Caitlin Graham, a 22-year-old from rural Cumbria, desired to learn driving in an automatic vehicle, believing it would expedite her testing process. However, she faced challenges finding an automatic driving instructor, leading her to learn in a manual car instead. This trend is reflective of a growing preference for automatic vehicles among motorists; currently, one in three cars on UK roads is an automatic, and a quarter of driving tests in England, Scotland, and Wales were conducted in automatic cars last year.
The increasing shift towards automatic cars is influenced by the UK’s ban on the sale of new petrol and diesel vehicles, effective in 2030, as electric cars do not have manual gearboxes. This situation presents new drivers with a choice: to take their driving test in an automatic or a manual car. Opting for an automatic limits future vehicle options, while passing in a manual offers more versatility.
The limited availability of automatic instructors often complicates the choice for learners. Caitlin, for instance, had to wait nearly a year before passing her manual driving test, significantly longer than her sister, who learned in Newcastle in five months. Additionally, statistics from the Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency reveal that the pass rate for manual tests is higher than that for automatics.
Cleo Moseley, a 25-year-old from Northumberland, navigated similar concerns regarding the cost of lessons and the affordability of automatic vehicles. Meanwhile, Luke Breaban-Cook, who passed his manual driving test, expressed that the increasing prevalence of automatic cars might diminish the necessity to learn manual driving skills.
For some individuals with disabilities, like David Robinson, who has dyspraxia, automatic cars present a more accessible option. He decided to learn in an automatic, weighing the advantages amidst ongoing considerations of future vehicle regulations.
The landscape of driving instruction continues to evolve. While the shift towards automatic vehicles is notable, many driving instructors still predominantly teach in manual cars. As automatic vehicles gain acceptance, there may be a shift in instructor practices, despite existing societal stigmas regarding those who hold only an automatic license.
Source: https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c1wgpr40jeno?at_medium=RSS&at_campaign=rss