General driving discussion

[Deleted member]

I wonder how a driver with an automatic licence (and no real experience with manual transmission) would fare driving my 1967 Mk 1 MGB with no synchro' in first ?
Not that there are too many cars like mine about anymore

I taught my daughter to drive in the MG, and she reckons it was the best days work she ever did.
No synchro, no power steering, no power brakes. You really need to know how to actually "drive" a car like that, not just steer it.

 

[TomVexille]

Which strikes me as illogical. Why recognize a Victorian licence in Qld, when they won't afford their own residents the same latitude?
Something doesn't seem right here.

Mind you, all this is irrelevant if the driver can't actually operate a manual transmission!

Because it's not up to each state to determine how the other states issue licenses. FWIW NZ is the same as QLD.

And you're correct there

 

[Peter D]

I wonder how a driver with an automatic licence (and no real experience with manual transmission) would fare driving my 1967 Mk 1 MGB with no synchro' in first ?
Not that there are too many cars like mine about anymore

I taught my daughter to drive in the MG, and she reckons it was the best days work she ever did.
No synchro, no power steering, no power brakes. You really need to know how to actually "drive" a car like that, not just steer it.

My eldest son says he is the only one entitled to inherit my MGB as he learned to drive in a manual car and the others all learned on automatics.
A 1966 model purchased in 1968 my second car. I have only ever owned two cars in my life (The station wagons were always in my wife’s name).
Despite having been brought up with double declutching, and heal and toe techniques I have come round to thinking that in today’s traffic conditions learners have so much to think about that they are better off if we can automate some of the mechanical processes.
It is probably much easier to teach gears to an already competent driver, when they have a reason to learn it, than to a novice driver who just needs to get started.

 

[Quickstatus]

K

Despite having been brought up with double declutching, and heal and toe techniques I have come round to thinking that in today’s traffic conditions learners have so much to think about that they are better off if we can automate some of the mechanical processes.
It is probably much easier to teach gears to an already competent driver, when they have a reason to learn it, than to a novice driver who just needs to get started.

I believe that the progression of competence should be automatics then to manuals. In fact provisional drivers or other restricted drivers should only be allowed to drive an automatic with modern automatic protections even if they can drive a manual. Might even reduce hoon behaviour who invariably drive manuals. Automatics (in a generic sense) reduces the workload of the driver in the vehicle. A novice driver will need all the assistance in an accident. That's why there is antilock brakes with brake assist (automatic maximum braking when ABS activated), antiskid, accident max braking - when airbags are deployed the brakes are also maxed out until the car stops. Automatics also don't stall in an emergency.

I do concede that automatics has contributed to use of mobile phones while driving

Eventually the next generation or so will not even need to drive.

 

[snabbu]

Re: The totally off-topic thread

I learned how to drive a manual ~35 years ago. Had a Datsun 200B for 4 years. Can still drive manual now but not that great especially hills.

What an awesome car! Had a 180B also for a while then a 1600 which I kept and enjoyed quite a bit on the dirt.

 

[Quickstatus]

I once had a Honda Civic 2 speed auto. Remember "Hondamatic". These were not your traditional automatics as Honda had to design their own autos as there were patents for the usual Borg W transmissions.


..........

I can still drive manuals so about a month ago went to test drive a manual Holden Astra ( which was supposed to be as European and the usual "Europeans" though with a Holden badge will never have the euro cachet.

The female sales assistant with her thick layers of makeup and supermini skirt and high heels whom I dealt with did not have a manual license so could not come with me on a test drive. Somehow such attire and lack of manual license seems to me to not be conducive to car selling?.
Didn't like the car anyway for a number of reasons.

Why is it that some car salespeople know less about the new car than me?. I usually test them about their knowledge and about 50% don't know what I would class as important info

 

[Deleted member]

But it is up to each state to set their own laws.
Aagain where is the logic to allow someone NOT resident to break their (Qld) law, and not a resident?

Because it's not up to each state to determine how the other states issue licenses. FWIW NZ is the same as QLD.

And you're correct there

 

[TomVexille]

But it is up to each state to set their own laws.
Aagain where is the logic to allow someone NOT resident to break their (Qld) law, and not a resident?

But they wouldn't be breaking the law, as they have a license that allows them to drive a manual

 

[Deleted member]

He (your son) makes a good point!
I feel the same when it comes to my Fathers car. it's not that old, and it's not manual.
BUT it is about 35 years old now, and he doesn't drive it himself anymore, due to some medical issues (blind in one eye, cant see out of the other)
and my Step mother doesn't care to drive it as it is very big.
BTW, it is a Silver Spur....

