gets dark. I will need to renew my license at 80, in another 4 years, and I doubt that I will renew it. Just sell my car and get taxis. I'm basically a recluse anyway so don't go out much, but at this time I still want the convenience of a car.
 
When I was younger I enjoyed driving. Now I'm only comfortable around my own town. Part of the reason, I think, is because once I was married the hubby did all the driving. He loves it. I will walk a mile rather than parallel park. Luckily we have malls nearby. Another of my problems are directions. I get lost going out of my own driveway. This is not a recent occurrence,I've always been that way. Remember the childhood game, Little Sally Water? It went, little Sally water, turn to the east,turn to the west and turn to the one you love the best. I never could play that. Didn't know the difference between east and west. lol
 
I drove Yellow Cab in Chicago for four years, to get through university. One of the most exciting jobs I ever had, as a younger guy. I like driving, the crazier the traffic, the more interesting. I drove interstate delivery trucks for a few years, too. I tow my RV to nice camping areas, and have taken it half-way across the US. The one thing I'm not nuts about, now, is night driving, but that's because of my changing vision.
 
Ruth n Jersey said:
When I was younger I enjoyed driving. Now I'm only comfortable around my own town. Part of the reason, I think, is because once I was married the hubby did all the driving. He loves it. I will walk a mile rather than parallel park. Luckily we have malls nearby. Another of my problems are directions. I get lost going out of my own driveway. This is not a recent occurrence,I've always been that way. Remember the childhood game, Little Sally Water? It went, little Sally water, turn to the east,turn to the west and turn to the one you love the best. I never could play that. Didn't know the difference between east and west. lol
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As I remember it, in Chicago:
Little Sally Saucer, sitting in the water,
Cry, Sally, cry. Cry out your eyes,
Turn to the east, and turn to the west,
and turn to the one that you like best!
 
I use a little more caution nowadays, watching out for other drivers, leaving myself a "way out." There are too many people talking on cell phones while driving. It's an epidemic, actually! You would think with all the restrictions out there that people would be inclined to follow the law. Not so! I don't like driving on the thruway as much. The worst part about that is passing 18 wheeler trucks. Not my favorite part of driving. I much prefer the country roads. Here in New York, there are many deer
crossings. In the Autumn season, it's even worse. I've had unwelcome encounters with a few!
 

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