Future of UK driving test when there are no manual cars?
Discussion
Sorry if this has been done before, but I was wondering what will happen to the driving test in the future - that is if the future of cars is electric then manual transmission will become obsolete.
While this won't happen straight away there will be a point at which it may become difficult, or not practical, to get instruction in a manual - or as they will be known 'vintage' cars!
Manual cars may still exist in small numbers, would new drivers be essentially prevented from use unless they take their 'vintage' test, or will we just drop the notion of manual / automatic license allowing someone to drive 'stick' if they want, as per the American system.
Thoughts?
While this won't happen straight away there will be a point at which it may become difficult, or not practical, to get instruction in a manual - or as they will be known 'vintage' cars!
Manual cars may still exist in small numbers, would new drivers be essentially prevented from use unless they take their 'vintage' test, or will we just drop the notion of manual / automatic license allowing someone to drive 'stick' if they want, as per the American system.
Thoughts?
There will be a certain kind of PHer I'm sure who has a fantasy along the lines of the following:
It's 2050 and someone has found a rare 2020 model car that's been lying in a barn unused for the last 20 years. They urgently need it moving and ask all their friends but no one is able.
"It's got 3 pedals and I can't find D" says Mummy Bear
Daddy Bear looks forlornly at his licence and declares "It says Automatic Only on my licence, this looks Unautomatic to me."
"I know how! " says Baby Bear, but Mummy Bear points out that his insurance might not cover him or his paperwork might otherwise not be in order.
"Who is going to help us now?!" they all ask
All of a sudden up pops PHer Aden01ds "Can I be of assistance, here? This is my valid Category B driving licence and my DOC insurance, now if someone would be kind enough to book the car into the nearest MOT centre we can move this baby in full compliance with the letter of the law. Now then, feel the biting point... double de-clutch... heel and toe"
Everyone marvels at Aden01ds' rare talent and skill and he regales people with the anecdote for happily ever after.
And then he wakes up and looks for the box of tissues by the bed.
Reality is that manual cars will become so rare that you will no longer need a special licence to drive them, rather like those vintage cars with extra levers and controls for ignition timing and unconventional pedal layouts.
It's 2050 and someone has found a rare 2020 model car that's been lying in a barn unused for the last 20 years. They urgently need it moving and ask all their friends but no one is able.
"It's got 3 pedals and I can't find D" says Mummy Bear
Daddy Bear looks forlornly at his licence and declares "It says Automatic Only on my licence, this looks Unautomatic to me."
"I know how! " says Baby Bear, but Mummy Bear points out that his insurance might not cover him or his paperwork might otherwise not be in order.
"Who is going to help us now?!" they all ask
All of a sudden up pops PHer Aden01ds "Can I be of assistance, here? This is my valid Category B driving licence and my DOC insurance, now if someone would be kind enough to book the car into the nearest MOT centre we can move this baby in full compliance with the letter of the law. Now then, feel the biting point... double de-clutch... heel and toe"
Everyone marvels at Aden01ds' rare talent and skill and he regales people with the anecdote for happily ever after.
And then he wakes up and looks for the box of tissues by the bed.
Reality is that manual cars will become so rare that you will no longer need a special licence to drive them, rather like those vintage cars with extra levers and controls for ignition timing and unconventional pedal layouts.
Wooda80 said:
There will be a certain kind of PHer I'm sure who has a fantasy along the lines of the following:
It's 2050 and someone has found a rare 2020 model car that's been lying in a barn unused for the last 20 years. They urgently need it moving and ask all their friends but no one is able.
"It's got 3 pedals and I can't find D" says Mummy Bear
Daddy Bear looks forlornly at his licence and declares "It says Automatic Only on my licence, this looks Unautomatic to me."
"I know how! " says Baby Bear, but Mummy Bear points out that his insurance might not cover him or his paperwork might otherwise not be in order.
"Who is going to help us now?!" they all ask
All of a sudden up pops PHer Aden01ds "Can I be of assistance, here? This is my valid Category B driving licence and my DOC insurance, now if someone would be kind enough to book the car into the nearest MOT centre we can move this baby in full compliance with the letter of the law. Now then, feel the biting point... double de-clutch... heel and toe"
Everyone marvels at Aden01ds' rare talent and skill and he regales people with the anecdote for happily ever after.
And then he wakes up and looks for the box of tissues by the bed.
Reality is that manual cars will become so rare that you will no longer need a special licence to drive them, rather like those vintage cars with extra levers and controls for ignition timing and unconventional pedal layouts.
It's 2050 and someone has found a rare 2020 model car that's been lying in a barn unused for the last 20 years. They urgently need it moving and ask all their friends but no one is able.
"It's got 3 pedals and I can't find D" says Mummy Bear
Daddy Bear looks forlornly at his licence and declares "It says Automatic Only on my licence, this looks Unautomatic to me."
"I know how! " says Baby Bear, but Mummy Bear points out that his insurance might not cover him or his paperwork might otherwise not be in order.
"Who is going to help us now?!" they all ask
All of a sudden up pops PHer Aden01ds "Can I be of assistance, here? This is my valid Category B driving licence and my DOC insurance, now if someone would be kind enough to book the car into the nearest MOT centre we can move this baby in full compliance with the letter of the law. Now then, feel the biting point... double de-clutch... heel and toe"
Everyone marvels at Aden01ds' rare talent and skill and he regales people with the anecdote for happily ever after.
And then he wakes up and looks for the box of tissues by the bed.
