Easy Ways to Drive a Manual Car
Driving on the road certainly requires good skills and very high caution. Don't let your wrong driving technique endanger other road users. Basically, driving all types of cars follows the same principle; what needs to be emphasized is vigilance.
No matter how great you are at driving a car, never drive recklessly as it can potentially endanger yourself and others. Especially for manual cars, special tricks are needed to drive them. Here’s the correct way to drive a manual car.
1. Know the Car Features
The most important tip you should do before learning to drive a manual car is to memorize. Make sure you memorize several important elements of the car such as the brake, gas, and clutch pedals. Don't step on the wrong pedal as it can be dangerous. Also memorize other elements like the turn signal button, horn, and so on. Not only that, but you also need to learn about the gear shift positions which usually range from numbers 1 to 5 and also the neutral position. Additionally, there is an R position for reverse.
2. Practice in the Right Place
Another tip for driving a car is that you need to practice a lot. One thing to pay attention to is the location where you will practice. Choose a spacious area to learn to drive a car. With enough space, you can fully concentrate on memorizing how to drive a manual car.
Once you are accustomed, then choose a more challenging location. For example, public roads, but choose a quiet street. This quick way to learn manual driving is quite effective in helping you get used to driving on the road.
3. Must Concentrate
When learning to drive a manual transmission car, the most tense moments are when you start entering the car cabin and sitting like a skilled driver. Make sure your mind is calmer, more relaxed, and fully concentrated. If you are still a bit shaky, please wait until you feel more relaxed.
4. Starting the Car Engine
This is also a very important part; make sure the car is in neutral. Once done, please start turning the key to start the engine. When the engine is running, you should know that under your feet there are now 3 types of pedals: on the left is the clutch, in the middle is the brake, and on the right is the gas.
5. Balance Between Clutch and Gas
Your gear shift is in the 1st gear position, but your car isn't moving? Don't worry, that's because you haven't pressed the gas. To make it easier, we can analogize the clutch and gas as a seesaw.
When the gas is about to be pressed, you must slowly lift your clutch. This is usually the hardest part for beginners. If the gas is pressed hard while the clutch is not lifted, it can cause a rough sound. Meanwhile, if the clutch is lifted too quickly, two possibilities can occur: the engine stalls or the car jerks.
6. Repeat Step 5 to Increase or Decrease Speed
Remember, every gear shift, whether up or down, you must always press the clutch and remember the seesaw principle explained in point 5.
7. Don't Forget to Be Ready to Brake When the Gas is Stable
If you feel the car is going too fast, then you should brake; automatically your foot should move from the gas to the brake, let your left foot and clutch be, for beginners, it's best to forget complex things. Just press the brake if you want to slow down the car.
