I would tend to agree with BOTH of you. Every EXPERIENCED driver
should learn to be able drive with a stick shift, but NEW drivers
should use automatics so as to learn how to safely drive first.

I wish there were training wheels for pilots. What they have to learn
is daunting enough that I have no interest in trying to become a
pilot. Some young people can feel the same way about learning to
drive a stick shift.

On Oct 11, 2006, at 12:47 PM, Loren Busch 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.