I was happy cos it meant I could always drink and not worry about dui’s. I always had aloft cos someone has to get the blind guy home safely. Gfs and Bfs were always happy to drive so not a problem. Never saw it as an issue tbh

I know how you feel I was told I'd be allowed to drive all the way up until I had my first driving lesson. And was so distraught by not being able to drive. And that was before my vision got even worse dashing my hopes further. I've had to walk and cycle everywhere myself which contantly reminds me that I can't drive. It's not easy but you get used to not having the option.

I remember watching my friends get their lisences. I grew up in a place with very little public transit so I hated that everyone else got access to freedom and independence. Now I live in an urban area and use public transit (well, not right now due to The Rona) and its much much better. Also you can feel anyway you want about it, other people should be understanding, not invalidate your feelings. It is frustrating and that’s okay for you to experience that.

As someone who became blind in my adult years, I can tell you you're not missing much. Driving was always an annoyance, traffic, inconsiderate drivers, and upkeep on a vehicle. Driving for me represented independence, but that feeling went away when I got used to public transit. Now I primarily walk to places near my home, they know me, and it provides me with a greater sense of community, as I frequent smaller locally owned establishments.

Some things that came to mind as I was reading in no particular order.

I don’t think we need to feel left out by not being able to drive. Many people are starting to find other ways to get around other than driving a personal car, either because it’s too expensive, or echo friendly or other reasons. Ride sharing apps like Uber and Lyft are becoming more and more popular. Eventually autonomous cars will be mainstream and we won’t have to worry about any of this stuff.

To answer your question: your feelings are your own. If that person managed to convince you that not needing to drive is ok, then that’s great. But I don’t think there’s any need for us to feel inferior for not being able to drive.

I ate it, I've always seen transport as freedom. I've thought about sailing as there is no law to say a blind person cant sail at sea. I hate not having that freedom or option to hop in a car and drive.

I found out I was blind the same day I was supposed to start driving lessons. I was broken as I had p,and on getting a small cameraman to drive around and even go around Europe. It was taken from me. Im still bitter about it.

Im hoping the self driving stuff takes off as this will put my freedom and my travel plans and independence back on.

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I was very lucky in that I know a driving instructor fairly well so he gave me a few lessons in his student driver car, he said

"You're better on your first time than a lot of the students I've worked with, because you have to listen to me instead of assuming you know it all."

The last time I drove with him was like 2 years ago but I've done around 5 "driving lessons"

I had a bit less than a year of driving and there is not a lot of pleasure in it. It is not fun. Yes it is useful and yes not having it is a pain but it's not fun unless you are someone with the mentality of a five year old boy and in that case you're actually dangerous.

It's cold comfort, but I don't think about it because all of the other issues around transportation overshadow it. Just getting from a cab to a room in a building is the issue for me. I can get to the building. That's when the fun starts.

I live in a place where I would normally take public transport to get into the big city (less so recently of course) and I would do that even if I could drive. Driving into big cities is slow, expensive and miserable. The real problem is that I can't easily navigate buildings, railway stations and stuff. That's the big deal. And I don't really see there's any solution to that other than booking help, which is also slow and miserable but what're you going to do.

Perhaps it's just a factor of where I live and where I need to get to, but I find that I'm concentrating too hard on making public transport work, and figuring out where to go in buildings, to worry about driving.

I voluntarily decided to stop driving at around 20 because of my vision loss. I am technically still allowed to drive (only during the day) but I got into an accident; while it was partially because of icy roads and being in an unfamiliar area, I knew that my lack of depth perception definitely contributed to it.

It will go both ways. Sometimes it sucks not to have the independence of being able to get up and just drive somewhere! My dream is to live in a rural, secluded area, but without driving that will be pretty difficult, and that's kind of a downer. But on the other hand, it's a relief not to worry about the expenses or dangers of driving a car! And you will find ways of getting places on your own, even spontaneously. Ride share services can take you almost anywhere, and so can an adventurous friend!

Be glad you have friends. I grew up in a school for the disabled and think I saw some of my friends outside of school, maybe 3 times in 6 or so years.

I have a best friend now but i'd recommend looking at the good things in your life, like having sighted friends, instead of focusing on the negative.

It was never an issue for me. I am totally blind, so I always new I wouldn't be able to drive. I was also lucky that my best friend would pick me up and take me with him when he first got his license.

I've never had that one. I'm an anarcho-capitalist, if I wanted to endanger my life I wouldn't feel lucky that the government stopped me from doing so, but still I understand why blind people don't drive. I guess the difference for me is that, even age 23, very few of my friends drive; I attend a small campus university so there's little chance to practise your driving skills.