I've noticed myself, and been told by others I've developed some bad driving habits and drive quite poorly since having the loan car which was an auto.

Just wondering others thoughts where they swap between autos and manuals.

I drive better as more of the time have both hands on the steering wheel.

I drive better as more of the time have both hands on the steering wheel.

And when you drive a manual?

He's probably resting his hand on the gearstick so if he needs a quick gearchange he can do it. As for driving auto giving bad habits I'd have to say no. Drove my brothers Swift Sport and it was like riding a bike. You don't forget and I was still quick. Did find my throttle control was better

No I don't think so. I swap all the time between my car and SWMBO's Auto Mazda 626.

If you have been told that you have developed bad habits or are aware of them, then just stop it.

Embrace the Auto experience and treat it like you were driving with a driving instructor/examiner next to you.

(when i do that i think, thank god i dont need to re-sit my test, better watch my speed)

Maybe you are just a poor driver generally!,

but i doubt that because you are aware you might be letting your standards slip,

which is unlike most bad drivers i have ever been in a car with.

george

Edited 23 April, 201214 yr by sk4gw

Such as?

? What does the 'such as?'

refer to, is it my post?

Thing that annoys me most when in cars with my nephews or nieces, is when on the dual carrieway they drive right up a cars jacksay before pulling out to pass, and they do not indicate.

They change lanes and dont indicate 'because they say their instuctor says they did not need to!'

They enter roundabouts and exit without indicating, because they say 'their instructor told them they do not need to indicate!'

george

He's probably resting his hand on the gearstick so if he needs a quick gearchange he can do it.

Yes exactly right.

? What does the 'such as?'

refer to, is it my post?

Thing that annoys me most when in cars with my nephews or nieces, is when on the dual carrieway they drive right up a cars jacksay before pulling out to pass, and they do not indicate.

They change lanes and dont indicate 'because they say their instuctor says they did not need to!'

They enter roundabouts and exit without indicating, because they say 'their instructor told them they do not need to indicate!'

george

Sounds like bad instructors.

There's a difference between learning to drive and learning to pass your driving test. Big difference!

My dad's had a few autos, and I generally find them a lot more relaxing. Not sure if they breed bad habits though?

"sounds like bad instructors."

Stupid/lazy youngsters actually, that are just bad drivers!

There are actually Lots of Bad Driving instructors in the NE of Scotland & up by the Moray Firth. IMO.

They appear to teach them accepting they are going to be boy/girl racers & there are not many Dual Carraigeways to give any Lessons on.

(not many roundabouts either. LOL not.

george

? What does the 'such as?'

refer to, is it my post?

Thing that annoys me most when in cars with my nephews or nieces, is when on the dual carrieway they drive right up a cars jacksay before pulling out to pass, and they do not indicate.

They change lanes and dont indicate 'because they say their instuctor says they did not need to!'

They enter roundabouts and exit without indicating, because they say 'their instructor told them they do not need to indicate!'

george

Such as what bad habits is gadgetman referring too.

When stationary in traffic queues,most automatic car drivers just sit there with their foot on the brake ,dazzling the car behind with the high level brake light.

On the rare occasions that I've owned an automatic I rarely used the Hand/Foot parking brake,just leaving the trasmission in Park.

I think they're both bad habits to get into.

I’ve had my auto since July and consciously made sure I didn’t fall into bad habits. Like the foot brake when stationary thing. Mine has neutral so it’s no different from the manual in that I stop, apply handbrake and into neutral.

I’ve taken the opportunity to “learn” to left foot brake though! I don’t know if this is a bad habbit as such?

I also tend to drive in tiptronic, because I hate that it’s always in a higher gear than I want and seems to change gear whilst on roundabouts or corners when in auto.

I am an amputee with just a left foot and have driven Auto boxes exclusively since 1977.

I really try to go to nautral & with the hand brake on when sitting waiting with cars behind me, so not to sit with a brake light on.

The vRS with DSG is the first car that is a total PITA in my experience for the slow action on getting back into D

& hand brake off and away without then giving a little too much throttle.

Then again i am a person that likes my indicator stalk on the right hand side of the steering column for when i am using Autoboxes manually.

george

Edited 23 April, 201214 yr by sk4gw

when I was driving in the centre of London a lot I had automatic car for that, and occasionally you do that old thing where you go to press the clutch pedal which nearly propels you through the windscreen. I don't think it was driving an auto that made my driving bad, it was more a case of driving in London which gave me bad habits. After all I do/did own the road :wonder:

Thing that annoys me most when in cars with my nephews or nieces, is when on the dual carrieway they drive right up a cars jacksay before pulling out to pass, and they do not indicate.

