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[JohnnyDBBUK]

Need tips on driving.
my weak points are obsessing over gears, not noticing cyclists and slowing down properly when coming up to junctions.

[Annebelle.]

Try not to look while switching gears (they told me to practice this while blindfolded, in a car that's not driving), that and: don't stress, keep focussed... I know you can do it, you just have to focus hard enough.

Good luck, Johnny!

[CeeGBee]

gears:  UK, US, it don't matter.....  off the gas, clutch, shift, off the clutch, gas...
(...and yeah, if you stop to think about it, you'll just screw it up....  but I'm proud of you for driving a manual transmission.)

PRACTICE PRACTICE PRACTICE  PRACTISE PRACTISE PRACTISE

Cyclists?  Meh, you've just got to get used to looking for 'em... 
If your first warning is the thump as they scratch up your paint, you need more work.

Slowing down?  Just start braking GENTLY earlier than you think you need to...
and just...

PRACTICE PRACTICE PRACTICE  PRACTISE PRACTISE PRACTISE

 

[Captain Oblivious]

gears:  UK, US, it don't matter.....  off the gas, clutch, shift, off the clutch, gas...
(...and yeah, if you stop to think about it, you'll just screw it up....  but I'm proud of you for driving a manual transmission.)

PRACTICE PRACTICE PRACTICE  PRACTISE PRACTISE PRACTISE

Cyclists?  Meh, you've just got to get used to looking for 'em... 
If your first warning is the thump as they scratch up your paint, you need more work.

Slowing down?  Just start braking GENTLY earlier than you think you need to...
and just...

PRACTICE PRACTICE PRACTICE  PRACTISE PRACTISE PRACTISE

 

Here, or at least in Ireland, you have to do a driving test on a manual car. Most people drive manual cars.

[CeeGBee]

gears:  UK, US, it don't matter.....  off the gas, clutch, shift, off the clutch, gas...
(...and yeah, if you stop to think about it, you'll just screw it up....  but I'm proud of you for driving a manual transmission.)

PRACTICE PRACTICE PRACTICE  PRACTISE PRACTISE PRACTISE

Cyclists?  Meh, you've just got to get used to looking for 'em... 
If your first warning is the thump as they scratch up your paint, you need more work.

Slowing down?  Just start braking GENTLY earlier than you think you need to...
and just...

PRACTICE PRACTICE PRACTICE  PRACTISE PRACTISE PRACTISE

 

Here, or at least in Ireland, you have to do a driving test on a manual car. Most people drive manual cars.

Yet another argument that the rest of the world is smarter than America (not true, but arguable...)

...and apparently our car manufacturers agree, since pretty much every commercial features
a bit where we see the driver manually shifting his automatic transmission...  We know we
should know how to shift, but most don't.  [I've driven a manual for....  well, a long time.]

[Morpheus Laughing]

^
I had driving lessons but I never really got into it. As a last ditch attempt to get me to drive my parents suggested having automatic lessons. I had one lesson but I still hated it. My fear of becoming a person who knew what the makes and models of cars were was just too powerful.

[Captain Oblivious]

^
I had driving lessons but I never really got into it. As a last ditch attempt to get me to drive my parents suggested having automatic lessons. I had one lesson but I still hated it. My fear of becoming a person who knew what the makes and models of cars were was just too powerful.

I took driving lessons for quite a while but then I moved out instead. Also, I don't think being a driver necessarily does that.

[JohnnyDBBUK]

Thanks all, I should say a bit more about the obsessing (I don't look at them I just go up and down them more than I need)
appreciate the tips guys - I will pay you back with a video audrey wants to make. I promise to make a thank you video of sorts

[CeeGBee]

Thanks all, I should say a bit more about the obsessing (I don't look at them I just go up and down them more than I need)
appreciate the tips guys - I will pay you back with a video audrey wants to make. I promise to make a thank you video of sorts

Ah, so.....

Simple enough, and a common issue - one that you will overcome once you get used to the process.

[Morpheus Laughing]

^
I had driving lessons but I never really got into it. As a last ditch attempt to get me to drive my parents suggested having automatic lessons. I had one lesson but I still hated it. My fear of becoming a person who knew what the makes and models of cars were was just too powerful.

I took driving lessons for quite a while but then I moved out instead. Also, I don't think being a driver necessarily does that.

I was half joking about the fear but it is common for drivers to become immersed in conversations that reflect their driving realisations.
A whole niche of small talk that is usually unavailable to the non-driver opens up and it becomes the common ground of conversations.

[Captain Oblivious]

^
I had driving lessons but I never really got into it. As a last ditch attempt to get me to drive my parents suggested having automatic lessons. I had one lesson but I still hated it. My fear of becoming a person who knew what the makes and models of cars were was just too powerful.

I took driving lessons for quite a while but then I moved out instead. Also, I don't think being a driver necessarily does that.

I was half joking about the fear but it is common for drivers to become immersed in conversations that reflect their driving realisations.
A whole niche of small talk that is usually unavailable to the non-driver opens up and it becomes the common ground of conversations.

Well, I understand what you are saying but surely being a driver will open up more conversation avenues as a result? You know, when there's a lull in conversation, you can just say something about how your exhaust fell off or something...

[CeeGBee]

^
I had driving lessons but I never really got into it. As a last ditch attempt to get me to drive my parents suggested having automatic lessons. I had one lesson but I still hated it. My fear of becoming a person who knew what the makes and models of cars were was just too powerful.

I took driving lessons for quite a while but then I moved out instead. Also, I don't think being a driver necessarily does that.

I was half joking about the fear but it is common for drivers to become immersed in conversations that reflect their driving realisations.
A whole niche of small talk that is usually unavailable to the non-driver opens up and it becomes the common ground of conversations.

Well, I understand what you are saying but surely being a driver will open up more conversation avenues as a result? You know, when there's a lull in conversation, you can just say something about how your exhaust fell off or something...

I find discussing the beyond-stupid actions of my fellow occupants of the highway provides
ample fodder for conversation...  even if they don't actually hit me, or run me into the ditch...

[Morpheus Laughing]

^
I had driving lessons but I never really got into it. As a last ditch attempt to get me to drive my parents suggested having automatic lessons. I had one lesson but I still hated it. My fear of becoming a person who knew what the makes and models of cars were was just too powerful.

I took driving lessons for quite a while but then I moved out instead. Also, I don't think being a driver necessarily does that.

I was half joking about the fear but it is common for drivers to become immersed in conversations that reflect their driving realisations.
A whole niche of small talk that is usually unavailable to the non-driver opens up and it becomes the common ground of conversations.

Well, I understand what you are saying but surely being a driver will open up more conversation avenues as a result? You know, when there's a lull in conversation, you can just say something about how your exhaust fell off or something...

That was my point to some extent... I'm not into small talk and that means that the new avenues just create more things to talk about that are not very interesting to me. It's the same with sport and celebrities; if know next to nothing, the conversation dies and things move on. I don't have to feel bad about deliberately killing the conversation by not reciprocating because I have nothing to offer. I admit that it is a bit bizarre.

[SomewhatDamaged]

Firstly good luck.

As a "professional" driver the best advice I can give you is not to fret about cyclists. They seem to think they are exempt from the highway code & impervious to pain. If you see one in your mirrors, expect anything & be ready to react. As for obsessing over the gears, don't worry, just make sure you do everything smoothly & with confidence. They are judging you on your car control (as well as your observation) relax & change gear smoothly & you will be ok.
A little tip, keep the clutch pedal down slightly longer than you would & bring it up slower. This will give you a smoother gear change.

[Annebelle.]

Soooo, how did it go?