Now is the time to learn in an automatic

The argument over what vehicle you should learn in has always shown people in the UK prefer a manual.  However, the time to consider learning in an automatic is definitely now, and for so many reasons.

I've had the manual vs automatic discussion numerous times with students over the years, and have never been convinced with their reasons as to why manual  vehicles are preferred.  Students often argue automatic vehicles are more expensive (not true), and that they'd prefer to have the option of driving either type of car.  This is valid if you are so rich you have a fleet of cars to choose from each time you need to drive anywhere, but most people only have one car.  When you travel abroad, automatics are always available to hire as they are easier to drive especially when negotiating other factors such as unknown road layouts.

You can lead a horse to water

Even when students are told it's twice as easy to learn in an automatic car, it would cost them half the amount of money (the savings could go towards that more expensive transmission they'd heard of) and they'd be driving on their own in half the time. Students  still refuse to listen.  Us Brits do love doing things the hard way after all.  Even when, very occasionally, a student is really struggling with the multi-tasking coordination needed when learning, these factors are frequently ignored. 

It finally feels the argument has swung in favour of learning in an automatic car.  Covid -19 and three national lock-downs have caused the biggest backlog of driving tests you could possibly imagine.  Almost 500,000 cancelled and rescheduled driving tests are due to restart on April 22nd.  In Bristol, there are no available driving tests to book.  Test centres nationwide are being closed down.  Examiners are working a reduced service.  Getting through this backlog is going to take years if you're learning in a manual car - that is.

All driving schools nationwide have extensive waiting lists that could take years to work through (mine's over 80 people long).  Because the demand to learn in an automatic is far less, the waiting times are shorter.  Making the decision to learn in an automatic, could see you getting behind the wheel 12 months sooner than in a manual.  Which, let's face it, is an outmoded form of transport.

Just the facts, Ma'am

Already many car companies have said they'll no longer be producing combustion engine vehicles in a few years.  Governments around the world are prohibiting their sale to reduce carbon emissions and improve air quality.  Electric cars aren't just coming soon, they're already here and they're all automatic.

You can buy them second hand for a few thousand, they cost absolutely nothing in road tax and have a fraction per mile running cost compared to petrol or diesel cars.  MOT and service costs are around 50% less too.  So, financially speaking, it's a no-brainer that we should all be driving electric.  On top of that, it'll cost you half the amount to learn in and you'll do it in half the time. Plus, you'll jump the Covid lockdown backlog queue potentially by a year!

If this isn't the time to learn to drive in an automatic, I don't know when will be.