HOW TO PREPARE FOR A MANUAL TRANSMISSION CAR DRIVING TEST

I held my driving Licence for almost 15 yrs, so I think I'm in a position to render some help to all you prospective drivers out there.

Driving I believe, is an experience that most if us, whether young, middle age or even older people would want to have. At some point, we may be asking ourselves, " Will I be able to do it? Or, will I be able to keep the car on the road?

We may also wonder if we would be able to keep up with our instructor. Would he or she be patient with us? These are some of the concerns we might have had at some point.

Some of these concerns can be minimised if we prepare ourselves ahead of time. I am saying all of this because I had those questions before.

Before I started driving lessons, I went to a friend and ask him to tell me all that I need to Know about driving a car. He shared with me what I will be sharing with you, and it really helped me.

1. Get in the driver's side of your "imaginary" car and close the door. Look down to the floor where your feet are. There you will see 3 PEDALS. The pedal on the far left is called the CLUTCH. The pedal in the middle is called the BRAKES and the pedal to the right is called the ACCELERATOR or GAS. The purpose of the clutch is to engage the car into gear when it is press down. The purpose of the brakes is to stop the car when driving when press down and the purpose of the Gas is to accelerate or move the car, when in a stationary position. Look to your left between the driver's seat and the front passenger's seat, there you will see a lever, this is called the HANDBRAKE or EMERGENCY BRAKE. The Handbrake should always be pulled up when the car is parked. On the Steering Rack you will see Two levers. One on the left and one on the right. The left lever controls your left and right indicators, by pushing it up for right indicator and pulling it down for left indicator. The lever on the right have different functions, it is used to control the windscreen wiper, windscreen wash and in older cars, the horn. Newer cars now have the horn at the centre of the steering wheel. You just press down on it to toot your horn. Now, put car key in the ignition without starting car. (This is the keyhole on the right side of the steering rack).
   
2. Ensure that the driver's seat is adjusted to suit you as the driver. If not, make necessary adjustments. ( seat adjustment lever is normally in-front of driver's seat near to the floor).
3. Adjust the driver's side mirror to suit you. You should ensure that you can see the road properly behind you when you look in the mirror.
4. Adjust your rear view mirror to see directly behind you. (This is the mirror slightly above you near to the windscreen).
5. Put your seat belt on.
6. Remember that its a manual car you are going to drive, so you need to look at the diagram on the gear stick. This is the Capital H looking diagram with some numbers and a letter namely: 1,2,3,4,5 and R. This is found on the nob of the gear stick which you gonna maneuver in your left hand a lot as you drive.
7. The diagram will tell you how many FORWARD gears the car has, along with its REVERSE gear. The diagram will also show you the position where these gears are. In most cars,for instance,if the car is a [5 speed gearbox]. First and Second gears are always in the position, upper left and lower left respectively. Third and fourth gears are always in the position, upper right and lower right respectively. Fifth and Reverse gears are in the upper right and lower right respectively. NEUTRAL is centre, meaning, the car is not in any gear. Familiarise yourself with the different gears by pressing the Clutch down and engaging the car in different gears without starting the engine.
   
8. Please note carefully: First gear is always used to move the car when you are ready to drive.
   
9. Ensure that the car is in an open area on a level surface, the handbrake is pulled up, and the gear stick is in neutral position. (You are about to start car engine)
10. Place your left hand on the steering wheel in a 1/4 to 3 O' clock position and use your right hand to turn the car key in a clockwise position.
11. As soon as the engine starts to turn over, let go off the key and allow the engine to throttle.
12. While the engine is idling or running, use your left foot to press the Clutch down.
13. Use you left hand to put the car in First gear by slightly shifting the gear lever horizontally to the left and then forward. The car is now in First gear.
14. Do a final check on your mirrors and make sure that you are comfortable with everything that is going on around you.
15. Slowly raise your left foot off the Clutch and get it in a half-raised position. While doing this, listen to the slight change in the engine's throttle. The car should want to move forward, (bearing in mind, the handbrake is still up). This tells you that the car is in gear.
16. When you get the Clutch in the half-raised position, placed your right foot lightly on the accelerator and give the car a bit of Gas. Don't press heavily on the accelerator because the cars' engine will start to Rev. (You are about to move the car). Do another check in all three mirrors before you move car.
    
17. Keep both feet in that position, then use your left hand to slightly release the handbrake. Remember not to press the accelerator heavily as this will cause the car to either shoot off or you might stall the engine (engine might shut off).
    
18. As you release the handbrake, focus ahead of you, give the car some more Gas release the Clutch slowly and completely and enjoy your drive in first gear.
19. Finally, do not exceed 5mph in first gear.
20. When you are about to stop the car, make sure that you first check your mirrors, put your left indicator on pull off the road once it is safe, apply your brakes slowly, press your Clutch to prevent car from stalling. When you come to a stop, place the car in neutral switch engine off and GIVE YOURSELF A BIG CLAP. You have done it.

NOW GO AND IMPRESS YOUR DRIVING INSTRUCTOR.