Driving tests: What will happen to manual tests/licences when all new cars are electric?

[skotl]

A driving school car went past me the other day, and it was electric.

Then it occurred to me that from 2030 all new cars are supposed to be electric, right? And driving schools tend to have newish cars, so that means no manual driving school cars around 2033...2034...2035...

So if you can't learn to drive in a manual and you can't sit your test in a manual, will that mean that the distinctions on the licence will disappear? That anyone who passes in an auto will be allowed to drive a manual, even though they've had no training to do so?

 

[julianthegypsy]

A driving school car went past me the other day, and it was electric.

Then it occurred to me that from 2030 all new cars are supposed to be electric, right? And driving schools tend to have newish cars, so that means no manual driving school cars around 2033...2034...2035...

So if you can't learn to drive in a manual and you can't sit your test in a manual, will that mean that the distinctions on the licence will disappear? That anyone who passes in an auto will be allowed to drive a manual, even though they've had no training to do so?

I imagine it'll be like automatics now. Pass your test in an electric and you'll get a license for electric cars but you'll need another test to drive a manual. Pass it in a manual and you can drive them all...

 

[skotl]

I imagine it'll be like automatics now. Pass your test in an electric and you'll get a license for electric cars but you'll need another test to drive a manual. Pass it in a manual and you can drive them all...

Huh - that's the simplest answer, that was so simple it didn't occur to me

So you would still need access to an "old" manual car to sit the test - you just wouldn't be able to sit the test in your instructor's shiny new Tesla Model 3.

 

[Parm]

Contreversial

but ban them from learning to drive

if they don’t want to learn “stick“ or reversing a car, send em across the pond ....

 

[minimutly]

But you won't find a "stick" that isn't old to pass your test in, unless you borrow your dads classic...
Interesting question.

 

[gaz1]

it could also mean that all the oldies will have to take a retest to pass on the new vehicles

those that drive manuals would need to retest for auto to drive them

as goes for the new tests many could be behind a screen instead of driving via a simulation driving test instead of being on the road

 

[minimutly]

Hardly, it's like you don't need to pass an auto test if you pass a stick.
As for your last point I think you're having a giraffe

 

[ukracer]

it could also mean that all the oldies will have to take a retest to pass on the new vehicles

those that drive manuals would need to retest for auto to drive them

as goes for the new tests many could be behind a screen instead of driving via a simulation driving test instead of being on the road

I drive both...lol

 

[gaz1]

Hardly, it's like you don't need to pass an auto test if you pass a stick.
As for your last point I think you're having a giraffe

possible but i never learnt auto should be simple enough

d1 and excelerate and brake no clutch
but theres d1 and d2 ?
r is simple enough
so is p for park

 

[eLuSiVeMiTe]

possible but i never learnt auto should be simple enough

d1 and excelerate and brake no clutch
but theres d1 and d2 ?
r is simple enough
so is p for park

Sure you can find a YouTube video to explain it to you

 

[eLuSiVeMiTe]

Most people who drive autos probably don't have a clue what d1 D2/3 are.

Given some of the steep descents I used to use regularly I learned sharpish when I got a auto.

 

[Nomad]

Many years ago I parked my convertible (roof down) next to my lockup, my neightbours american visitors came over and called out "ABC pedals", I now know this means Accellerator / Brake / Clutch.
Until the I had just assumed drivers were used to cars with 3 pedals.

Related :
A neighbours 20-year-old daughter recently passed her test. driving their family car she ssid "It's difficu;t to to reverse - the driving school car had a reversing camera with lines showing where I was going".
My brothers wife has a modern car with reversing camera, if that's all you've ever known it would be hard to drive an "old" car without the camera.
I got a lift in a modern van recently, the reversing camera had lines to show the track, turning the steering wheel changed the dotted "predicted route". Anyone who learns on these and tries to drive a traditional old-school van has my sympathies.

 

[MetalMonkey]

possible but i never learnt auto should be simple enough

d1 and excelerate and brake no clutch
but theres d1 and d2 ?
r is simple enough
so is p for park

Usually you will have a D or D4 or whichever position is closest to N which is drive, and that will shift between all the gears automatically.
The other positions (D3, D2 2 etc etc) limit the top gear the transmission will shift to, so you can use engine braking on hills or limit it to low gears for certain conditions. Varies by manufacture, but that’s generally the gist.

 

[bigegg]

My lexus has D5-4-3-2-L - M -N - R -P

plus a "Snow" button, and a "sport" button, and an "eco" button.
Basically put it in D5, it's an auto. Or use the gear stick to change gear 1-5 (or at least, hold the gearbox to that gear as maximum)
M means I can use the flappy paddles to change gear 1-5

"Snow" holds the gearbox in 3-4-5 only.
"Sport" means that it holds the lower gears longer for better acceleration.
"Eco" it changes earlier which reduces acceleration, but also saves fuel. (So I'm told, don't use that one)

6-speed manual gearboxes are simple, in comparison.

 

[zzr1200]

Then it occurred to me that from 2030 all new cars are supposed to be electric, right? And driving schools tend to have newish cars, so that means no manual driving school cars around 2033...2034...2035...

But you have forgotten one thing, Sir.

In the not to distance future, you will order your socially owned mobile office/taxi/transport unit via an app.

When it arrives you will input your destination via your "What 3 Words" app and press enter, which will program the transport module via the latest bluetooth type thing.

There will be no need for driving licences, until Roger the Doger auto pilot screws up and crashes, then the hirer will rightly say "Not Me Mate, Not My Fault".

The computer screwed up.
............


Traffic Accidents have over the years become, Traffic Incidents because the word accident means its no-ones fault really, so they shouldn't/couldn't prosecute for dangerous driving/speeding and other things....

So travel incidents in the future will now be know as a software glitches.

Or in Major Incidents "The Blue Screen of Death"

 

[Bullet2012]

All the letters on an auto have a meaning.
P= Parking
R= Driving back where you came From
D= Daytime drive mode
N= Night time drive mode

 

[Bullet2012]

 

[minimutly]

But you have forgotten one thing, Sir.

In the not to distance future, you will order your socially owned mobile office/taxi/transport unit via an app.

When it arrives you will input your destination via your "What 3 Words" app and press enter, which will program the transport module via the latest bluetooth type thing.

There will be no need for driving licences, until Roger the Doger auto pilot screws up and crashes, then the hirer will rightly say "Not Me Mate, Not My Fault".

The computer screwed up.
............


Traffic Accidents have over the years become, Traffic Incidents because the word accident means its no-ones fault really, so they shouldn't/couldn't prosecute for dangerous driving/speeding and other things....

So travel incidents in the future will now be know as a software glitches.

Or in Major Incidents "The Blue Screen of Death"

Yeah sure, like I can order a pizza delivery via an app here in rural west wales, could see that being a success....

 

[julianthegypsy]

I learned to drive an auto in Canada. Got it, my buddy explained the gearshift. Told me to put my foot on the brake, put it in drive, let go of brake. Is that it? I said. Yep. Cool. Drove it home. Nice little Dodge Dakota pick up. I can't imagine explaining a manual to a Canadian who'd only driven autos quite as quickly, which is presumably why tests passed on a manual are valid for autos, but not the other way round!

 

[dobbslc]

So what happens when in 30 years time most people can only drive electric vehicles as that's what they HAD to do their test in as the instructors all have newish cars, who will drive all the manual vans and lorries that won't be electric because it just doesn't work for that type of high mileage vehicle?