11 EASY STEPS IN LEARNING TO DRIVE AN AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION CAR

Anyone learning to drive should
use a car equipped with an
automatic transmission, because
shifting gears and gaining clutch
coordination on a manual
transmission car takes a lot of practice. There are far too many
other skills to concentrate on for
the sake of becoming a safe driver.
Safety is the first consideration for
you, your passengers and all
other occupants of the road. Difficulty: Moderately Challenging Instructions
1. Check the vehicle. Look over the
tires, glass, wipers and lights
before getting in. Tires should be
properly inflated with enough
tread to touch Lincoln’s head with
an inverted penny in the groove. Glass should be free of cracks and
wipers able to clear rain or snow
from the windshield. Check the
lights in front and back as well as
both turn signals. Ask someone to
step on the brake pedal while you check the brake lights in the rear. 
2. Get in and buckle up. Pull the
seat belt and shoulder strap over
yourself and snap it securely into
the buckle. Seat belts save lives.
It only takes a few seconds to put
one on and it’s not the least bit uncomfortable. Be sure all
passengers are buckled and follow
safety regulations regarding
children’s weight and proper
restraining devices.
3. Check mirrors. Clean and adjust
the rear view and side mirrors. Set
the rear view mirror to let you
see straight out the back window.
Side mirrors should show the back
corners of the car to give you a location reference to other objects. 
4. Start it up. Turn the key to start
the engine, apply the brake and
shift into the desired gear with the
gear lever on the steering column
or floor console between the front
seats. Depress the accelerator lightly to get the car rolling. Now
check the brakes before you
actually need them to stop the
car.  
5. Choose the gear. Shift the car into
the best gear for the road and
weather conditions. Obviously, if
you want to back up, reverse is
the only choice ("R"). For normal
driving, shift into high gear and leave it there. A circled "D"
allows best fuel efficiency at high
speeds. On vehicles with
overdrive, that’s high gear. To
move forward on loose gravel or a
muddy dirt road, use one of the lower gears ("L1" or "L2"). Shift
into a low gear any time you are
going down a steep grade. Stay in
high gear going uphill and the
automatic transmission will
adjust itself to meet the demand.
6. Use the right foot. Use the same
foot for the accelerator and the
brake. Reflexes will take your
foot from gas to brake in less than
half a second. Two-footed driving
needlessly burns fuel and brake pads.
7. Take a hands-on approach. Grab
the steering wheel with both hands
at clock positions of 10 and 2, or 9
and 3 if the wheel holds an air bag.
Make turns by crossing one hand
over another, with one hand on the wheel at all times. 
8. Look around. Check for
pedestrians, bicyclists, joggers
and children before pulling away
from the curb or out of a
driveway. Look ahead for hazards
or upcoming steering adjustments. Check both ways before entering
intersections. Be aware of all
other vehicles around you,
including the ones behind you.
Check mirrors and turn your
head quickly to check spots the mirrors don’t show before
changing lanes or entering traffic.  
9. Use the turn signal to show other
drivers your intention to change
lanes, make a turn, enter the
roadway or parallel park.
10. Take to the highway. Enter a
highway by gaining speed as you
drive up the on ramp. Signal your
intention to merge with traffic and
check mirrors and blind spots for a
safe gap in traffic. Drive in the center lane on three-lane roads.
Use the right lane on two-lane
highways, saving the left lane for
passing. Although it may be
tempting to speed on highways,
keep your speed within 5 mph of the posted speed limit.  
11. Drive according to location and
conditions. Use a gentle touch on
the brake and accelerator in snow
and ice. Beware of hydroplaning in
rain, and dry the brakes by
holding the pedal down a little while moving. Constantly watch
for pedestrians in the city. Look
out for children and pets in
suburbs, and watch for wildlife on
rural routes.  
           Tips & Warnings 
Change the transmission fluid and
filter, or have the automatic
transmission serviced by a
mechanic once a year. Do not expect other drivers to be
courteous or mindful of traffic
laws. Be on the lookout and move
only when you're sure it's safe.Driving an Automatic Transmission could be fun and as well it could be hectic.
Enjoy!!!
Posted by Prompat.