Loren,

I can agree with that. I wasn't necessarily thinking of actual driving
instruction - and I may have a narrow view of the topic. Around this area
almost everyone (everyone I know) started learning to drive within the
family on zero to low traffic back rural roads before taking any formal
instruction course. I realize this may not be advisable ,or even legal, but
it's just the way it happens in "the sticks". I understand this isn't an
option for everyone.

I can see where a new driver who is learning in actual everyday traffic
would be at a disadvantage if they were learning to drive a stick at the
same time they were learning road safety and proper driving.

Maybe I should have said that everyone should learn to drive a stick shift -
omitting the word "in" might have been better. Either way I stick to that -
everyone should know how to do it and in my opinion learn early on.

On 10/11/06, Loren Busch <starwagen@gmail.com> wrote:
>
> RE:
> On 10/11/06, Jeff Lincoln <magikvw@gmail.com> wrote:
> >
> > I have always been of the thought that everyone should learn to drive in
> > a
> > stick shift.
>
>
>
> I (and virtually every driving instructor or safety officer I've ever
> talked to on the subject) disagree.  Learning to be a safe driver, both
> vehicle operation plus all the other things a new driver must learn to do to
> be safe, is complicated enough.  Don't push the stress for the student with
> learning the fine muscle control of the clutch/gas combination at the same
> time.  For a competent driver learning to use the clutch and gear shift is a
> simple 20 minute lesson and a half an hour of driving.  But it just
> complicates things (and in some cases discourages) a new driver.  It is hard
> enough to teach a new driver the all important 'situational awareness' that
> is so important to safe driving, don't complicate it any more than needed.
>
>
>
>
>

--
Thanks,

Jeff
90' Carat (It's Blue, It's Beautiful, It needs a lot of work)
86' (Soon to be donating organs to the 90')
85' GL (sidelined but to be resurrected in the near future)