They change lanes and dont indicate 'because they say their instuctor says they did not need to!'

They enter roundabouts and exit without indicating, because they say 'their instructor told them they do not need to indicate!'

george

There's no need to indicate if there's no one to benefit from the indication or if moving from lane two to lane one or lane three to lane two etc. same with the roundabouts, if there's no one else waiting to join the roundabout or following you then there's no need to indicate.

I very much doubt their instructor would tell them not to indicate since my wife's instructor (she just passed her get in October) had indicating every time, even if there is no one else on the road!

The problem is that they get so used to NOT indicating when it isn't required that they stop doing it all together!

When I was learning to drive, my instructor told me there's no need to indicate if there's no one around to benefit from it.

He then taught me to indicate anyway so that I didn't get into the habit of not indicating when it was required.

I don't see why people feel the need to not use them tbh, it's not like you're having to move a 2 ton bar up and down. It only takes a flick of the finger.

Matt

'The no need to indicate if their is no one to benefit',

is the stuff you get from Advanced drivers & IOM instructors,

&

what i see from Traffic Police Officers in cars and on M/Cycles regularly.

Pairs of Coppers on bikes are really bad at peeling off at junctions & overtaking without an indication.

I hardly ever see one that turns their head to look behind.

In the dark when you think there is nobody to see you it can be a pedestrian or cyclist waiting to see what you are about to do off in the distance.

On the road or that roundabout maybe let others be the judge of what is right.

I find that people that dont indicate are often also not using their mirrors or rearview mirror, maybe not even really aware what is around them to be in a position to decide not to indicate.

Maybe my driving is wrong, but once you have been taken out by a driver not indicating or paying attention and get left without a limb,

you do tend to give more attention to other motorists habits and i take every drivers show of lack of attention as a warning to avoid them.

george

If you have been told that you have developed bad habits or are aware of them, then just stop it.

Gee thanks.

Embrace the Auto experience and treat it like you were driving with a driving instructor/examiner next to you.

(when i do that i think, thank god i dont need to re-sit my test, better watch my speed)

It was a loaner I had for 5 Weeks, so nothing to embrace unless I buy an auto

Maybe you are just a poor driver generally!,

but i doubt that because you are aware you might be letting your standards slip,

which is unlike most bad drivers i have ever been in a car with.

Maybe, Maybe not. I drive 40K a year just for work. Never had such comments before I had the auto, only since it went back.

Mostly regarding acceleration, maintaining even throttle rather than kangaroo throttle, poor gear and clutch. I've gotten better over the last 3 weeks, but not as I was.

So hence asking the question here

Sorry i did not read your post/question as meaning you were back driving a manual and now your driving had suffered!

I thought you meant it was while driving automatics.

why my reply to your post was not written in a serious manner, obviously you knew how to drive and what not to do using the excuse that an automatic gearbox has anything to do with it..

It was my poor attempt at humour.

I think they allow people to improve their driving.

george

Edited 23 April, 201214 yr by sk4gw

I have a manual fabia, but since I use that car for mid range commute (to/from school and work), its not an issue. But I have a messed up knee, and rush hour in Stockholm nearly kills me. Sara and I have an arrangement, whenever I have to drive in Stockholm, I drive her Nissan and she drives my Fabia. Manual is not an issue for her and I need the auto. Personally I don't think I drive any better or worse with auto. I might be more reckless with the Nissan because its quicker. With the Fabia, you have to think twice before you do something since its well, slow. It doesn't have anything to do with the tranny.

I own a DSG and drive manuals for work. I do love the auto and find it relaxing, and so I find it encourages me to drive calmly, however I have found a couple of 'poor habits' forming- namely coasting upto a red light and forgetting to depress the clutch!

Nearly stalled the manual a couple of times! Also less inclined to double declutch in the manual now as the auto does it for me.

I think it improves me noticing speed limit signs on the exits of roundabouts ( a highways favourite and longtime bugbear of mine ) as I have less to concentrate on in the auto and the same small improvement in indicating on small roundabouts, instead of messing around 1st gear to 2nd and struggling to indicate, I now can concentrate on accurate indication.

I do think an auto does de-skill you a little in clutch/gear skills, but does allow you to focus on traffic etc. I also totally and utterly disagree with the IAM and Police Roadcraft about " don't indicate if you don't need to" treat it as an additionally safety layer in case you have missed someone, why compound one failure with another.

Just my tuppence worth.