On 2020-04-10 12:18 p.m., Cindy Hamilton wrote:
> On Friday, April 10, 2020 at 11:13:05 AM UTC-4, Pamela wrote:
>before!
>>
>> Nearly as bad are American drivers in the UK who have never used a stick
>> shift but think they will learn while driving on the opposite side of
>> narrower roads to what they are used to.
>
> Having driven a stick most of my life, I almost think it would be worse
> to reverse those reflexes.

People can usually adapt pretty quickly to things like that. I will
compare my ability to use a manual transmission with anyone from
Europe. I have been using them since I was 14. We have always had at
least one car with a manual.... 3 on the tree, three on the floor, 4 on
the floor, five on the floor. I was an equipment operator for close to
12 years. I drove trucks with 5 speed with axle splitters, 10, 13 and
18 speed transmissions and, one of my favourites, two stick
transmissions.... 4 ranges and 5 gears.

The equipment operator part of the job had me working with graders,
front end loaders and back hoes. You quickly learn to use your left
hand to use the hydraulic controls, using two or more controls
simultaneously. I think that it would be pretty easy to switch to
shifting with my left hand. I might be more worried about watching
which lane I am turning into.