As exciting as it can be, learning how to drive can be a little overwhelming if you’re just getting started. It’s a lot to take in, after all, and you might have some concerns before you even get started. To help give you an idea, let’s break down some of the most common problems learners face. With the help of instructors, you’re sure to find the right mindset to get into driving.
How Gears Work In Manual Vehicles
The first thing people usually ask about is how gearing works in a manual car. In simple terms, each gear is in charge of a certain speed range when driving. Lower gears will be able to push your car more but won’t be able to go as fast. Higher gears, meanwhile, can go really fast but have a hard time moving your car forward if it’s at a stop.
Normally, instructors will ease you into the groove by having you practice with just the first gear. Once you’ve got that down, you’ll move on to the next, practicing how to shift as you go along.
How the Clutch Works
Now to the part that causes a lot of new drivers to think twice about their decision. Learning how to balance the accelerator and the clutch is not as hard as you might think but learning how it works might help give you an idea of how to achieve it.
You can think of the clutch as the thing that helps your car “accept” the new gear you’ve selected. So, when changing gears, remember that you first need to engage the clutch, shifting only when you’ve done that. After choosing the right gear, slowly release the pedal while giving your car a little more gas.
Driving in Reverse
It’s no surprise that people initially find it hard to drive in reverse but it’s a skill that’s easily learned. Lessons focused on this will usually have the learned drive a basic path in reverse, looking at the back only through the side window. Over time, the difficulty of the course will increase and then, eventually, the learner will have to learn how to reverse the car with only the rearview mirror as a reference.
Parking Woes
Common enough to become a popular joke among new drivers, parking can cause more than a few people to worry about their skills. No compromises here as this skill is a necessity. The lessons will cater to the learner, though, and newer drivers will only be asked to park in easy parking spots. As they develop their skill, the instructor will have them park in increasingly difficult scenarios.
Driving Etiquette
Most often left little attention is driving etiquette. Before your instructor allows you to drive alone in public, you will need to show that you know the rules of the road and the courtesies involved with driving amongst other people. Turn indicators, road signs, and speed restrictions are just some of the topics under this and it’s best if you could put time into learning the theory before you even get in a car.
Conclusion
At the end of the day, learning how to drive a car is a fun and exhilarating experience, albeit one that requires learners to pay close attention to what they’re doing. It might seem like a chore now but if it makes you a better and safer driver, it’s effort well worth it.
If you need extra help learning how to drive, why not try out a car driving school? At Midtown Driving School we have designed classes with the busy student in mind. We have a very flexible system of classes that allows students to take the classes in any order they wish and at their own pace.
