Learning to Drive a Manual Transmission Car

From LoveToKnow Cars

One of the most difficult things about learning to drive a manual transmission car is understanding the differences between driving an automatic and driving a standard. In reality those differences are few, but the additional multitasking skills that are required to drive a standard make it a little bit more difficult. Read on to learn what skills are required to drive a stick shift, and a few of the things that make learning to drive a manual transmission car so different than driving an automatic.

Teach Me How to Drive a Manual Car

Learning to Drive A Manual Transmission Car

When you're learning to drive a car with a standard transmission, you'll need to learn how to focus more on the actions involved in driving than you would if you were just driving an automatic. When you drive a car with an automatic transmission, you do need to focus on multiple things at once such as steering, road signs, your speed, and other drivers. However, when you throw shifting gears into that mix, things can get a lot more complicated and it requires much greater multitasking skills.

The Best Standard Drivers Are Multitaskers

Driving a standard requires the ability to change gears while trying to keep track of all of the normal, multiple driving tasks. When a person is driving an automatic, the brain is normally always trying to keep track of several critical processes at the same time. These mental processes include:

Steering
Navigation
Acceleration and braking
Following the rules of the road
Listening to the radio
Having a conversation with a friend
Avoiding obstacles and unexpected events

However, when you drive a manual transmission car, there are additional tasks that you need to focus on, including:

Properly using the clutch
Shifting gears at the right time
Braking properly (remembering to use the emergency brake)

If you doubt that you have the mental capacity to properly multitask while driving a standard, think again. Many people think that women in particular will have a difficult time learning to drive a standard. This is a myth, and science actually proves that women are very well suited to drive a manual transmission. One 2005 UK study conducted by researchers at Bradford University found that the female hormone estrogen affects the frontal lobe of the brain and increases mental flexibility. This directly influences the ability to learn rules more quickly and to switch from one task to another more effectively. The researchers concluded that this finding might explain why women seem to be more careful drivers than men. Additionally, since this finding shows that most women are better able to switch between tasks more quickly - that may also mean that women actually make better drivers with a manual transmission car.

Tips When Learning to Drive a Standard

When you first start driving a standard, you'll need to learn those additional tasks that are required beyond the normal skills needed to drive a car with an automatic transmission.

Important points to remember about driving a manual transmission car:

Whenever you park the car, always remember to use the emergency brake before you get out. Manual transmissions don't have a parking gear to lock the wheels.
Parking on a hill with a manual car follows the same rules as an automatic, but with the added confusion of a clutch. You still use the clutch as you normally do when stopping, but before you take your foot off of the brake pedal make sure the emergency brake is fully engaged.
Starting off on a hill requires putting the car in first gear with the emergency brake still engaged, pressing the gas slightly while in first gear, and then releasing the emergency brake. Accelerate and then shift as normal.

LovetoKnow Cars offers step-by-step guides on how to drive a manual transmission car. While it may take a bit of practice, learning to drive a "stick-shift" can be a very rewarding experience.

Once You Learn, Maintain Your Skills

Once you learn how to drive a stick-shift, try to maintain those skills by driving one as often as you can. Consider purchasing a less expensive manual model for your next new car - not only will you maintain your driving ability, but the car will also cost far less than one with an automatic transmission. Ultimately, learning to drive a manual transmission car will benefit you in the long run with better driving skills and greater driver confidence.

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