This archive report was first published on 9 October 2019.
Driving is a rite of passage into adulthood, but for many young Kenyans, it's a daunting task due to the country's chaotic roads and lack of confidence.
As a millennial, I attended driving school right after high school, but my experience was far from smooth. I 'passed' the test and got a driver's licence, but it has been gathering dust in my drawer since.
According to a survey conducted by Nissan in the United Kingdom, 23 per cent of drivers polled were 'uncomfortable' and lacked the confidence to drive on multi-lane roads. While there are no statistics on the prevalence of driving anxiety among adults in Kenya, my experience is not isolated.
My first time operating a car on my own after getting my licence was brief, but powerful enough to keep me away from the wheel for as long as it has been. I was doing well until my mother started squealing, fearing that I would hit the gate as we exited the mall.
My friends share similar sentiments about driving. While I gave up after my first failure, they went ahead and drove for a while before eventually quitting, for various reasons. One of them claims she is a 'daydreamer', and the fear of losing control has kept her out of the driver's seat for almost a year.
It's a convenient way to get around for the most part, but for now, I am doing just fine with the modes of transport available to me. Until it is absolutely necessary, this is one skill that will remain with an asterisk on the list of things that make me a 'fully functional adult'.
