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Post by maryland on Jun 12, 2017 3:22:41 GMT
I understand that fear too, and for a while I wouldn't drive the freeway either due to the anxiety of not knowing where I was going. My uncle bought me a Magellen GPS system (this was before the phone map technology was popular) and that helped me immensely with directions. Maybe if she had someone drive with her she wouldn't be so afraid? I hated freeway driving for a long time. I went driving on the freeway with my best friend a couple of time, and then with my significant other, who does lots of driving. Now it doesn't bother me, and the 91 is a horrid freeway to drive. GPS changed my life! I have a horrible sense of direction, and it was so frustrating to try and find places while driving with a map. Mapquest helped my first independent big journey but GPS on my phone is even better. It takes the fear out of things so I can focus on the road. I am so glad I am not the only woman with a bad sense of direction. I don't know anyone who has as much trouble with direction as I do. I don't find my gps to be reliable, so I print out mapquest directions and stop often to make sure I am going the right way! But my husband's boss is visiting from New Zealand with his wife soon. I will be spending the day with the wife while the men are working. I have never met her and am a nervous wreck because I worry I will get so lost driving in the city and finding parking!  |
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Post by maryland on Jun 12, 2017 3:33:06 GMT
Fine, she doesn't want to drive. I get that. I don't get why she didn't just take a bus/train directly to and from Harrisburg. Did you actually speak to her about this? Maybe it was a way to spend some extra time with her brother and dad. It does seem like a roundabout way, but it seems like all parties involved were ok with the arrangements. Good point! Maybe she has gone out of her way to help them out when they were nervous or needed help with something, and they want to go out of their way to help her out. |
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marianne
Pearl Clutcher
Not my circus, not my monkeys. . . My monkeys fly!
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Post by marianne on Jun 12, 2017 3:34:37 GMT
I am so glad I am not the only woman with a bad sense of direction. You're definitely not alone...I can get lost in my own back yard! lol I kind of kid, but my sense of direction really bites! |
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Post by theroadlesstraveledp on Jun 12, 2017 3:47:23 GMT
GPS changed my life! I have a horrible sense of direction, and it was so frustrating to try and find places while driving with a map. Mapquest helped my first independent big journey but GPS on my phone is even better. It takes the fear out of things so I can focus on the road. I am so glad I am not the only woman with a bad sense of direction. I don't know anyone who has as much trouble with direction as I do. I don't find my gps to be reliable, so I print out mapquest directions and stop often to make sure I am going the right way! But my husband's boss is visiting from New Zealand with his wife soon. I will be spending the day with the wife while the men are working. I have never met her and am a nervous wreck because I worry I will get so lost driving in the city and finding parking! I have no sense of direction, my friends and family members know this. So I totally understand. GPS changed my life too, now my phone is my travel buddy, and gets me where I need to go. I was able to find a friend's house in another city yesterday thanks to Waze! I try, I really do but the GPS is so helpful for places I have never been to. Maybe you can plan out some of the fun places to go ahead of time, and drive to them if you have time before she comes to visit? This is me making fun of myself right here  
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Post by maryland on Jun 12, 2017 3:53:34 GMT
I am so glad I am not the only woman with a bad sense of direction. I don't know anyone who has as much trouble with direction as I do. I don't find my gps to be reliable, so I print out mapquest directions and stop often to make sure I am going the right way! But my husband's boss is visiting from New Zealand with his wife soon. I will be spending the day with the wife while the men are working. I have never met her and am a nervous wreck because I worry I will get so lost driving in the city and finding parking! GPS changed my life too, now my phone is my travel buddy, and gets me where I need to go. I was able to find a friend's house in another city yesterday thanks to Waze! I have no sense of direction, my friends and family members know this. I try, I really do but the GPS is so helpful for places I have never been to. Maybe you can plan out some of the fun places to go ahead of time, and drive to them if you have time before she comes to visit? SaveThat's what I was thinking! My husband is familiar with the city, so I could drive and he could give me directions to practice. I won't learn unless I do the driving. When I was working in the city during the summers when I was in law school, I took the bus downtown, then could walk all over the city with no problem (Pgh. is not a big city). But driving with other rude drivers and one way streets is not fun! And my gps told me to make a left (which I would have driven straight into a river) when I used it downtown. My gps is the electronic version of me! It has no sense of direction either! |
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Post by theroadlesstraveledp on Jun 12, 2017 3:59:12 GMT
