4 mistakes of 'new drivers' when driving automatic cars

When switching from a manual transmission car to an automatic transmission car, many "new drivers" often make basic mistakes in operating the accelerator, brake pedal, gearbox... causing unsafety and easily damaging parts of the car.

Many mistakes of new drivers when driving automatic cars /// Hoang Cuong

Simple operation and easy control help automatic cars increasingly dominate manual cars in Vietnam. In the current market, many car brands are gradually eliminating manual car versions to develop automatic versions to meet user needs.

However, in reality, many “new drivers” who have been accustomed to driving a manual transmission since learning to drive, when switching to an automatic car, often make dangerous mistakes that cause unsafety and can easily damage parts of the car. Below are the 5 most common mistakes that “new drivers” confess when driving an automatic car for the first time:

Use two feet to operate the accelerator and brake

To simplify operation and bring comfort to the driver, automatic transmission vehicles have eliminated the clutch pedal. Drivers only need to use their right foot to operate the accelerator and brake. However, some drivers when switching from manual transmission to automatic transmission often make the mistake of using their left foot to brake and their right foot to accelerate.

According to Mr. Tran Xuan Quyen, a person with many years of experience in training car drivers: "This mistake can easily cause accidents. In unexpected situations, the driver's reflex habit is to step on both feet, but when pressing hard on the accelerator, the braking effect will be greatly reduced, the car cannot stop as desired."

To avoid this mistake, when driving an automatic car, "new drivers" should practice the habit of "freeing the left foot", only using the right foot, the heel always placed close to the floor of the car, creating a comfortable position to be able to switch between holding the accelerator and braking in a V shape. Some current automatic cars have a pedal-style parking brake design, drivers should pay attention not to put the left foot on the parking brake pedal. Only use the left foot to press/release this brake pedal when parking.

Accelerate without braking

One principle that contributes to ensuring safety when driving an automatic car is “no gas, then brake”. Accordingly, when the car is moving, if there is no need to add gas to accelerate, the driver should rest the tip of the right foot on the brake pedal. However, in reality, many drivers, especially new and inexperienced drivers, are often negligent or do not follow this principle, causing danger when driving in traffic.

In some unexpected situations where the driver wants to slow down, if the driver keeps his right foot off the pedal, the reaction will be slower when he has to switch to the brake pedal. In addition, some drivers reflexively step on the gas pedal by mistake, causing the car to suddenly rush forward.

Shift to N while the vehicle is rolling.

When using an automatic car, many new drivers often have the habit of shifting from D to N like a manual car when parking on a slope or before stopping at a red light. This action will reduce the lifespan of the gearbox in the long run.

Shifting the gear to N while the car is rolling and letting the car coast, although in the opinion of some drivers, will help the car save fuel. However, according to Ford's technical expert: "When the driver shifts from D to N or vice versa, the details inside the gearbox will change their operating state. If this happens with high frequency, it will cause faster wear and tear, especially the clutches inside the gearbox. Over time, it will reduce the life of the gearbox".

Also related to this issue, in the Mazda3 owner's manual, page 46, section "Operating the automatic transmission" warns: "Do not shift to N while the vehicle is running. Shifting to N while the vehicle is running is dangerous because the vehicle will not be able to brake the engine when decelerating and may lead to injury."

Forget manual mode

Most automatic cars today are equipped with manual shifting, sport shifting or steering wheel paddle shifters. However, some “new drivers” are used to driving automatic cars in D mode, so they often ignore the manual shifting function on automatic cars.

Not using manual mode is also considered a mistake of new drivers when driving on steep mountain roads. Because if in D mode, due to inertia when going downhill, the car often moves faster, causing the driver to use the brakes more. In the case that the driver often brakes, the brakes will heat up and easily lead to brake pads burning and brake failure. Using semi-automatic mode when driving on steep mountain roads will help the driver proactively shift to lower gears to take advantage of engine braking and not need to brake much.

According to TNO