Do you want to learn how to drive? You’ve come to the right place, as this article is your guide to starting your journey of learning how to drive; here you’ll learn the basics of driving as well as the advanced skills you need. Keep in mind that this article is for automatic cars, so you should read the article on learning to drive a car with a manual transmission in the case of manual cars.
Getting used to the car’s control parts
1. Adjust the seat to suit your height so that you can comfortably reach the pedals
You can adjust the seat forward or backward as well as up and down. The way the seat is controlled varies depending on the car model; in modern cars, you will find electronic control buttons on the left of the seat, while in older cars, you can adjust it using the lever under the seat.
2.Get to know the foot pedals. Automatic cars have two pedals at the foot; one for accelerating and the other for the brake.
The smaller right pedal is the accelerator and when you press it, the car moves. The more force you press, the faster the car goes. The larger left pedal is the brake pedal, which slows the car down to a stop.
- Use your right foot to press both pedals; this is the correct way to ensure safe driving, so you should follow it even if you are used to using your left foot.
- Do not use both feet to press the pedals at the same time; use only the right foot to press each pedal separately. Be careful not to press both pedals at the same time, as this may damage your car.
3. Adjust the car mirrors so that you can see clearly through them.
The car has three mirrors; the first is the rear view mirror that enables you to see through the rear window of the car, and on the sides of the car you will find the side mirrors that provide you with a clear side view.
- Adjust the rearview mirror so that you can see clearly through the rear window while in the normal driving position.
- Automotive engineers recommend adjusting the side mirrors further outward than usual so that the field of vision through them intersects with the angle of vision of the rearview mirror; the goal of this is to eliminate blind spots in the vision while driving..[1] These positions may cause the driver a little confusion at first, but they allow him to see cars in the blind spots that he usually cannot see except by looking over his shoulder.
4. Locate the parking brake (also known as the emergency brake) and learn what it does.
The parking brake is the long lever with the button at the top, and its function is to stop the car firmly when you pull the lever up, ensuring that the car does not move in place. When you pull the lever down, you release the car from its stall and allow it to move freely; so be sure to disengage the parking brake first before starting to drive.
5. Get to know the gear shifter (also known as the stick).
You’ll find the gear shifter between the front seats and it controls the gears (park, neutral, drive, and reverse). In some cars, you may find the gear shifter to the right of the steering wheel.
- If the transmission is in “Park” and you start the car, it will not move no matter how hard you press the accelerator.
- If the transmission is in “Neutral,” the car will move using its natural propulsion power.
- If the transmission is in “Reverse,” the car will move backward instead of forward as long as you lift your foot off the brake pedal.
- If the transmission is in “Drive,” the car will move forward as long as you lift your foot off the brake pedal.
- In most modern cars, the transmission is located to the right of the driver’s seat or as a lever mounted to the right of the steering wheel, and sometimes it is a button instead of a lever depending on the type of car you have. You can always refer to your car’s owner’s manual for more information.
6. Get to know the basic buttons and signs of the control panel.
The control panel shows the driver the amount of fuel, the speed of the car, the temperature of the engine, and its revolutions per minute.
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- The speedometer is the most important part of the control panel because it tells you the speed of your car either in miles per hour or kilometers per hour.
- The engine revolutions meter (RPM) tells you how the engine is working, you will find a red part ranging between 6000 and 7000 revolutions per minute; you should slow down a little when the indicator reaches this stage.
- The fuel gauge tells you how much fuel is left in the car. You will find a hand like the hands of a clock moving between the “F” marks, which symbolizes the word “Full” and the “E” marks, which symbolizes the word “Empty”. Some modern cars have a digital fuel gauge similar to the battery gauge on your phone, you will find it decreases over time, indicating that the car’s fuel is running low.
- The temperature gauge tells you the engine temperature if it exceeds the limit; You’ll find it either pointing to an “H” for “Hot” or a “C” for “Cold”. The indicator should be in the middle.