Controversial topics board....did I do something wrong?

[HopperFan]

I’m amazed how few can drive a stick, hell I’m even more amazed, or I should say dumbfounded how few kids can read an analog clock!! lol

The clock thing has been an issue for DECADES since digital became a norm.

How would most even access a stick shift car? Most cars are automatic. I have a manual car (my hobby car now) and my kids did not drive it or learn on it (I did). I think DS drove a couple times up the street just to learn the stick and not sure DD ever did. Why even learn on something you will never have to drive?

Do you have an option of whether to take a driving test for a manual or an automatic? Here, if you take your test in an automatic, you can’t drive a manual, without taking another test. But if you take your test in a manual, then you are allowed to drive both.

Where is this? I've never heard of such a thing. In GA there is a Automatic Transmission Required code but that is for CDLs that test on automatic. HUGE difference in driving auto vs manual there. But with a car it should not matter. I took my test here on automatic and there is no restriction on my license.

 

[The Mayor]

I hit the gas on there at first but then had to jam on the brakes because a bunch of perfect people ran in front of me!!!

 

[Chili327]

it's so one-sided now is because people like yourself have given up.

It’s one sided because the majority on these boards are on one side.

 

[ford family]

When you stop at traffic lights or a give way junction do you put your car into park? I just put my foot on the brake.

Traffic lights - If I'm driving a manual car, which is most of the time, I put the car in neutral and put on the handbrake.
If I'm driving an automatic car, usually only when in the US, I put the car in park which puts the handbrake on for me.

Give way junction - in a manual car, clutch and brake. In an automatic - just brake.

ford family

 

[The Mayor]

It’s one sided because the majority on these boards are on one side.

YUP!!

 

[DCLMP]

It’s one sided because the majority on these boards are on one side.

I think you know better than that. Wink Wink.

On the other hand a lot of people do hate Disney.

 

[Jangles]

Where is this?

The U.K.
When I learned to drive almost all cars were manual. But as automatics became more popular there was an option to take a driving test, just to allow you to drive an automatic.
My licence also allows me to drive a vehicle up to 7,500 kg, whereas young whippersnappers have to take a further test for that.
I also have to reapply for my licence every 3 years over 70.
There are moves afoot to stop young drivers having passengers for a few years after they pass their driving test, as a knee jerk reaction to a number of young driver casualties.

I often wonder how Americans cope in countries like Greece where hire automatics are less common.

 

[Mackenzie Click-Mickelson]

If I'm driving an automatic car, usually only when in the US, I put the car in park which puts the handbrake on for me.

The only time I put my car in park as opposed to just pressing on the break is when I'm stopped by a long train.

Around here the city has been attempting on and off to try to get people to understand how if they are slow off the line (mostly meaning after a stoplight) they contribute to the traffic and congestion. IIRC they mentioned something like 6 second delay per car on average if you're slow starting at one point which may not seem like a lot but it is when it comes to lights as they usually aren't sooooo long. That contributes a lot to emissions over time because you're stuck idling for greater amounts of time.

 

[lanejudy]

I often wonder how Americans cope in countries like Greece where hire automatics are less common.

Watch The Amazing Race -- there's always at least 1 locale where they are forced to drive stick-shift.

 

[sam_gordon]

I've driven cars where the idle was so bad I had to put it in neutral to keep it from stalling out. On my really old beater (back in the day), I might have to push the gas a bit too. I know, that's a bad example, but I've been there.

Well true, but I assumed we were talking about a "normal" operating car (automatic).

My new car does do the auto-stop at red lights, well, sometimes anyway. I swear sometimes it decides to and sometimes it doesn't. I hate it when it does it, but the arrow is already on, so I am going to go imminently. It shows me how much gas I've saved, and over a about 16 months, it's still something like .02 gallons.

I've had rental cars that do the auto-stop, and yea, the times the computer picks to auto stop seem strange.

I enjoyed the interesting debates on the CB board. They were mostly civil because they had to be, but nonetheless they would get shut down.
Hence, the controversial board was born. It's really is a failed experiment. It's been taken over by as one poster put a group of "like minded people". Every thread is a rant against one person. There are no interesting debates over there. Anyone that doesn't agree with them gets drowned out. I'm guessing it's so one-sided now is because people like yourself have given up.

And I'll ask you the same thing I asked @ScottOKW2K, what threads have you tried to start to help generate debate?

Why, don't you have the option to put the car into park? At night you will be blinding the person behind you in addition to wasting fuel and increasing emissions at all times.

ford family

I have NEVER been blinded by brake lights and I've been driving for over 30 years. By your logic, if there's a line of cars at a stop sign, all of those drives would be blinded.
How much fuel is being wasted when keep a foot on the brake vs when the car is in park?

I have put the car in park at stop lights, but mainly because I need to reach for something and don't want to accidently take my foot off the gas.

