DRIVING AN AUTOMATIC CAR: WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW
When you are used to it, driving an automatic car is much easier and more comfortable since there is no need to change gears. Driving lessons Birmingham this means that in such a vehicle, there is no clutch pedal, which can be unsettling when you have driven a manual all your life. We might know it, when we drive for the first time with an automatic gearbox we have the reflex of wanting to let go of the accelerator pedal to engage. Only problem, the pedal located next is that of the brake!
The unemployed left foot
So you have to put it into your head that you are only going to use the right foot, to accelerate and to brake. Thanks to the automatic transmission, your left leg will be able to turn your toes during the entire trip, while the right will be much less strained. Integrating this reality well will allow you to avoid seeing the windshield too closely by wanting to engage the brake pedal.
How to drive with an automatic transmission?
Before switching on the ignition, switch to position P and check that the handbrake is up.
Push the Start button while depressing the brake pedal to switch on the ignition.
Engage position D to get ready to start (or R if you want to reverse).
Release the handbrake and gently step on the accelerator.
If this is your first time driving an automatic car on a rental basis, allow a few hours to familiarize yourself with the system. Automatic Driving Lessons Coventry Remain vigilant all the same, because once the technique is mastered you could lose your vigilance and witness the return of your old driving reflexes and want to use your left leg. By following our advice for driving an automatic, you should be fine.
AUTOMATIC GEARBOX: USER MANUAL
The automatic gearbox considerably changes the habits and reflexes of the driver. The most important new rule of conduct to follow is to forget and put aside the left foot. From now on, with the automatic gearbox, you only have to use your right foot to switch from one pedal to the other.
Start
In order to start the engine, the gear lever must absolutely be in position P (park) or N (neutral). Fully depress the brake pedal and start the car by inserting the key or pressing the start button. Then, with your foot still on the brake, move the shift lever to D (forward) to go forward or R (reverse) to reverse. When the handbrake is fully deactivated, gradually take your foot off the brake pedal. The vehicle should move forward slowly (or back up if it is in R). It’s up to you, then, to press the accelerator to adjust your driving
On the road
This is one of the major advantages of the automatic transmission: on the road, you no longer need to worry about changing gears, the vehicle manages this on its own. Enough to be more attentive to traffic and better maintain the steering wheel. Also note that an automatic car requires much more braking than cars with a manual transmission. So do not hesitate to brake insistently when the situation requires it.
When your trip is over and the vehicle is stationary, leave your foot on the brake, Driving school Birmingham move the lever to P to lock the wheels, then switch off the ignition before getting out of the car.
If you have a classic B license (manual gearbox), you can drive both automatic and manual cars. On the other hand, if you have an automatic vehicle license (Automatic Clutch B License – BEA), you can only drive cars with an automatic transmission. It should also be noted that the cost of the BEA permit is lower than the classic B permit, but that automatic cars are more expensive.
