Auto gears safer than manuals?

Question

I am no stranger to manual gears having driven them for many many years however since using auto gears the last 15 years or so I find them safer especially when dicing with boy racers. whilst they're dropping one hand to change gear, thus not in TOTAL control, I am in FULL control whist kicking down to change. I also find it so useful on long trips and busy towns. Ha! Ha! now I'll stop and wait for the flak

Answer 1

I believe they are. You don't have your own car as a distraction.

Answer 2

yes they are safer because you don't have to ride the clutch when you are on a hill and you also don't have to worry about stalling when you are trying to make a left turn which happened to me thank god the guy stopped in time. The down side of automatic transmissions is that you can't control when the car shifts which some times is bad because all cars with auto transmissions have what I call a dead spot. That is when you floor the car and it does nothing but rev the engine and make a lot of noise or the car will not down shift and the engine will strain to move the car faster. On my car the dead spot is at or around 50 mph so I make shore that I am not at this speed when I get on the high way. anything below or above 50 mph and my car will have very good passing power. you just have to know what your car is capable of and you will be fine.

Answer 3

LoL. Nah, I'll not give ya flak. There's pro's and con's for either, and alot will depend on the driver. Generally, and for most, the automatic is for the most part safer. But if the driver's experienced and skilled, the manual is the preferred mode. It gives more control over the car, and allows him to adjust EXACTLY how much torque, etc. is put to the tires. (valuable in inclement weather, and icy roads.) Plus, it has the added benefit of being able to push start. OR if the vehicle's stalled in an unsafe situation, he can use the starter to move it. (ruining it in the process, most likely. )

Answer 4

Get another instructor, fast! I've never heard of anyone doing this either. This guy is being ridiculously unprofessional, you're PAYING him for driving lessons in a manual car, so if he brings an auto again, refuse to pay and tell him where to go.

Answer 5

Not necessarily - the situations you describe (dicing with 'boy racers) has very little to do with safety...or the lack of it.

I've driven manual boxes, automatics, tiptronics in everything from 1.0 Fiestas, 3.0 sports saloons & 11 litre V8 trucks, coaches... (not had a 'flappy-paddle' 'box yet).

Only the inexperienced find manuals 'dangerous'... ;p

ps. I drive 90 to 95% of the time with one hand on the wheel - the other on the gear stick...only need two hands when on country 'B' roads. Done 100's of thousands of miles...no accidents...no crashes...no insurance claims...and left many wanna-be 'boy-racer' for dust.

Answer 6

Yes like you I drove manuals for years then bought my Honda, 7 gear auto or you can change gear by two rocker switches on the steering wheel, I tend to stay in the auto option, one less thing to worry about. All I think about now is why did I ever have a manual box car!!!

Answer 7

Safety really depends on the driver, not "so-called"
dangerous road and black ice etc. etc. If a person drives
a car at a reasonable speed and with consideration for other road users, the it does not matter at all whether it is manual or automatic. If you are a boy racer, probably you won't live long enough to be a man racer, but who will you take with you baby boy.!!!!!!!

Answer 8

If you need both hand on wheel then you is not safe, index finger and thum of won hand shud be enuff, Auto unpredictable will downchange unexpect and cause tyres slide, especially modern 5 speed. Auto fine for city drifing but bicycle better.

Answer 9

Manuals tend to be safer as its harder to make a mistake such as getting out to open a garage or the like and leaving it in gear and then climbing in putting your foot on the accelerator

Answer 10

If automatics are safer than manuals why do you always hear of old age pensioners accidentally driving them over the edge of cliffs, and then saying things like "The car just took off on it's own"

Answer 11

Flak 1. Automatics for OAPs and youngsters who think they can drive but dont want to actually feel responsiveness. Betcha use your mobile too when driving................it's the attitude of the driver that makes a car safe not the gears. If you really feel the need to 'dice with boy racers' then you have issues with your own ego. No-one else will probably be bothered to reply !