Jul 25, 2001 07:41 AM
12261 Views
I love both stick shift and automatic cars and trucks. I learn to drive my first car, which was a'55' Chevrolet Belaire. Then as the years went, depending on the area I was living in would be the factor for me. Now, living in a large city is murder on your clutch and your legs. Continnous shifting is not fun in a big city and I learn my lesson after replacing my clutch a few times. Now while in the city I cruise around with a automatic. Easy as pie. Now, in the country I got to have a stick shift or straight shift as we call it. It is great on mountain roads.
My advice on driving in the country is several tips. Be on look out for stray animals. Deers will jump out in front of you as well as horses. At night you have to watch out for opossums that like to walk out in the middle of the road and when a car is approaching of course they like to play'dead' and you will have to go around them. I know it might can seem funny here but I have seen people hit these animals and the animal would be fling thru their wind shields by the force. It is so dangerous and people and animals are killed this way. Another tip is watch for blind driveways. Keep your speed down and learn and know the area you are driving to. I know a lot of people get frustrated on two lane country roads when you have an elderly farmer just going so slow. Please, pass with extreme caution for you might not see someone pull out from the side or coming head on very fast.
Another tip, is that not all cities, you can turn on right when the light is red. Plus people running lights thru the intersection is not only dangerous is deadly.
Parents, the best you can do for your children is to give them driving lessons from a professional. He/she will do the job right. Plus most auto insurance companies will give you good discounts for taking driving courses. Stress to your children that driving is a privilege and comes with great responsibility. Know where they are going, who they are going with. Express what alcohol and drugs can do when you are driving.
Back to learning straight shift and automatic driving. If I did not learn how to drive a straight shift, a lot of jobs I held in the past would not happen. Driving pickup trucks, driving forklifts, one man lifts, sidewinders and other industrial type machinery was a breeze. Yes, experience does count. Keep your driving safe in the country or in the city. Always be aware of other drivers. Obey the traffic laws and one thing please, please do not drink and drive.
