Q&A for How to Drive a Car

If you're referring to how long it takes, I wouldn't recommend trying to speed this process up. You have to complete driving classes, practice with an instructor, and get familiar with how the vehicle works. Driving is dangerous if you don't know what you're doing, so don't rush your education here.

It can be if you've never done it before! It really isn't too nerve-racking once you've worked with an instructor and figured the basics out. It's okay to be nervous. Just take it slow!

Drive defensively, take it slow, and keep your eyes on the road. Also, comply with speed limits! They're there for a reason; it's dangerous to drive over the posted limit.

You need to press down hard but gradually so you don't stop too suddenly. Make sure that the person behind you has enough time to realize you're stopping, or they might rear end you.

Have someone drive you to a safe open area free of pedestrians and other cars. Hop in the car and just drive. You'll get a feel of the wheel after you practice a bit in an open space.

Manual transmission requires the use of three pedals and timing for the clutch to engage gears. Therefore, a manual transmission is more complex and more difficult to drive than a car with an automatic transmission.

You have to release the acceleration pedal and concentrate more on the brake pedal to help regulate your speed.

Keep an eye on your speed. If traffic is very slow (to a point where you must stop the car), make sure you have a good amount of space in front of your car. (Tip: When slowing down and coming to a stop, look at the car in front for yours back tire and stop when you see the bottom of their tires meet your car's hood.)

Concentrate on steering and pump the brakes. If that fails, use your hand brake/emergency brake.

There are 2 pedals: the gas pedal which moves the car, and the brake that slows or stops the car.

Get familiar with the tachometer. This indicates revolutions per minute (RPMs) and will help you know when to shift gears. Eventually you will know exactly when to shift based on the sounds of your engine, and you won't even need to look at this dial.

Begin about 3-5 feet perpendicular to a parking spot about 2 ahead of the one you want to park in, and start backing up. Begin to turn when you see the right line in your right hand side mirror, using the right line to guide you. When you see the left line in your left hand mirror, use both lines to guide you into the parking spot while backing up.

Depends on your vehicle's RPM. If the RPM of the vehicle gets too low, then shift down. If it's too high, then shift up.

It depends the state you live in. In most states, it's 15 or 16.

Turn a little sharper turn than normal, then adjust the direction the car is going.

Demonstrate knowledge of how to operate a motor vehicle safely and proficiently as well as demonstrate knowledge of common traffic laws and rules of the road.

You are the best judge of your capabilities, no one else. You're never too old to learn a new skill. Be confident and sign up for driving lessons. If teenagers learn to do it easily, so can you.

Yes. Adjusting heavily between the clutch and accelerator pedal is a must. Using the brakes when in a prolonged stop and using the E-brake to free your acceleration foot is a good skill to have to not roll back into the vehicles behind you and to prevent you from stepping to hard on the gas.

Depends on the country; in some countries you drive on the left, and others the right.

It doesn't take much pressure. Don't do it quickly, be steady and consistent with your pedal-pressing.

Practice. The more you drive your manual transmission, the better your control will be. Challenge yourself on hilly terrain when you're feeling more comfortable. Try to get a feel for when the gear starts engaging as well.

Making a left turn at a red light is illegal and dangerous. However, turning right after stopping at a red light is legal in some states.

Yes. You need a balance of confidence and caution to be a safe driver.

Press the accelerator until you're holding enough RPM to maintain your speed, making minute adjustments for inclines and depressions in the road. Another way to do it would be to use the Cruise Control feature in your vehicle if equipped.

The emergency break is generally located on the right hand side of the drivers seat. It may also be a pedal on the far left driver's side floor that you engage with your foot.

With a manual transmission, take your foot off the gas, press the clutch pedal, move shifter to desired gear, then slowly let off the clutch as you start to press the gas.

Just put it in D for drive and then proceed as normal. Foot on the gas to accelerate and foot on brake to stop, if needed.

To slow down or stop the car, you press the brake pedal.

When driving (or parking next to a curb on the right), the center hood ornament or just the center of the hood works as a good reference point to tell where the right tires are located. When the right line (or the line of the curb) appears to intersect with the center of the hood, your car's right tires will be positioned about 3-6 inches away from that line or the curb.

Don't just pick any car for the sake of driving, stick to a smaller, lower-powered car first before you move onto a larger, high-powered vehicle. They are easier to drive, practice maneuvers, have better fuel economy and most likely will be cheaper to insure. The Ferrari parked in the garage can wait until you can competently drive the Ford first.