Driving distances

After driving a lot before I retired .... I now have a Senior Railcard so do opt for that when I can, and the trains are ok ? but sometimes it’s just not practical . I get a train from the South Coast when visiting friends in Sheffield as M25 and M1 are just horrendous.

Car driving is beginning to bother my right knee and left shoulder.....can be painful afterwards.
I try not to do a drive to Oxford (15 miles) two days running. I have various medical appts and sometimes had to cancel as I can't do two different appts and towns in one day.

wot I've had one of these 24-hour heart things and my main problem was having to go back the next day to get it off! I found a driver for the second day but it did cost me.Please don't cancel if you can possibly manage it.

I dread not being able to drive as I can't wait at bus stops or carry shopping....

Maw Have a slow relaxing day today and get yourself together again I have not been fond of driving ever,I used to have to drive to work when I worked full time and dreaded the journey as I always had to travel at peak times through Liverpool via Mersey Tunnel I always arrived home of an evening exhausted so no it is not an age thing, I think now we have to be much more aware of other drivers as some are so unconsiderate at times.

I have to drive on the motorway twice a week to collect granddaughter from nursery and look after her. Half an hour if the traffic gods are good but coming home is sometimes bad as rush hour. Another grandchild is through London after the motorway and can take 2 hours, or hour and quarter. Depends on time and traffic. My problem is mostly needing the loo after an hour or so and to find a place, park near etc, or go on in discomfort. Then in holiday times I have to collect granddaughter by 8.,30 a.m (rush hour) and take her home and take her back at night, going home in the rush hour. That can be four times the half hour or longer. The caring for granddaughter is not as bad as the driving.

A year or so ago and a few years before that I did the Advance Motorist course. I didn't pass but did a one hour assessment again 18 months ago and will again in a bit. it is good to sharpen your skills and make you safer. It was about £30 for the assessment I think, more for the course. It makes me feel safer. And I want the grandchildren to be safe.

Most of us have a tendency to carry on that little bit too far before taking a break. Fifty years ago I could drive for 300 miles without stopping and not feel tired or stiff when I got out. Cannot do that today yet I can drive longer distances as long as I take proper breaks (at least 20 mins each) along the way.

Fortunately there is no need to rush, no time limit. I can arrive fresh and comfortable. Traffic is the problem that needs some thought.

Today I find I can enjoy using A roads again. Let all those in a desperate hurry use the motorways. Yes, it does take longer, both time and distance, but the constantly changing scenery and the steady progress is worthwhile. Then occasionally I come across something I would never normally see and want to come past that again.

This does mean a bit of planning. I am not a fan of satnavs (except for finding a particular street in an unfamilar town) because they can be wrong and their routes are not always IMO the best. I have a lot of fun setting mine for a journey and then taking my own route while watching the satnav going into contortions trying to get me back onto its route.

Having always used maps it is probably easy for me but there is a lot to gain from exploring alternatives on a map. That also means I am never at a loss to change my route if a problem arises.

So that's my advice: choose your route, take more breaks and do not think about time. Enjoy the drive more than the arrival.

I live about 100 miles away from my partner and 120 from my daughter. I used to drive to see both of them but not any more (I’m 70 and haven’t driven further than 30 miles for about 6 years) My partner doesn’t get it at all (he’s the same age) and he drives long distances no problem. My night vision is rubbish and I hate driving in rain. Won’t drive in snow either! I get the train!!! I book in advance and have a senior railcard so get a third off anyway. You can get some really good deals if you can plan ahead and use the internet. (I use Trainline) I did Manchester to Brighton for £8 once! Drive to the station, find somewhere to leave your car for free (I use a local street and keep my fingers crossed) or get a taxi....take a flask of coffee and some snacks and a newspaper and it’s great! I usually strike u a conversation with someone and the time goes really quickly. If you’re canny you can break u your journey into sections (same train) it’s quite often cheaper that way. Sometimes you can do first class for the same price if you have to change trains. It doesn’t bother me that I’m reluctant to drive - I know my limitations and im pretty sure a nervous driver is a dangerous driver ....

I have never enjoyed driving, would rather spend the money on train/bus/taxi fares if DH doesn't drive. Now he has decided he no longer likes long drives - we live in E Kent and DD lives in Bristol... we take the train. We are fortunate in being able to afford the fare.
I KNOW that I shall give up the car when DH dies as it isn't worth my short, short drives pottling around.
I think that "older" drivers ought to realise when their eyesight and reactions are no longer what they were, and keep off the roads. Too often I have come across "old" people driving in the middle of th road, swinging full right for a lft turn and generally being a liability. The family is too nervous to bring the subject of giving up driving, so...

Only me so if I want to go somewhere I drive. If over two hours I will stop for coffee and a 15 minute break. I am not keen on motorways but needs must. I think the heat was probably the problem for you...It tires you. Don't be put off driving....It is your freedom

I'm another who doesn't like driving long distances, I never did, I tend to drive locally, I don't actually like driving, to me it's a necessity, but not a pleasure. I was very glad to drive when the children were young because I seemed to be for ever taking them to and from places and I think if I hadn't driven it may have curtailed some of their activities. My husband is one of those people who suffers from motion sickness and as a consequence gets car sick although he tries to encourage me to drive his car, he doesn't really like being driven because of that. I've never driven abroad, he has happily tackled long drives to France and Italy, coped with 8 lane inter states in America, I couldn't cope with any of that I'm afraid. That said he now feels that he wouldn't want to do some of the longer trips we would have done once such as Lyon to London in one day. He now gets tired quicker. For example from our corner of the south east, going to Scotland for example we would break the journey in say Yorkshire for an over night stop.

