I have always been a driver, I passed my driving test as soon as I could and bought my own car when I got my first opportunity a couple of years later. But the longer I go on being a driver, the more I wish I could use public transport instead. Being a non-driver has a lot going in its favour.

I grew up in a small village with a typically infrequent bus service. Owning a car was natural and learning to drive was and probably still is just as natural for a teenager. I've driven up and down the country to university, visit family and friends or just for pleasure; I've even driven in another country. But now driving is beginning to lose its appeal.

1. ROAD RAGE

I'm finding that even though I'm a fairly calm person most of the time, the lack of consideration shown by other drivers makes me mad. I'm not saying that I suffer from violent road-rage, just the non-violent shouting, verbal type when another driver cuts me up or nearly drives into me for no apparent reason. Being a non-driver would certainly stop the road-rage tendencies. And sitting back, enjoying the view would be much more relaxing than trying to avoid the maniacs on the road.

2. HEALTH

Following on from this first point, I'm finding being a driver is so stressful. Other drivers drive so fast and dangerously, the enjoyment I used to get from driving is slowly disappearing. I'm convinced that being a non-driver is healthier and less wearing both physically and mentally.

2. COST

I think it would be much cheaper to use public transport to get around than pay for a car. The increasing price of oil and its effect on the cost of petrol (price of gas) means that it's becoming much more expensive to keep a car on the road. Add in the car tax, insurance, MOT, servicing and all the other expenses which go with owning a car, the bus or taxi doesn't sound that bad after all.

3. EASE

One thing that attracted me to having my own car and in many ways it still does is the ease of mobility. It's nice to be able to walk out of my house, into my own transport and go wherever I want, whenever I want to. But I now have a bus stop outside my house and with all the other problem factors of car ownership added together, it's probably just as easy, if not easier sometimes, to catch the bus instead.

4. ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT

Using public transport is much cleaner and greener for the environment and would help to reduce my carbon footprint. I make too many unnecessary car journeys and by using public transport, I wouldn't only be using a more environmentally friendly type of transport, but I'd also make fewer journeys.

I'm not saying that being a non-driver is always the best option. I wouldn't want to be the one at the bus stop on a wet winter's morning or running late for a meeting because a taxi firm has double booked or relying on someone else whose car's broken down or alarm clock hasn't gone off. But there is something that's very appealing about giving up my car if it were at all possible. Now I just need a reliable transport system as a replacement.

Learn more about this author, Ben Hughes.
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