Why do men usually drive when couples are in the car together?

[Anonymous]

Even relationships that are more equitable in other areas tend to have the man driving most of the time. Any reason why?

[Anonymous]

I mind driving less than my wife does.

That's really all there is to it.

[Anonymous]

Female here. I dislike driving. Dh doesn’t mind. When I do drive he makes comments about how I need to pass people and is generally a bad backseat driver. On road trips we share more equally.

[Anonymous]

It's vestigial for a lot of people probably. Just like a lot of dual income couples with joint accounts have the husband do the physical act of paying when they eat out.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:It's vestigial for a lot of people probably. Just like a lot of dual income couples with joint accounts have the husband do the physical act of paying when they eat out.

+1

This. I suppose it is a bit silly but I guess both DH and I prefer it. If I wanted to drive and/or pay the check I would (and he’d be fine with that of course).

I think sometimes certain gender roles persist even in modern day- it’s silly and a bit old fashioned but if both are happy with it, it’s fine IMO.

Good question though!

[Anonymous]

Men still often open doors for the woman and still do all kinds of things like paying for the bill or being responsible at home for 'guy' things (garbage, car repairs, house repairs, rodents / bugs, shoveling /lawn mowing) etc. There is still a lot of traditions left over from gender roles.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Even relationships that are more equitable in other areas tend to have the man driving most of the time. Any reason why?

Because it’s nice to be driven. Honestly I like driving but would take a chauffeur anyway. I don’t need to be equal in this regard.

[Anonymous]

I hate driving. And I have a long commute and he doesn’t, so the last thing I ever want to do is drive.

[Anonymous]

They were socialized to think that is the way it is supposed to be.

[Anonymous]

I schlep my kids around all the time and it drives me nuts and any time I can leave it to somebody else I will.

[Anonymous]

I am the wife and do all the driving for our family.

My husband is a terrible driver and we used to fight about it. So me driving solved that problem.

[Anonymous]

I can sleep in the car and my husband can't, so I figure I might as well nap! But around town, it is more evenly split.

[Anonymous]

I drive more than my husband. Traffic and dumb drivers annoy him much more than they do me, so it’s lower stress for me just to drive. I like driving.

[Anonymous]

Not for us or the couples I know.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I hate driving. And I have a long commute and he doesn’t, so the last thing I ever want to do is drive.

Same