Topic: Should everyone who learns to drive be taught with (and tested on) a manual?

[Snowman]

Maybe should have to also take a CPR/First Aid course to get their license.

Agreed. Should be mandatory .

[tooscoops]

i drive some narrow, hilly roads on my commute... and the tiny little automatic cars i see who have to adjust their speed by 50% to make corners and stay in their lane is just ridiculous....

i often daydream about forcing everyone to pass a test driving a car like mine on those roads, just to prove they are in control of the car, not the other way around... if your brain can handle making decisions at speed and you can stay in lanes, keep consistent speeds and not get too scared/nervous... then you are fine.

i said yes to the poll, but i really wouldn't realistically think that way... i wouldn't sell any cars because no one would have a drivers license.

[blur911]

I hope someone in the Conservative party introduces this idea in the next election platform.   The ultimate vote killer ever.

I think just parallel parking is a mountain to high to climb for many.

I like Bob's idea too, but it would never fly.   Being incompetent is now the norm with automatics, self-parking, ABS, traction control, anti-skid tech has numbed down driving to where people just want to push a button and do nothing.  It's not better, but it's obviously what the hordes want.  Yes, there are lots of people who shouldn't have a license, but they won't change. (remember, the incompetent don't know they're the problem)

As ArticSteve says, parallel parking is too much for many.  I know tons of people who refuse to ever drive in downtown Kingston (which is not a big city by any means)  simply because they might have to parallel park.

[pi314]

IMO those who at least are aware of their limitations are safer than those who think they're good.

I don't think my mom has parallel parked since her driving test. But she's a safe driver, though doesn't have the confidence of others. My brother, he's confident, but not really that good (though he's a decent driver nonetheless and learned to drive manual soon after getting his license

[Vanstar]

I love manuals, but they have their place. In my TL, it would just be a pain in the rear, since the large motor makes loads of torque. In my Kia Rio, however, the manual  transforms the car from an econo buzzbox to almost hot hatch. The difference in driving experience is incredible, more than most cars I have experienced. I love a good manual, and the quality of the clutch and shifter of the Rio have really surprised me, a lot better than my already excellent 2008 Fit.

So I love a good manual in a small car, since it will let that small engine do its best, and make the overall experience a lot more pleasant, for me and pretty much anyone reading this, would fully understand the use of a peppy little manual hatch for brutal city driving.

But that makes too much sense. Most people don't give a good gul durn what they drive, as long as it runs and it easy to drive, and is cheap to run: to whit, we have a gazillion Civics and Corollas on the road in Canada and I'd say at least 90% are automatics. Making manuals mandatory would be a huge waste of time, since 90% of drivers would never use it. I doubt they would even consider a manual car.

[Triple Bob]

I love manuals, but they have their place. In my TL, it would just be a pain in the rear, since the large motor makes loads of torque.

 

Really..? 

[Fobroader]

I love manuals, but they have their place. In my TL, it would just be a pain in the rear, since the large motor makes loads of torque.

 

Really..? 

So wait...the engine makes lots of power so therefore a manual is no bueno......I don't get the correlation!?!?!?! 

[Noto]

I love manuals, but they have their place. In my TL, it would just be a pain in the rear, since the large motor makes loads of torque.

 

Really..? 

So wait...the engine makes lots of power so therefore a manual is no bueno......I don't get the correlation!?!?!?! 

[url = http://www.venomgt.com/venom-f5/]This one makes 1,400hp with a manual transmission...[/url]

[mmmbacon]

I'm for "no". The UK has a very small number of automatics on the road and a comprehensive public transport network. Learning how to drive a manual would be an unnecessary hassle for most people and wouldn't necessarily make anyone a good driver.

Driving should be taught like math, from first principles, then the easier method, or you just don't understand it properly...

I get what you're saying but being able to drive a car is different than being able to operate a car.

I knew someone that was on vacation and was a passenger in a rented (manual) car with friends.  The driver had a serious medical issue and couldn’t drive any more.  She was the only other one out of the five that could drive stick, she hadn’t driven stick for a long time, but it came back after a few kangaroo hops down the road.  So it could be a survival skill…

I think this is an exceptional situation. A lot of young people in Europe don't even bother getting a driver's licence these days - and I don't think we should make it mandatory to have a driver's licence to be a passenger for emergency purposes.

[21Rouge]

On a side note my son has an app't to get his G2 this month. He has only driven a manual transmission vehicle.

[CyberNick]

When I took the test as a teenager, I had also not driven an automatic. I failed the first time through it because when stopped and waiting for a green I was in neutral. Apparently you're supposed to be in 1st gear with the clutch engaged. Passed the second time doing that.

I never did understand the importance of this and to this day I am in neutral while waiting. I think waiting in 1st with clutch on puts extra unnecessary  wear on it, so I don't do it.

[quadzilla]

I never did understand the importance of this and to this day I am in neutral while waiting. I think waiting in 1st with clutch on puts extra unnecessary  wear on it, so I don't do it.

I believe the reason is so if you ever had to move the car quickly you were always ready to go. I've also heard that sitting in gear with the clutch depressed does cause extra wear. Pick your poison I guess.

[tpl]

Back in the age of the dinosaurs I was taught to shift to neutral and apply the handbrake when stopping at a light.   The UK thing where the amber comes on while the red is still on before the green was always thought of as a time to get ready by shifting into 1irst and depressing the release button on the handbrake ready to release it smoothly...just as in doing a start on an incline...no slipping the clutch against the foot brake there and then...we were taught to use the handbrake You could fail the driving teste if you did not do both of those things.

[RunsinLight]

I take my opinion to the extreme, I don't think you should even able to get a automatic unless you have a legitimate medical reason for needing one.  That and I put learning a manual up there with learning to swim, it's just something you have to teach your kids.

[tenpenny]

Should people be allowed to have power steering without a medical reason?


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[CyberNick]

Interestingly the new Mazda 6 with the electric/electronic parking brake has an auto disengage feature which is meant to assist with getting moving without rolling in the oposite direction.

[Triple Bob]

I take my opinion to the extreme, I don't think you should even able to get a automatic unless you have a legitimate medical reason for needing one.  That and I put learning a manual up there with learning to swim, it's just something you have to teach your kids.

Ha ha, good man!