Even in this world that is dominated by automatic transmissions in cars, knowing how to drive a vehicle with a manual transmission is a valuable skill. Manual transmissions are still the method of choice for sports cars and many off road vehicles. Once a teen has got his driver’s license, a parent may find a decent car for the teen that is a few years old that has a manual transmission. It is also something that may come in handy if you are asked to drive someone else’s car in the event of an emergency.
The best way to learn this skill is to take the appropriate driving instruction in West Chester Ohio. There are classes given in high school where the teen can gain experience in a simulator and on the road. If the high school favors automatic transmissions, the burden of teaching the basics of driving a manual transmission will usually fall on the shoulders of the parent. Many private driving schools have standard transmission vehicles for use by those students who wish to learn this skill.
When learning how to drive, the student often practices on an empty parking lot or other facility where there are few distractions. Although these places are ideal for the student to practice turning, reversing, parking and braking, they are not the right place to practice with a manual transmission. A car equipped with a manual transmission needs a lot of linear space to get up to speed and then shift to the next gear. A student must experience this to understand that a manual transmission requires different senses and coordination.
To begin the process of learning to drive a manual transmission, the student should first sit beside an experienced driver, usually an individual who gives driving instruction in West Chester Ohio. The instructor will show the proper way to depress the clutch, position the gear lever and coordinate pressure on the accelerator. As the engine reaches a certain RPM, the instructor should guide the student into listening for the tell tale sounds that indicate that shifting to another gear is required. Shifting up and shifting down take different techniques, the student should watch closely and listen intently as the instructor shows downshift and brake techniques.
