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A: Accelerator
B: Brake
C: Clutch |
When you learn to drive, moving off and stopping is much easier in an automatic due to the fact there is no clutch pedal to operate and no gears that need changing.
As both of your hands will virtually always be on the steering wheel, steering the car will also be easier. Instead of concentrating on the correct time to put the clutch down and release it, selecting the correct gears and remembering where they are, your concentration can be on looking at the road ahead and steering.
Although automatic cars still have a clutch, it is done automatically by the car. Your right foot will be used to accelerate (A) and brake (B) and your left foot that would be used for the clutch (C) will not be needed.
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An automatic transmission car can be taken on the driving test. Once your test is passed however, you will not be licensed to drive a manual transmission car. If you wanted to drive a manual car, you would then need to retake the driving test.
If you are having difficulty learning to drive a manual car due to changing gears and use of the clutch, trying an automatic is a good option. With an automatic, you will need to use only your right foot to brake and accelerate as there is no clutch to operate.
Although it can be difficult learning a manual, be persistent and eventually you should get the hang of the gears and the clutch. Being licensed to drive only automatics does have certain drawbacks: |
- When you purchase your first car, it will need to be an automatic, this will give you far less choice of cars to choose from.
- There are less automatic cars in the UK than manual, an automatic car will likely be more expensive than its manual equivalent.
- If your car is in need of repair or servicing you will need to ensure the courtesy car is automatic.
- If you are in need of a rental car, you will need to ensure they provide automatics.
- Automatics can be more expensive to repair and service. On certain models more frequent servicing is required than its manual equivalent.
- An automatic may be less fuel economic than its manual counterpart.
- A job requirement could be to have a manual driving licence.
- Can be difficult finding a small automatic car.
Although there are drawbacks with automatics, benefits include:
- An automatic is easier to drive, especially in cities where stopping and starting is frequent.
- Can be safer as concentration will be on the road and not the gears.
- If you drive on frequent long journeys, an automatic can be easier to drive.
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