4.4 Reasons for not Driving

When the thirty participants who did not drive were asked to best describe their reason for not doing so, half (15) responded that financial constraints prevented them.  Reasons opted for included not being able to afford to buy a car (9), run a car (3), pay for insurance (2) or pay for lessons (1).  Only four of the present sample replied that they did not want or need to drive, while 'fear' (3), 'feeling too old' (3), 'never learned '(2) and 'objections from husband/partner' (1) were some of the other reasons given.  One woman was unable to drive due to a disability and one was currently taking lessons.

4.5 Women have their say: On transport and isolation

Mother of three:
"I have to be able to drive as the public transport is so bad - it is a necessity.  My husband needs the car [too] and this can leave me really stuck"

Mother, aged 31-40:
"We had to get a second car, it was impossible to manage with only one car and my husband working 10 miles from home.  The children go to two schools eight and a half miles apart in opposite directions.  [Before I got the second car] I was travelling up to 100 miles a day to get everything done.

Single woman, under 30:
" For social welfare, the nearest post office [to me] is Buncrana, 26 miles away and a 52 mile round trip - [there is] a lack of [public] transport to it"

Woman, aged 51-60, with variable work opportunities:
"I have to travel at least 30 miles to get to work - and sometimes as much as 150 miles of a round trip"

Mother, aged 21-30:
"We have no chemist or bank in Muff or Quigley's Point"