I'm going to do my driving test in an automatic

[ViolentPanda]

The more I think about this the more worried I get about who the fuck is let loose on the roads - if you really can't cope with the rather simple process of changing gears then you have no fucking right to be driving IMO.

I learned to drive in a manual, but haven't driven for 20 years, and if I did start driving again it'd probably have to be an auto because I've virtually no feeling in my left hand and forearm. I can't physically cope with gear changes unless I'm willing to drop a new gearbox in every couple of months to replace the one I'll have fucked by accidentally dropping from 3rd into reverse.

The mechanics of car control are a piece of piss, and should be an almost reflexive set of actions. If you have to think about what you're doing you shouldn't be on the road.

Which means that 70% of the driving population of the USA shouldn't be driving, given the yank predeliction for auto transmission.

 

[Poi E]

Which means that 70% of the driving population of the USA shouldn't be driving, given the yank predeliction for auto transmission.

Pretty good drivers by and large.

 

[Vintage Paw]

The more I think about this the more worried I get about who the fuck is let loose on the roads - if you really can't cope with the rather simple process of changing gears then you have no fucking right to be driving IMO.

The mechanics of car control are a piece of piss, and should be an almost reflexive set of actions. If you have to think about what you're doing you shouldn't be on the road.

What a load of crap.

Surely if you find a manual car too stressful to begin with, then using an auto would only make you a safer driver. You can concentrate on the road rather than the gears.

Some people find things easier than others, just by their very nature. That doesn't make them irresponsible or anything else. Take away the thing that causes the problem and let them get on with being safe drivers.

 

[moomoo]

The more I think about this the more worried I get about who the fuck is let loose on the roads - if you really can't cope with the rather simple process of changing gears then you have no fucking right to be driving IMO.

The mechanics of car control are a piece of piss, and should be an almost reflexive set of actions. If you have to think about what you're doing you shouldn't be on the road.

It's not a matter of not being able to do it. I'm quite capable of doing it, I just have no idea of why I do it. The mechanics of a car may be a piece of piss to you, but they're not to me. It's technical, see? If you want to explain then that would be lovely.

Anyway, just cos you can do something, doesn't mean everyone else can or should be able to. If people are happier driving automatics, that's fine. If they can't get on with gears, that's fine too. Doesn't make them crap drivers.

 

[geminisnake]

If people are happier driving automatics, that's fine. If they can't get on with gears, that's fine too. Doesn't make them crap drivers.

Exactly. It would be interesting to do a survey on the number of accidents involving a manual car versus an automatic, taking into account the percentage differences.

All the crap drivers I have encountered that I know of were driving manuals.

 

[Bob_the_lost]

Gears alter the ratio between number of engine rotations to wheel rotations. The more engine rotations to wheel rotations the more torque (twisting force) you can get, but the less total speed as the engine can only spin so fast. However getting a 1 ton lump of metal moving needs a lot of force at low speeds and very few wheel spins.
By changing up a gear you change the ratio, ie. 4 engine spins to one wheel spin becomes 3 to one. This means that in the new gear you can go faster at a certain engine speed, but the torque is also less so you can't accelerate as much and, if you're being silly, possibly even slow down or stall as the engine can't hack it. When you're starting off is different but that's another story.
All nice and simple really, not much difference to the gears in a bike, high gears are the hard to cycle ones. A nightmare to start off with but once you've got some speed going, perfect.


It might not mean that you're a crap driver, but if you can't learn to operate the gears instinctively then you may not be able to master the other parts of driving the car that become instinctive. Being in a crash doesn't mean you're a crap driver but there's a greater likelyhood of someone who has being sub par. Not being able to learn how to use a manual is not a good sign imo.

 

[beesonthewhatnow]

The mechanics of a car may be a piece of piss to you, but they're not to me. It's technical, see?

I said the mechanics of car control - what you do with your arms and legs, the co-ordination, I didn't mean the details of the cogs whirring away...

 

[fractionMan]

The problem I have is making all my arms and legs go in different directions at the same time. The steering bit is easy.

It's not natural I tell ya.

 

[moomoo]

I said the mechanics of car control - what you do with your arms and legs, the co-ordination, I didn't mean the details of the cogs whirring away...

Oh..........






Anyway Bob explained all that beautifully! Thank you Bob.