I love driving in the country, too. What I hate is driving in the city.
There is no need to completely eliminate the highway system. The need is to provide viable alternatives so that people who participate in the system do so by choice.
Besides, public transit doesn't need to involve any interpersonal interaction. You could have a private compartment and still be more safe and more efficient than commuter traffic.
I want to drive. I love to drive. It's one of my favourite hobbies. What better way to get out and see such a diverse amount of the countryside?
I frequently drive 4 hours through a mountain pass to the other side of the island and it's absolutely breathtaking.
Road trips are our preferred holiday.
There is no public transport in these places and if there was why would I want to spend time with a bunch of random mouth breathers?