 

[HopperFan]

The U.K.
When I learned to drive almost all cars were manual. But as automatics became more popular there was an option to take a driving test, just to allow you to drive an automatic.
My licence also allows me to drive a vehicle up to 7,500 kg, whereas young whippersnappers have to take a further test for that.

That would be our CDL license I think and that is not the same as a regular driver's license.

I also have to reapply for my licence every 3 years over 70.

We still get for 8 years but have to do eye tests.

There are moves afoot to stop young drivers having passengers for a few years after they pass their driving test, as a knee jerk reaction to a number of young driver casualties.

We have that in Georgia. Limits number of passengers. First 6 mos only family. Second 6 mos one one passenger under 21 not a family member, until 18. After 1 year up to 3 not a family member until 18. Plus curfews until 18.

I often wonder how Americans cope in countries like Greece where hire automatics are less common.

DH traveled lots internationally for work, sometimes for weeks at one place ~ Mom & StepDad traveled world over for years, my relatives are traveling all over Europe annually ... NONE of them rent cars. They work with the ride share, transit and tour options. Nieces just went to Greece, no rental car. I would NEVER rent a car out of US.

 

[Chili327]

Traffic lights - If I'm driving a manual car, which is most of the time, I put the car in neutral and put on the handbrake.
If I'm driving an automatic car, usually only when in the US, I put the car in park which puts the handbrake on for me.

Give way junction - in a manual car, clutch and brake. In an automatic - just brake.

ford family

You use a hand brake at a stop light?

I think you know better than that. Wink Wink.

On the other hand a lot of people do hate Disney.

Yep, that’s exactly it. Disney is too “woke” for a lot of the right.
They want to try to cancel Disney so there obviously going to be a lot less conservatives here.

 

[ford family]

I have NEVER been blinded by brake lights and I've been driving for over 30 years. By your logic, if there's a line of cars at a stop sign, all of those drives would be blinded.
How much fuel is being wasted when keep a foot on the brake vs when the car is in park?

I have put the car in park at stop lights, but mainly because I need to reach for something and don't want to accidently take my foot off the gas.

I've been driving a lot longer than you and it's an increasingly common phenomenon especially in the US where automatic cars are more prevalent and brake lights are more intense.

ford family

 

[sam_gordon]

I've been driving a lot longer than you and it's an increasingly common phenomenon especially in the US where automatic cars are more prevalent and brake lights are more intense.

ford family

Hint: I'm in the US. You said upthread that if you're at a stop sign that you just use the brake. Why doesn't that blind the driver behind you?

I'm wondering where you get your stats that being blinded by brake lights is "increasingly common"?

 

[soccerdad72]

How would most even access a stick shift car? Most cars are automatic. I have a manual car (my hobby car now) and my kids did not drive it or learn on it (I did). I think DS drove a couple times up the street just to learn the stick and not sure DD ever did. Why even learn on something you will never have to drive?

My younger son, once he got his driver's license, started talking about wanted to get a manual car, which is funny, since he didn't know how to drive a stick yet (I taught him fairly quickly). Finding one was not an easy task - he finally found one on Facebook marketplace that wasn't too bad, price wise and met his expectations. Now that he's away at college and the car is still at home, I figure someone needs to drive it, right? It's a 'hot hatchback' - a Mazda Speed3 (with a few modifications - all of which my wife hates )

 

[ford family]

You use a hand brake at a stop light?

It's the best way to prevent the car rolling backwards or forwards on any slope.

ford family

 

[soccerdad72]

It's the best way to prevent the car rolling backwards or forwards on any slope.

ford family

Automatic cars don't roll.

 

[mousefan73]

You must be. I personally put my foot on the brake while stopped. Not sure why someone would have their foot on the gas.

and with an automatic you are keeping the car in gear ( more gas).. this is why the car moves foward when you take the foot off the gas.... it's like literally running against a wall but wasting gas. with manual you put car in neutral and often turn if off at long lights..

now today with new technoclogies etcd.. you have start stop in both cars

 

[ford family]

Hint: I'm in the US. You said upthread that if you're at a stop sign that you just use the brake. Why doesn't that blind the driver behind you?

I'm wondering where you get your stats that being blinded by brake lights is "increasingly common"?

Because you don't dwell at a stop or give way sign as you do at a traffic light.
In my experience modern cars have brighter brake lights than their predecessors.

ford family

 

[sam_gordon]

Because you don't dwell at a stop or give way sign as you do at a traffic light.
In my experience modern cars have brighter brake lights than their predecessors.

ford family

Either the lights are blinding or they're not. The lights aren't changing depending on why you stop.

Just because they're brighter doesn't mean they're blinding. You said the blinding lights are an "increasingly common phenomenon". I'm trying to find where you get your stats.