GPS changed my life too, now my phone is my travel buddy, and gets me where I need to go. I was able to find a friend's house in another city yesterday thanks to Waze! I have no sense of direction, my friends and family members know this. I try, I really do but the GPS is so helpful for places I have never been to. Maybe you can plan out some of the fun places to go ahead of time, and drive to them if you have time before she comes to visit? SaveThat's what I was thinking! My husband is familiar with the city, so I could drive and he could give me directions to practice. I won't learn unless I do the driving. When I was working in the city during the summers when I was in law school, I took the bus downtown, then could walk all over the city with no problem (Pgh. is not a big city). But driving with other rude drivers and one way streets is not fun! And my gps told me to make a left (which I would have driven straight into a river) when I used it downtown. My gps is the electronic version of me! It has no sense of direction either! That sounds like a good plan! Yeah gps isn't perfect. Save |
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Post by mom26 on Jun 12, 2017 4:12:27 GMT
I'm 52 and up until I hit early peri-menopause about 10 years ago, I could drive on any road, any time. Once PM hit, however, I could no longer drive over bridges or overpasses because it gives me extreme vertigo. I get so dizzy I almost pass out, even as a passenger. NOT something you want happening to a driver going 65-70+ mph.
I keep hoping it will pass, but it's only gotten worse as I've gotten older. Sucks, because there are a ton of places I can't get to on my own and many places that would take 10 minutes to get to via highway take me much, much longer the non-highway route.
So, I wouldn't judge at all.
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Post by beebee on Jun 12, 2017 4:28:57 GMT
I have a very good friend that has panic attacks on the freeway. She will drive for hours out of her way to get to where she needs to be without going on a freeway. It is not something my friend chooses. She can't help it. I prefer to be kind and sympathetic to people and their situations. I feel like everybody has issues of some sort. I know I have my own issues that I'm sure other people would think are nuts!
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theshyone
Pearl Clutcher
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Post by theshyone on Jun 12, 2017 4:30:38 GMT
I would prefer her not to be on the road if it's beyond her comfort level and abilities, saves lives
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snyder
Pearl Clutcher
Posts: 4,493
Location: Colorado
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Post by snyder on Jun 12, 2017 4:33:17 GMT
I wouldn't give it a 2nd thought if someone says they don't highway drive, especially in unfamiliar areas. I'll drive anywhere, but have been in some stressful drives because of the wild drivers going 90 with semi's not following road rules. Ran into a neighbor just the other day and she said her 24 year old daughter will not drive at all. She walks, bikes or takes public transportation. To each their own.
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Post by mollycoddle on Jun 12, 2017 10:33:21 GMT
GPS changed my life! I have a horrible sense of direction, and it was so frustrating to try and find places while driving with a map. Mapquest helped my first independent big journey but GPS on my phone is even better. It takes the fear out of things so I can focus on the road. I am so glad I am not the only woman with a bad sense of direction. I don't know anyone who has as much trouble with direction as I do. I don't find my gps to be reliable, so I print out mapquest directions and stop often to make sure I am going the right way! But my husband's boss is visiting from New Zealand with his wife soon. I will be spending the day with the wife while the men are working. I have never met her and am a nervous wreck because I worry I will get so lost driving in the city and finding parking! I have a terrible sense of direction too. Really bad. Some of my friends call me the "Navigational Vunder." I totally own it.  |
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Post by crimsoncat05 on Jun 12, 2017 14:52:08 GMT
Bottom line is, I think people (esp. women) need to be able to get around. Most of the time, still, in the U.S., that means needing to be able to drive, and drive on highways. And the corollary is, you need to know where you are and where you want to go and how to get there, whether that's reading a paper map or a map app. And it's inconvenient at best and crippling at worst when you can't. No matter how accommodating your family is.  (This is apart from a mental illness issue, of course.) ^^^ I agree. especially with the fact that you should be able to in cases of emergency if you have to, and/or to be as independent as possible. |
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Post by Fidget on Jun 12, 2017 15:02:54 GMT
One of my closest friends will not drive on the highway / expressway. She never has, she is 63 years old and gets where she needs to go without issue. She can drive to the Dr, the grocery store, local events on surface streets. I have been in the car with her and quite frankly she is always nervous when she drives, even locally, I'm glad she doesn't go on the highways, she would be a danger to herself and others. If we go somewhere together where the expressway will get us there quicker, I drive and I don't mind one bit.