My eldest son says he is the only one entitled to inherit my MGB as he learned to drive in a manual car and the others all learned on automatics.
A 1966 model purchased in 1968 my second car. I have only ever owned two cars in my life (The station wagons were always in my wife’s name).
Despite having been brought up with double declutching, and heal and toe techniques I have come round to thinking that in today’s traffic conditions learners have so much to think about that they are better off if we can automate some of the mechanical processes.
It is probably much easier to teach gears to an already competent driver, when they have a reason to learn it, than to a novice driver who just needs to get started.

 

[Deleted member]

But they wouldn't be breaking the law, as they have a license that allows them to drive a manual

doesn't
yep, I see it, but it still make sense.

 

[mushez]

But it is up to each state to set their own laws.
Aagain where is the logic to allow someone NOT resident to break their (Qld) law, and not a resident?

Same can be said for allowing Chinese to drive on the roads in Australia & New Zealand, on a Chinese Drivers License. Where one can gain a full Chinese drivers license without ever actually driving on a road anywhere: Foreign driver Jieling Xiao jailed for road death of motorcyclist Rhys Middleton | Stuff.co.nz

Or the road rules are totally different between the two countries - in China it is illegal to stop at a pedestrian crossing (and fines given if you do) - to navigate them you must honk horn & slow down and avoid hitting any pedestrian. Or at many intersections where we give way or stop - all they have to do is slow down and honk horn.

 

[Warks]

I'd agree it's better to learn on an automatic before trying a manual. There's enough to come to terms with just navigating the streets and controlling brakes and accelerator along with blinkers etc without worrying about stalling and kangaroo hopping. I'm currently teaching my eldest to drive and I'm glad I don't have to worry about teaching how to handle a "stick shift" as well.

I can competently drive a manual and, having spent a lot of time on farms in my youth, can drive pretty much anything from tractors to dozers to crane trucks. However on odd occasions I end up with a manual rental car and I realise that I really don't enjoy manual cars. Too much stress trying to remember to put it in gear at the lights and not embarrass myself. A sports car would be different but a little Corolla or Hyundai is no fun at all.

 

[Warks]

Same can be said for allowing Chinese to drive on the roads in Australia & New Zealand, on a Chinese Drivers License. Where one can gain a full Chinese drivers license without ever actually driving on a road anywhere: Foreign driver Jieling Xiao jailed for road death of motorcyclist Rhys Middleton | Stuff.co.nz

Or the road rules are totally different between the two countries - in China it is illegal to stop at a pedestrian crossing (and fines given if you do) - to navigate them you must honk horn & slow down and avoid hitting any pedestrian. Or at many intersections where we give way or stop - all they have to do is slow down and honk horn.

Some interesting reading here:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rules_of_the_road_in_China

 

[Quickstatus]

Or the road rules are totally different between the two countries - in China it is illegal to stop at a pedestrian crossing (and fines given if you do) - to navigate them you must honk horn & slow down and avoid hitting any pedestrian. Or at many intersections where we give way or stop - all they have to do is slow down and honk horn.

Shock horror!!. Drivers who get their license while driving on the left side should never be allowed to drive in countries whhere driving is on the opposite side. Vica versa.

 

[TomVexille]

Shock horror!!. Drivers who get their license while driving on the left side should never be allowed to drive in countries whhere driving is on the opposite side. Vica versa.

Hmmm, I shouldn't be driving in Australia then...

 

[Quickstatus]

Over ther the units of measurements are mph as well!!.

 

[TheRealTMA]

Shock horror!!. Drivers who get their license while driving on the left side should never be allowed to drive in countries whhere driving is on the opposite side. Vica versa.

Bah! I do it all the time. Perhaps now I drive more in Europe than in Oz! Once you have done it once, subsequently it takes about 15 minutes to adjust your brain map to the 'Other Side'.

 

[suze2000]

Shock horror!!. Drivers who get their license while driving on the left side should never be allowed to drive in countries whhere driving is on the opposite side. Vica versa.

What a load of bollocks. It's not like the clutch and accelerator are also on opposite sides. I agree it takes a little more focus, but if you are competent there's no reason you won't be competent on the other side of the road.

However, I do believe that foreign nationals from countries with corrupt or non-existent licensing systems should not be allowed to drive in Australia (or anywhere else for that matter) without sitting an appropriate driving test.

 

[Quickstatus]

Haha if you read my post you will see it was in response to a contention/perception that drivers from certain countries with different driving rules/practices could be dangerous in OZ.. It's also not necessarily true that a person competent in driving in OZ is also competent in another country

 

[Warks]

There's plenty of people with local licences who shouldn't be driving either. Almost anyone over 80 (there are exceptions, but they are the exceptions!) and some people who seem to have won their licence in a packet of cereal.

I can only think that there aren't a lot more accidents because there are a lot of very good drivers (who drive a lot) who can avoid accidents with said shockers. The number of near-misses I've had with people running red lights or cutting right turns in front of me, not to mention flying out of side streets without looking. Without good defensive driving skills I'd have had a dozen or more accidents, some serious.