This is how we learn to drive..in Italy

[alby_yaris]

Have you ever asked yourself how do we learn to drive..in Italy
Well..you learn to drive with a manual D-4D yaris:biggrin:

In your city, which car does driving school have?

http://img233.imageshack.us/img233/1484/img0537zq.jpg

http://img209.imageshack.us/img209/3531/img0536ed.jpg

[2o6]

We've got a couple different driving schools. When I took it three years ago, I drove a 2002 4CYl Automatic Galant. One of the driving schools uses a Yaris Sedan, and most of them use cheap second hand midsizers and compacts (Focus, Prizm, Malibu, ect).

[BEEF]

I lived way out in the county so we used decommissioned police cars (crown vics I think) to learn how to drive. ragged doesn't even begin to describe them. I will say that was like 15+ years ago so maybe that has gotten better.

they were all automatics.

[alby_yaris]

that's nice. So let me get this, in the US you learn to drive with automatic cars?
I didn't know that:smile:

Here are other yaris of the same driving school I was talking before..

http://img836.imageshack.us/img836/3145/p52300379.jpg


Now, we've got also a black 3rd gen yaris, but I still have no pics of it..:wink:

[Jabro]

Alby, if only you knew how much American's love their automatics. I want to say that in 2008 something like only 8% of all cars sold in the U.S. were manual transmission. Driver's Ed is almost exclusively automatic, and being licensed automatic automatically allows you to legally drive manual, even if you've never drove a standard in your life. Personally I think everyone should learn stick, it'd cut down on a lot of the idiots I see texting while driving, but I digress.

My driver's ed car was a red ford taurus. Four weeks of classroom instruction, and three days of driving on the weekend and I was good to go. That was how it worked for me in high school, and that wasn't too long ago.

[alby_yaris]

being licensed automatic automatically allows you to legally drive manual, even if you've never drove a standard in your life.

here, it's the opposite..:biggrin:
You learn with manual, but then you can legally drive automatic cars..
Honestly, I think this is more logic, isn't it?!:rolleyes:

Anyways, it's clear your schools do this because they see a great part of Americans drive only automatic cars..

[BEEF]

learning a manual first does make a lot more sense. I learned how to drive a stick (kind of) when I was 12-13 on an old international tractor. no tach, not even a speedometer. those were the good ole days.

I honestly think it should be required to learn how to drive a stick. I went without a stick shift vehicle for about 2 years and it was something I missed. I usually have one of each.

us americans are very strange indeed. I honestly wish it were harder to get a license as it would cut down on the "silliness" on the roads around here but there again, it is what it is.

[Jabro]

I agree, the European way is much more logical. When I lived in Germany, I saw a lot of people driving dangerously, but usually speed was the only factor (speeding through neighborhoods etc.) Here in America it seems to be stupidity that plays the dangerous factor, weaving in and out, speed, texting, people that can't drive straight while on a cell phone, and most of all people that drive SUVs and other driver giant vehicles, who just plain suck at driving. In Germany, chances are if I was to be in an accident, I'd be hit by a sedan, or smaller more economical car. Where I live now, chances are if I get hit, it is going to be by a Ford Expedition or a Cadillac Escalade.

Driver's ed in America is so easy to the point where its creating a dangerous environment for everyone on the road, every nation has its dumb drivers, but I have to tell you New Orleans has the highest concentration I've seen, and I've lived in a lot of places in both the U.S. and abroad.

[nookandcrannycar]

Family members in California who are in their mid to late 60s learned within driver training fleets that were all automatic transmission fleets. I have never seen or heard of a driver training car in the U.S. that has a manual transmission. Sad. I think it should be a requirement to learn on a manual.

[nookandcrannycar]

Alby, if only you knew how much American's love their automatics. I want to say that in 2008 something like only 8% of all cars sold in the U.S. were manual transmission. Driver's Ed is almost exclusively automatic, and being licensed automatic automatically allows you to legally drive manual, even if you've never drove a standard in your life. Personally I think everyone should learn stick, it'd cut down on a lot of the idiots I see texting while driving, but I digress.

My driver's ed car was a red ford taurus. Four weeks of classroom instruction, and three days of driving on the weekend and I was good to go. That was how it worked for me in high school, and that wasn't too long ago.