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Post by polz on Jun 12, 2017 20:58:33 GMT
My SIL is 44. She didn't get her licence until she was in her 30s and has never driven on our motorway. I got my licence the day I turned 15. We've discussed it and to me, driving equals freedom. Shes always had people driving her around, so it's a non-issue for her. Each to their own.
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Post by maryland on Jun 13, 2017 12:28:59 GMT
That's what I was thinking! My husband is familiar with the city, so I could drive and he could give me directions to practice. I won't learn unless I do the driving. When I was working in the city during the summers when I was in law school, I took the bus downtown, then could walk all over the city with no problem (Pgh. is not a big city). But driving with other rude drivers and one way streets is not fun! And my gps told me to make a left (which I would have driven straight into a river) when I used it downtown. My gps is the electronic version of me! It has no sense of direction either! That sounds like a good plan! Yeah gps isn't perfect. SaveI think just for me it's not perfect! Everyone else seems to love it! My husband and I got into a huge argument at his family reunion last year. He has known for 22 yrs. that I have no sense of direction (it's pretty much disclosed up front! ). So we were at his family reunion 8 hrs. from home. The kids and I had to drive separately from the airport as he was getting a rental. So he told us an address to plug into the gps (which he has said many times is always right). So we did and ended up lost! We missed all the food, etc. So he was so mad, and told me I must have made a mistake. Finally he checked the gps and realized that the gps is why we ended up lost. I haven't used gps since that big disaster! And now when the gps sends us in the wrong direction when he uses it, I remind him that the gps is always right! |
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Post by theroadlesstraveledp on Jun 14, 2017 3:39:15 GMT
I think just for me it's not perfect! Everyone else seems to love it! My husband and I got into a huge argument at his family reunion last year. He has known for 22 yrs. that I have no sense of direction (it's pretty much disclosed up front! ). So we were at his family reunion 8 hrs. from home. The kids and I had to drive separately from the airport as he was getting a rental. So he told us an address to plug into the gps (which he has said many times is always right). So we did and ended up lost! We missed all the food, etc. So he was so mad, and told me I must have made a mistake. Finally he checked the gps and realized that the gps is why we ended up lost. I haven't used gps since that big disaster! And now when the gps sends us in the wrong direction when he uses it, I remind him that the gps is always right! I have still gotten lost w/GPS, oh the stories I could tell. Like how I ended up in the wrong area for a meeting, or when I got off on the wrong exit (there are two with the same name but one is north and the other is south) when I needed to go see my grandfather--that is what prompted my uncle to buy the Magellen  My whole family including SO know that my sense of direction is crap. They all hesitate to take directions from me. That stinks that you missed the food, and had an argument! I could see why you wouldn't want to use the GPS anymore. |
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Post by Lexica on Jun 14, 2017 7:02:19 GMT
There could be multiple reasons why she is uncomfortable driving on the freeway, and it isn't for me to judge her for it. I prefer that those that know they are not good at it stay off of it instead of going and causing an accident.
Driving in the car with my dad when we drove to Minnesota for my son's treatment one summer was one of the nicest trips I've ever taken. Being in the car with minimal distraction can lead to some awesome conversations. We talked, we played games, and we learned so much about my dad's childhood on that trip. My son kept asking him questions and I loved sitting there and listening to Dad describe some of the things from his childhood. Driving 200 miles out of her way with her dad might be mainly for the company.
I used to love to drive on long trips, but my neck issue has put a major damper on that for me. I can't sit in one position to drive for very long and have to have frequent breaks. It kind of ruins the flow of a trip for me.
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(This is apart from a mental illness issue, of course.)