Reality is that manual cars will become so rare that you will no longer need a special licence to drive them, rather like those vintage cars with extra levers and controls for ignition timing and unconventional pedal layouts.
I'd imagine the answer is very similar to what we already have with other licence categories. If I want to tow a caravan that takes the MAM of the car and the caravan to over 3.5 tonnes, I need to pass a B+E test. If I want to drive a 7.5 tonner I need to pass a C1 test. But if I was a bit older I'd have both of those categories on my licence automatically. Now, I occasionally toy with the idea of getting a decently-large motorhome, which would need a C licence... The £2-3k I'd need to spend on the lessons and licence would be an outlay for a new hobby/means of sightseeing.
I foresee that most younger folk will take their test in what is commonly available (autos) and then a minority of motor enthusiasts will get to their 30s, have a bit of spare cash and decide to buy a classic... Manual lessons and passing the manual test would be part of the outlay for their new hobby.
I foresee that most younger folk will take their test in what is commonly available (autos) and then a minority of motor enthusiasts will get to their 30s, have a bit of spare cash and decide to buy a classic... Manual lessons and passing the manual test would be part of the outlay for their new hobby.
Wooda80 said:
Reality is that manual cars will become so rare that you will no longer need a special licence to drive them, rather like those vintage cars with extra levers and controls for ignition timing and unconventional pedal layouts.
Exactly this. In 50 years, maybe only 1% of new drivers will ever drive a manual, so they will just be allowed to if the need arises. As above, just like I've never driven a 1903 car, and if I ever need to, I'll try and muddle by as best I can, with some tuition from the owner.My sons are both early 20s, have manual licences, but don't understand why they are still sold, have both said they'd never buy a manual and may never drive one again.
I don't see why it's a problem to just do the automatic test, then drive a manual car later on (when you've worked everything else out and got used to the whole driving thing, it's only a fairly minor change)
There's already a sort of precedent for it with bikes anyway - I did my CBT on an automatic, then got a manual bike a year later. I'd already got pretty good at every other aspect of riding, so just changing the transmission took a while to get used to properly but it never felt difficult or dangerous
There's already a sort of precedent for it with bikes anyway - I did my CBT on an automatic, then got a manual bike a year later. I'd already got pretty good at every other aspect of riding, so just changing the transmission took a while to get used to properly but it never felt difficult or dangerous
Plymo said:
There's already a sort of precedent for it with bikes anyway - I did my CBT on an automatic, then got a manual bike a year later. I'd already got pretty good at every other aspect of riding, so just changing the transmission took a while to get used to properly but it never felt difficult or dangerous
I was going to post exactly this. I taught myself gears when I turned 17 and got a geared 125, having done my CBT on a moped. Once I’d figured out you didn’t need to drop to 1st for every corner it was pretty easy. I imagine that the same will be true for car licenses eventually. Alucidnation said:
New drivers are taught to pass the test and nothing more.
And that is sole reason that are so many dumb buckets on the roadTaught to pass the test ..not Taught how to drive
Now The car I am thinking of buying is a mid 50s Daimler with a Hobbs Wilson pre selector box
There are three pedals but the 'clutch pedal' is used for gear changing only In fact you can drive along in top gear wuthg the lquadranr lever in reverse AND the reverse light is on. But will only go into revere when you dpress and release the 'gear change pedal;
There is no clutch control whatsoever, just a on/off operation
Auto or Manual?
My wife passed her automatic test 4 years ago. At the time she couldn't see the point in taking a manual test as she didn't like chasing gear. I haven't owned a manual car for years nor would I ever buy one again as a daily driver.
Our motorhome is manual and every time I drive it I wonder what the point of driving a manual car on the road is. Its a pain in the ass 90% of the time when you are stuck in traffic constantly changing gear which is a fun novelty for about 10 miles. For tracks etc I totally understand but 99.9% of the time Auto seems to be so much better.
Strangely my wife seems to like off roading and Automatic seems to dominate off road. Constant torque to all 4 wheels, ability to "creep" with minimal effort etc.
10 years ago (10 years ago to me is still 2005) I would understand however the majority of "decent" cars are now automatic. The new 8 speed boxes are sublime.
The chances are in the next 10 years 90% of cars will be auto with manual reserved for the hardcore enthusiasts and an auto test will be the norm with the option of a manual test should you really want to.
Our motorhome is manual and every time I drive it I wonder what the point of driving a manual car on the road is. Its a pain in the ass 90% of the time when you are stuck in traffic constantly changing gear which is a fun novelty for about 10 miles. For tracks etc I totally understand but 99.9% of the time Auto seems to be so much better.
Strangely my wife seems to like off roading and Automatic seems to dominate off road. Constant torque to all 4 wheels, ability to "creep" with minimal effort etc.
10 years ago (10 years ago to me is still 2005) I would understand however the majority of "decent" cars are now automatic. The new 8 speed boxes are sublime.
The chances are in the next 10 years 90% of cars will be auto with manual reserved for the hardcore enthusiasts and an auto test will be the norm with the option of a manual test should you really want to.
Something similar happened with HGV tests - manual lorries were becoming harder and harder to come by so they changed the regulations so that you can pass your HGV test in an automatic and still get a manual lorry licence, providing you already have a manual licence for a smaller category.
It will be interesting to see how they deal with the rise in automatic/electric cars, I imagine there will be a point where there will be no distinction between manual or auto as far as the driving test goes.
It will be interesting to see how they deal with the rise in automatic/electric cars, I imagine there will be a point where there will be no distinction between manual or auto as far as the driving test goes.
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