What to Learn Initially When Starting to Drive?

[Orlando]

When starting to learn driving, the first thing is to understand the basic structure of a car: 1. Seat: Before getting into the car, you will first sit on the seat, so the first thing is to adjust the seat's front and back position, height, and the angle of the backrest. The purpose is to obtain a broad field of vision while making yourself more comfortable. As someone who has been through it, the editor knows that many beginners tend to adjust the seat too far forward, always afraid of not being able to reach the clutch, accelerator, and brake. Being too close to the steering wheel can easily make the driver feel constrained, and maintaining this posture for a long time can easily lead to fatigue. Just ensure that your knees can bend naturally, you can fully press all the pedals, and your hands can naturally hold the steering wheel. 2. Seatbelt: The function of the seatbelt is to keep the driver firmly in place in case of a collision or rollover to avoid secondary injuries. If the seatbelt is not worn, when an accident occurs, the deployment of the airbag can subject the driver to tremendous pressure, potentially breaking ribs and injuring internal organs in severe cases. The driver may also come into contact with an incompletely deployed airbag too early, leading to suffocation. 3. Rearview mirrors: For beginners learning to drive, understanding how to adjust and use the rearview mirrors inside the car is equally indispensable. As the name suggests, rearview mirrors are used to observe the situation behind. Because everyone's height and body shape are different, they should be adjusted to a suitable angle. Rearview mirrors are divided into the interior rearview mirror and the two exterior side mirrors. Beginners are particularly prone to neglecting the function of the interior rearview mirror. The interior rearview mirror allows you to see vehicles directly behind, while the exterior side mirrors cannot show vehicles very close directly behind, so it's also important to adjust the angle of the interior rearview mirror while driving. When changing lanes, always make sure from the rearview mirrors that there are no vehicles within a safe distance behind before proceeding. 4. Steering wheel: Beginners often cross their hands when turning the steering wheel because initially, the left hand is at the nine o'clock position and the right hand at the three o'clock position. For example, when turning right, the left hand moves clockwise, while the right hand remains in place, leading to the awkward situation of crossed hands. The correct approach is to let the left hand turn while the right hand releases, and when the left hand reaches an uncomfortable angle, switch to the right hand to continue turning. 5. Handbrake: The handbrake is a mechanical device to prevent the car from rolling. Press the button at the front of the handbrake to release it. When parking, pull up the handbrake firmly to engage the rear wheel brakes via the cable, locking the car in place to prevent rolling. 6. Brake pedal: Commonly known as the 'foot brake,' beginners learning to drive should avoid pressing it all the way down due to nervousness, as this will cause the car to 'nod' continuously, making passengers very uncomfortable. At low speeds, gently pressing the foot brake is sufficient. Note that when the speed drops, it needs to be pressed together with the clutch; otherwise, the car will stall. 7. Clutch pedal: The clutch controls the interruption and connection of power—pressed down to interrupt and released to engage. When starting, press the clutch all the way down, then shift gears and release the handbrake. Slowly release the clutch pedal, and the car will gradually start moving. Poor clutch control can easily lead to stalling; avoid releasing the clutch abruptly. 8. Accelerator pedal: Commonly known as the 'gas pedal.' Coordinating the clutch and accelerator is the most challenging part of driving a manual car, especially when parking on a steep slope. Releasing the clutch may still cause the car to roll, so it's necessary to give the car a boost. When parking on a slope, press both the clutch and brake simultaneously, then slowly release the clutch until the car shakes. Hold the clutch steady, release the brake, immediately press the accelerator, and slowly release the clutch pedal. While it sounds simple, in practice, stalling is very common.