This is how we learn to drive..in Italy

[alby_yaris]

that's nice. So let me get this, in the US you learn to drive with automatic cars?
I didn't know that

Here are other yaris of the same driving school I was talking before..




Now, we've got also a black 3rd gen yaris, but I still have no pics of it..

[Jabro]

Alby, if only you knew how much American's love their automatics. I want to say that in 2008 something like only 8% of all cars sold in the U.S. were manual transmission. Driver's Ed is almost exclusively automatic, and being licensed automatic automatically allows you to legally drive manual, even if you've never drove a standard in your life. Personally I think everyone should learn stick, it'd cut down on a lot of the idiots I see texting while driving, but I digress.

My driver's ed car was a red ford taurus. Four weeks of classroom instruction, and three days of driving on the weekend and I was good to go. That was how it worked for me in high school, and that wasn't too long ago.

[alby_yaris]

Originally Posted by Jabro

being licensed automatic automatically allows you to legally drive manual, even if you've never drove a standard in your life.

here, it's the opposite..
You learn with manual, but then you can legally drive automatic cars..
Honestly, I think this is more logic, isn't it?!

Anyways, it's clear your schools do this because they see a great part of Americans drive only automatic cars..

[Jabro]

I agree, the European way is much more logical. When I lived in Germany, I saw a lot of people driving dangerously, but usually speed was the only factor (speeding through neighborhoods etc.) Here in America it seems to be stupidity that plays the dangerous factor, weaving in and out, speed, texting, people that can't drive straight while on a cell phone, and most of all people that drive SUVs and other driver giant vehicles, who just plain suck at driving. In Germany, chances are if I was to be in an accident, I'd be hit by a sedan, or smaller more economical car. Where I live now, chances are if I get hit, it is going to be by a Ford Expedition or a Cadillac Escalade.

Driver's ed in America is so easy to the point where its creating a dangerous environment for everyone on the road, every nation has its dumb drivers, but I have to tell you New Orleans has the highest concentration I've seen, and I've lived in a lot of places in both the U.S. and abroad.

[nookandcrannycar]

Family members in California who are in their mid to late 60s learned within driver training fleets that were all automatic transmission fleets. I have never seen or heard of a driver training car in the U.S. that has a manual transmission. Sad. I think it should be a requirement to learn on a manual.

[nookandcrannycar]

Originally Posted by Jabro

I agree, the European way is much more logical. When I lived in Germany, I saw a lot of people driving dangerously, but usually speed was the only factor (speeding through neighborhoods etc.) Here in America it seems to be stupidity that plays the dangerous factor, weaving in and out, speed, texting, people that can't drive straight while on a cell phone, and most of all people that drive SUVs and other driver giant vehicles, who just plain suck at driving. In Germany, chances are if I was to be in an accident, I'd be hit by a sedan, or smaller more economical car. Where I live now, chances are if I get hit, it is going to be by a Ford Expedition or a Cadillac Escalade.

Driver's ed in America is so easy to the point where its creating a dangerous environment for everyone on the road, every nation has its dumb drivers, but I have to tell you New Orleans has the highest concentration I've seen, and I've lived in a lot of places in both the U.S. and abroad.

I agree with all of this, but the thing that pulls my chain the most (and is worst in Houston, Southern California, and South Florida IMO) are people who haven't been paying attention to how soon their exit is coming up, notice (from the #1 or #2 lane) their exit at the last minute, and have the 'I can't possibly be inconvenienced by going to the next exit' attitude and cut over to the exit, irrespective of how dangerous this might be. I have personally seen an accident happen in front of me (in Houston) when a person did this.

[nookandcrannycar]

Originally Posted by Jabro

Alby, if only you knew how much American's love their automatics. I want to say that in 2008 something like only 8% of all cars sold in the U.S. were manual transmission. Driver's Ed is almost exclusively automatic, and being licensed automatic automatically allows you to legally drive manual, even if you've never drove a standard in your life. Personally I think everyone should learn stick, it'd cut down on a lot of the idiots I see texting while driving, but I digress.

My driver's ed car was a red ford taurus. Four weeks of classroom instruction, and three days of driving on the weekend and I was good to go. That was how it worked for me in high school, and that wasn't too long ago.

I agree...and the 'driving a manual would cut down on texting' is an especially good point.

[alby_yaris]

Originally Posted by alby_yaris

Now, we've got also a black 3rd gen yaris, but I still have no pics of it..

Here is the black one I was talking about..hope you like it