AA says a 1 hour lesson in a manual....

[Saleen836]

Should be enough for those who passed the driving test in an automatic to be able to drive a manual

https://www.gbnews.com/lifestyle/cars/driving-lice...

[hidetheelephants]

Buried at the bottom of the article is the only fact anyone need pay attention to.

geebeebees said:

A spokesperson for the Department for Transport stated that it did not have any plans to change driving test requirements.

[Dog Biscuit]

Saleen836 said:

Should be enough for those who passed the driving test in an automatic to be able to drive a manual

https://www.gbnews.com/lifestyle/cars/driving-lice...

tbh i can see why it could be ok

the hardest bit for a new driver is roadcraft etc. Once all that crap is sorted then the gearchange will be plain sailing imho

[fourthpedal]

hidetheelephants said:

Buried at the bottom of the article is the only fact anyone need pay attention to.

geebeebees said:

A spokesperson for the Department for Transport stated that it did not have any plans to change driving test requirements.

Quite a few countries have abolished the manual vs automatic test licence distinction. It's gone fine - probably because people who only learned automatic (or electric) have no desire to drive a manual anyway.

[911Spanker]

Of course it won't take an hour. The average Brit seems to struggle with parking, lane discipline and general roadcraft.

For most people adding a manual gearchange to the mix will likely result in massive depression and anxiety.

[HTP99]

911Spanker said:

Of course it won't take an hour. The average Brit seems to struggle with parking, lane discipline and general roadcraft.

For most people adding a manual gearchange to the mix will likely result in massive depression and anxiety.

Back in the day, the wife very nearly gave up learning in a manual, she just couldn't get the coordination, it took her many lessons for it to click.

[Car bon]

Dog Biscuit said:

tbh i can see why it could be ok

the hardest bit for a new driver is roadcraft etc. Once all that crap is sorted then the gearchange will be plain sailing imho

I agree with this.

Once you've got everything else sorted, learning to change gear is relatively easy. At a minimum, you can still drive safely even if it's a bit jerky for a while as you refine things.

Somewhat analogous to renting a hire car with completely different switches than you're used to - or left hand drive....

[768]

I mean... it won't be enough for them to be any good. But you'd hope that if they can manage a hill start, someone who takes it easy and perhaps plans on spending some time practicing on quiet roads before doing laps of central London, wouldn't be excessively unsafe.

[DonkeyApple]

fourthpedal said:

Quite a few countries have abolished the manual vs automatic test licence distinction. It's gone fine - probably because people who only learned automatic (or electric) have no desire to drive a manual anyway.

Yup. I think GB News are just trying to upset the elderly again. We are beyond the cusp where it is really of any relevance. My daughters will learn in a manual and their first shared car is set to be a manual but that's purely because they have a weird father who thinks it might be a weird and random skill that might come in handy during some anomalous life event down the road such as needing to drive a Peugeot 304 estate across the Serengeti but mainly so they have no mental barrier in 20 years time if they fancy bobbing around in an EType. But they're of the age where there is absolutely no need to ever learn.

Will it take an hour? Well, the plan is for them to learn how to drive on the road in an auto first because I have some of those and it's just easier to learn the roadcraft stuff without also having to think about gears and biting points. But next summer they'll start their driving on fields and farm tracks with a Willis Jeep which will ne more fun and less stressful than starting on the public road. I'm sure it'll take more than an hour to start programming muscle memory to be smooth and competent but well under an hour to be vaguely viable.

[kambites]

I think you'd struggle to learn to use a manual in one hour immediately after passing your automatic test. I think it sounds entirely plausible for someone with enough experience of driving an automatic that basic car control has become second nature, though.

[Phateuk]

kambites said:

I think you'd struggle to learn to use a manual in one hour immediately after passing your automatic test. I think it sounds entirely plausible for someone with enough experience of driving an automatic that basic car control has become second nature, though.

Yeah I think this is about right, the thing that takes time when first learning is combining learning roadcraft and car controls at the same time.

I did my bike test after 20 years of driving and half an hour on the first lesson I felt like I could just take the test. Ended up having 2 extra lessons which were more just fun rides on a big bike and practising the test specific actions, then passed first time.

[Doesitdrive]

I believe for HGV, this is the case, learn and take test in Auto, you can drive a manual.

At least it was a year or so ago, unless it was a trial.

[98elise]

If its so easy to pick up using a manual, and getting clutch control right, then taking your test in a manual car seem the simple solution. Do the extra hour you supposedly need just before you do your test.

People who do it in an auto do so because they either don't want to drive manual, or struggle with it.

[J4CKO]

I dont think it would really cause any problems, most of the issue on the road are usually down to people being selfish, aggressive and lazy, like slicking a little lever to tell others which way tou intend to go is too much trouble in a car that otherwise does everything for you !

Most wont be bothered and will never need to drive a manual, or actively avoid it, anyone who passed in an auto who then has to drive a manual, you would hope would go somewhere quiet with someone in a manual car to practice and get the technique down.

Doing it from scratch on a busy road would be very stressful and you would look stupid, so most will avoid that eventuality or have a bit of a baptism by clutch.

[andy43]

An auto is literally a different method of driving.
No clutch control, hill starts, slipping clutch for creeping in traffic, reverse parking is super simple, hands are on the wheel at all times, it’s almost an endless list of differences and each part of the process of operating a car is more difficult with a wiggly stick and an extra pedal.
One hour to switch is utter balls.

[drcarlos]

My eldest has an auto only licence, it does hold him back from some jobs (an engineer's job at my current place requires a manual licence so he can drive a company van as only one is electric) and we've talked about an upgrade.
He originally learnt auto because of the traffic overload, he wanted to be able to give his full attention to the roads, cars, people and conditions without the distraction of the gears and clutch. Now he's had a few years of experience I suspect it would take much more than an hour for him to get the gears and clutch (he'll get plenty of experience of clutch control racing this weekend with me and his brother so may even decide to upgrade soon).

[croyde]

Learning to drive a manual on roads might be reasonably easy but slow manoeuvres when parallel parking is a hard learned skill.

If you are happy with people who passed in an auto constantly hitting, scraping your pride and joy.......

[Skyedriver]

andy43 said:

An auto is literally a different method of driving.
No clutch control, hill starts, slipping clutch for creeping in traffic, reverse parking is super simple, hands are on the wheel at all times, it s almost an endless list of differences and each part of the process of operating a car is more difficult with a wiggly stick and an extra pedal.
One hour to switch is utter balls.

Just about sums it up.

[croyde]

Sort of tongue in cheek but I still say that one must ride a manual motorcycle for 2 years before taking your car test.

Certainly gives you more empathy for other road users, and makes you ultra careful.

And if you can't manage passing your car test in a manual then you shouldn't be on the road.

I've just got rid of my auto hybrid because not only was it boring but I found that I would lose attention especially droning along in 20mph limits.

Cars should involve attention. I'm back in a motor with a 6sp manual, real dials and, best of all, a real handbrake

[Rafka]

Bit of an anomaly with those tests. A UK driver who passed their test in an automatic cannot drive a manual car but an American tourist who may have never even seen a manual car can rent one.