You can legally rent and drive an automatic car if you have a manual license. But it may take some time to get used to the car handling the gears. These are quick tips for driving an automated car. Pass First Go Driving Lessons will make your learning easy. Autonomous cars are much easier to drive than manual ones. People with a manual driving license can hire and drive an automatic car.
Never driven an automatic before? This is easy… simply follow these tips to feel at ease behind the wheel.
1. Forget the clutch pedal
While automatics can have gears but most gear changes are handled by the car, they do not have any. There is no clutch pedal. The accelerator and brake are the only controls.
If you push both of the pedals at once, any car, manual or auto, will get upset. Many “manual” drivers tend to tuck the left foot behind their right foot when they learn how to drive an auto. To make sure their left foot doesn’t forget that there is a clutch on their left-hand side.
2) Get used to the gearstick
Before you start turning the key, make sure to take the time to learn the functions of the gearstick. It will only be used occasionally, but it is a great tool to have if you ever need to go backwards in a hurry. In an automatic, you won’t touch it much… but when you shift gear, just hold down the brake (just like a manual).
There are other settings available for some automatics. You might be able to see:
1: Always stay in first gear (great for hills)
2: Second gear is good for hills
L: Maintain low gear (1 or 2)
S: Sport (better acceleration).
3 Be ready to creep’
If the automatic is in Drive, or any other forward gear, it will slowly move forwards. Reverse will slow down the auto’s movement. This is called “creeping” (or idle speed’). It makes it simple to just keep your right hand over or on the brake while you park, or when moving slowly. To ensure you don’t move when you don’t want, you can either select Neutral or the brake (or handbrake), to make sure.
4. What to Expect in Different Conditions
It’s much effortless to learn how to drive an automatic car. Because there is no need to think about gears learners can concentrate on the mirrors, speed, pedestrians, and all that else.
If you’re familiar with a manual, there will be some differences.
On motorways there is no real difference: Staying in Drive is the exact same as staying at top gear.
Autonomous vehicles are great for traffic jams It’s great not to have to shift from first to neutral over and over.
If you are parking, the ‘creep” feature might prove useful. You might find it annoying.
When overtaking, going up/down hills, towing, some people feel that an automatic car does not give them the same control as a manual. Most older automatics have an “O/D (Overdrive),” button* on their gearsticks that allows them to give the engine a little more power. The majority of newer models can sense when the driver is looking for more power and don’t require this button.
5. Practice
You can also practice some skills out of the way, before you get on any busy roads. It shouldn’t be difficult to master the art of keeping your left foot away from the road and your hand off the gearstick.
You can also rent an automatic to see if you like its handling, but not buy one. It’s possible to be surprised at how well an automatic drives. Perhaps you will decide that an automatic is the best car for you after just a few days.
Lawnow 