Originally posted by skid:
over here (USA) there is no distinction made between manual and automatic transmission equipped vehicles as far as getting a license is concerned. a car is a car, the trans doesn't matter.
I've never owned a vehicle with an auto tranny; both of my current cars have manual trannies.
Some years ago, a group of friends and I were driving out of state to attend a convention. It was an 8-hour drive; we were riding in a friend's Honda Accord with an auto tranny, and it was decided that we would share in the driving chores. When it came my turn to drive, everything was fine until we entered a small farming community and approached a four-way stop intersection. As I was coasting to a stop, my left foot instinctively extended to push in the non-existent clutch pedal, and found the left edge of the wider-than-normal brake pedal instead.
This had the immediate effect of locking up all four wheels--I didn't think to release the "clutch" pedal, as it's normal practice to keep it depressed to disengage the tranny when coming to a complete stop.
After we skidded to a stop, it was rightfully decided by all aboard that I should be relieved of driving duties for the remainder of the outbound and return trip.

Moral of the story: do not assume that a driver of a car with a manual tranny can seamlessly transition to driving a car with an auto tranny.
