Every time I meet someone who doesn’t drive, who doesn’t know how to drive and who has never driven, I am puzzled. Not only do I love to drive — I’ve been driving for 55 years — I consider driving to be an essential life skill for adults who live in the United States.
I do not know how many more years I will be behind the wheel, not being able to drive will terminate my life of independent living, and will be a significant downgrade in my quality of life — I don’t even want to think about it. It will be bad enough in terms of procuring groceries, making doctor appointments and having a social life, but to live one’s entire life dependent on others, inadequate public transportation, a bicycle or subject to the exorbitant fees of hiring a driver (i.e., taxi), is unimaginable to me.
Sadly, among the group of said non-drivers is a close family member who, at age 35, has never learned to drive. I worry about her — how will she take her children to the doctor should they suddenly become ill? Or many other such occasions when speedy transportation is crucial. To me, this is close to the absolute definition of poverty.
Recently, however, I have come to believe that, with prospective social changes, she may not be so disadvantaged as I expected. She is a millennial, and not only is there Über, but the “driverless car,” may be imminent — at least in her lifetime. It is beyond my ken to imagine riding in a vehicle that drives itself, but it appears this is on the horizon.
Beyond the idea of not having a human in control over the vehicle, even so far as stopping, I imagine these cars as being “tin cans” on wheels. What happens to my beloved passenger if the driverless car she occupies collides with a truck? or a bus? Are these vehicles going to be driverless, too? Will little passenger cars travel on the same roads as the “big guys,” including cars with drivers? Has anyone thought about these things, is there any planning?
I really, really wish she would learn to drive. I know it is a complicated proposition. Learning to drive and getting a driver’s license, is only the first step — I’d be willing to pay for driving school lessons. The real barrier is having a car to drive — reliable, safe cars are prohibitively expensive.
Then there’s car insurance, car registration and car maintenance to worry about, plus, very likely as well, as car payments.
I don’t know why I always expect society to be rational. I always think a society should function to make the exigencies of life easier, and not complicate life with unnecessary expenses, obstacles, and stress. You would think I have lived long enough to know better, and that change usually occurs in all the wrong places. Welcome to the 22nd century.