I agree...and the 'driving a manual would cut down on texting' is an especially good point.

[nookandcrannycar]

I agree, the European way is much more logical. When I lived in Germany, I saw a lot of people driving dangerously, but usually speed was the only factor (speeding through neighborhoods etc.) Here in America it seems to be stupidity that plays the dangerous factor, weaving in and out, speed, texting, people that can't drive straight while on a cell phone, and most of all people that drive SUVs and other driver giant vehicles, who just plain suck at driving. In Germany, chances are if I was to be in an accident, I'd be hit by a sedan, or smaller more economical car. Where I live now, chances are if I get hit, it is going to be by a Ford Expedition or a Cadillac Escalade.

Driver's ed in America is so easy to the point where its creating a dangerous environment for everyone on the road, every nation has its dumb drivers, but I have to tell you New Orleans has the highest concentration I've seen, and I've lived in a lot of places in both the U.S. and abroad.

I agree with all of this, but the thing that pulls my chain the most (and is worst in Houston, Southern California, and South Florida IMO) are people who haven't been paying attention to how soon their exit is coming up, notice (from the #1 or #2 lane) their exit at the last minute, and have the 'I can't possibly be inconvenienced by going to the next exit' attitude and cut over to the exit, irrespective of how dangerous this might be. I have personally seen an accident happen in front of me (in Houston) when a person did this.

[alby_yaris]

Now, we've got also a black 3rd gen yaris, but I still have no pics of it..:wink:

Here is the black one I was talking about..hope you like it :wink:

http://img692.imageshack.us/img692/3856/dmjm.jpg

[ciscobear]

In Barbados we used to learn on these and all of course were manual. Now most everyone learns on an automatic CAR....yuk Lotta ppl can't drive.

http://i109.photobucket.com/albums/n70/markanntaylor/carry1.jpg

[nevplus]

In Barbados we used to learn on these and all of course were manual. Now most everyone learns on an automatic CAR....yuk Lotta ppl can't drive.

http://i109.photobucket.com/albums/n70/markanntaylor/carry1.jpg

hahah im one of those ppl who learnt on an automatic car.. i have driven the suzuki carry van before tho.. those things had the most vague gearboxes ever.. not to mention the crumple zone is your knees..:thumbdown:

[Septembersrain]

Can't tell what kind of car this is... But they use all kinds here.
I've seen Dodge Avengers, Toyota Prius's, Etc.

[TickleTimeTim]

In arkansas I rarely see driving school cars...hmm. Explains a lot. There is an old white corolla I see every now and then though.

[marcwa]

Hi,
and this is car of mine own driving school in POLAND

[IllusionX]

here are ours... most of them are automatic.

We do have the option to take couple hours of stick shift.. or have it 100% stick

[jayeh]

that's nice. So let me get this, in the US you learn to drive with automatic cars?
I didn't know that:smile:


I don't know anyone who owns a manual transmission car. I think a friend of a friend might have one. Most people recommend that you don't take your drivers exam in a manual either, this guy does a pretty good job explaining why. http://proshift.ca/popups/road_test.html


I took drivers ed in an old Toyota Van and a grand am.

[nookandcrannycar]

I don't know anyone who owns a manual transmission car. I think a friend of a friend might have one. Most people recommend that you don't take your drivers exam in a manual either, this guy does a pretty good job explaining why. http://proshift.ca/popups/road_test.html


I took drivers ed in an old Toyota Van and a grand am.

In high school, Driver Training and Driver Ed (in California) were separate...separate registration and times. IIRC, one had to get to a certain point in Driver Ed before starting Driver Training. Kids whose parents were willing to pay for private Driver Training, would start private Driver Training at that earliest possible point. The rest of us waited until summer to take the version offered by the school district. My driver training instructor said "DON'T TAKE THE TEST IN A MANUAL SHIFT CAR" (same as you mentioned). I didn't. I got a 97 out of 100 on the first try. The examiner marked 3 points off for hesitating too long at a stop sign :rolleyes:. I think he just didn't want to give me 100 out of 100. I haven't ever had to take the driving part again (many others who = originally licensed in the U.S., and have never let it lapse (and no suspensions :eek::biggrin:), probably = the same).