Let me ask, did it terrify you when you first started driving a car (if you do drive, im not sure if you do.) Because I just started driving on Friday and its absolutly nerve wracking and I hate it. Its scary as hell to get behind the wheel and drive places.
I can’t drive. Physically haven’t started yet and legally in a grey area.You see any potential parking/driving offenses (e.g. not paying fines in time, getting speeding tickets, someone else ramming you etc) are counted as part of questionable behaviour or as crimes that directly count against my appeal for citizenship - usually how it goes in the UK is that if you’ve had permanent residence for a full year, you can then appeal for a citizenship. One such offense can take three years or more to expire, during which you cannot appeal. And as a beginner in driving, that’s when you’re the likeliest to screw up or have someone take advantage of your inexpertise.
I ain’t got the time for that. I’m twenty-two years old and have been preparing for permanent residence for over ten years. Letting a momentary mistake - mine or someone else’s - chip three whole years off my ability to become a British citizen is a complete waste of my life.
So yeah. I was legally advised by my caseworker to put off getting a license for later if I didn’t have one now. Like, I do want to drive desperately. Nothing is barring me legally-wise; I can apply for driving lessons and get a license in a couple of months if I wanted to, just like anyone else, on the surface. But unlike a lot of actual citizens, I can’t afford a car right now, and the potential risk and subsequent punishment is too absurdly high for me to start at the moment.
And I really want to live a normal life as soon as possible, you know? Like. I can’t marry my partner of seven years, because I literally don’t have that right at the moment. Public transport is generally excellent over here, but not being able to drive is still pretty miserable. And so on. Sorry you got a rant about my immigration situation rather than anything solid re: driving. That’s actually one of the most mundane and yet one of the most damaging things I am unable to do because of my situation. I’d love to be on the road and like... not... perpetually worry about losing everything I’ve worked on for over half of my life.