First of all, to drive an automatic car you are going to need to take automatic driving lessons. Here at Nayland Driving School, we teach pupils in our fleet of automatic cars all over the UK. Our instructors have years of experience under their belts and will be able to get you feeling confident and capable behind the wheel in no time at all. We also have a great first-time pass rate.
An automatic car does a lot of the work for you, but that doesn’t mean that they don’t take some getting used to. Most automatic cars have four driving modes, and learning the differences between them is key to a safe driving experience. The four driving modes are as follows:
- P/Park: This is for instances where you are stopping and leaving your car. Putting it in this mode will lock the transmission. This stops it from rolling away – but you will still need to apply the handbrake.
- R/Reverse: This works exactly like the reverse gear in a manual car. If you need to drive backwards, you will put your car into this driving mode.
- N/Neutral: If you’re stopping at traffic lights or anywhere else where you’re remaining stationary for a few seconds, you should put the car in neutral. As you would in park mode, you should always use the handbrake to prevent rolling.
- D/Drive: Perhaps the most self-explanatory mode, this is used to make the car move forward. As you increase your speed, the car will progress up through the gears automatically – the function that gives this kind of vehicle its name.
To get started, put your foot down on the brake as you start the car. Then, with your foot still on the brake, put the car into drive or reverse. Once you start driving, the car will automatically select the right gear for your speed.
If you want to find out more about driving an automatic car, get in touch with our driving school today. With lessons available for some of the most competitive rates you’ll find, you will pick up all the skills you need.
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