Hi MawBroon, I did M11, M25, M4, Cambridge to Cardiff yesterday - car thermometer hit 30C external temp at one point - and I felt like a dish rag at the end. I thought 'I must be getting old' but then I thought of long car journeys in southern Europe when him indoors was alive, and remembered feeling just as ragged at the end of the day - but at least there was usually a pool to recover in. But I still enjoy driving (bus pass used in town) and feeling in charge of my life.

I was happy to drive to Scotland and back from Essex on the same day when the kids were younger. Nowadays I am lucky if I can manage more than half an hour each way. All due to the arthritis and getting too stiff. Wanting to visit Cornwall this year but think it may be a flight and a hire car....

I know exactly how you feel. I make myself drive to London 200 miles, M25, M11 and drive through the Blackwall tunnel because I am frightened if I don't I will lose my nerve and not do it at all. It is easier by train but apart from getting a ticket last time I was down I often find it easier than I thought. Btw the ticket was for driving down a road which is one way between 10am and 4pm - it was 3.30 and the signs were very obscure. Think those southerners were out to get me!!

Wot: this is going a bit 'off topic' but your health must be your main concern, and the health care workers need to know there is an access problem. I suggest:
Go to your GP and explain. There may be a system of doing the procedure at your GPs or an outlying clinic - possibly one farther away but easier to get to. Otherwise, transport can be arranged.
And another thought: taxi to the best / nearest bus stop would be cheaper than taxi all the way?

Perfectly happy to drive any distance! Planning a trip to the Scottish Highlands this summer and might drive to Spain or Portugal in the autumn - by myself! Had to do all the driving after late DH had a stroke in 2013 and am perfectly happy to go on as long as I can. I like driving...

kitty I have often said to DH “you should make me drive more”. His response is, “No, you should make you drive more! Me making you drive would only put more pressure on you.” When he had day surgery for a hernia about two years ago, I had to drive him back from an outlying hospital in a car we had only had a few weeks and which I had never driven, through our city’s horrible rush hour traffic, trying not to jolt him as he was in all kinds of agony. It was an absolute nightmare but we got there. I thought anything else would be a doddle after that!

I think all these appointments will do more harm to my heart than good. Also, why can a heart rhythm monitor be put on at my GPs? To whom I can drive with impunity.

I always loved driving but increasingly, I find the amount of traffic along with some awful driving on the motorways stressful.
Be gentle with yourself Maw. You've been 'getting on with it' with a smile on your face for as long as I've 'known' you on gransnet.
By the way, if you're using the M6 to get to Cheshire, check any alternative routes as well as the traffic news x

Nanarose, it's not so much tireness but nervousness. I'm a ditherer (if there is such a word) your idea of driving to bus stop and parking near it is good but doubt if I could organise it how I am these days. I shall never get used to living in a rural area . Never had problems getting to places when I lived in Brighton. (Hove, actually) what a wuss I am. Thank you, though.

As I said upthread, I love driving and am determined not to give it up.

I don't feel the need to stop but one of my friends only drives if no-one else will. That suits me as I am happy to do it, but I worry about the future for her as her DH is not in good health.

If I was a good friend I suppose I should really try to make her drive me.

I regularly drive to and from Leamington and Hemel Hempstead from North Leicestershire and my volunteering regularly takes me all over the county.

You’re anything but feeble maw. Just getting used to a different shape of life. Physically I can drive for 90 minutes then have to stop for 15 minutes at least, sometimes longer. I fortunately have Mr C for most trips and we usually share, if he’s unable to drive, as he was last summer, longer trips just take more time, it really doesn’t matter. Fortunately perhaps motorways are routine for us so they don’t usually bother me. There are places I would prefer not to drive but that’s not new. It is easy to lose confidence with driving and often I have to remind myself it’s ‘my turn’, I certainly don’t want to find myself marooned here.

Reply to 'wot': How big a break do you need in order to start driving again after you've done 5 miles?
I'm sure that they would re-arrange your appointment so you could leave in good time and take a couple of breaks. Or you can do as I did for one treatment I needed - drive to a place where you can park and then take the bus to the hospital. Given the state of parking at most hospitals, it's sensible anyway!
Great thing about the internet is that you can search for bus routes, and check out parking so easily!

I took my car for its annual service last month. I was amazed to find I'd I'd driven only about 400 miles since the last service! I used to be all over the place without thinking about it. Of course I'm on the bus a lot as parking is hard to find and extortionate in cost here but even so...

Yes, Maw - spot on about the slippery slope. I can see that I’ve started going down it, so must get a grip!

It’s definitely a case of “use it or lose it”.
I have to go up to Cheshire in a couple of weeks to visit my half -brother and SIL . I looked at the train fare ?? and remembered how I used to drive to Manchester regularly when DD was a student there (got lost coming off the motorway every time, mind you) and have decided to drive instead. I’ll take my time and I do enjoy listening to the Radio.
I did Somerset at New Year (I live in N Bucks) fortunately without snow, so I know I can do it, but it’s a slippery slope being tempted to take the easy way out every time.

I find I’m losing my nerve to drive anywhere! Having recently arrived back in the Uk after living abroad for 15 years, driving a right hand drive car (which is bigger than I’m used to), on the left, in a city, with lots of roundabouts turns my brain to mush. It’s not short of terrifying.
I’m now choosing to avoid driving if poss, which is def. not good - telling myself to leave the angst until we’re settled in our permanent home.
I’ve got to keep going, I know, but ......

High-five to all you capable long distance drivers. ?