How to Drive an Automatic Car

How to Drive an Automatic Car
      Step 1:     Check the vehicle. Look over the tires, glass, wipers and lights before getting in. Tires should be properly inflated with enough tread to touch Lincoln’s head with an inverted penny in the groove. Glass should be free of cracks and wipers able to clear rain or snow from the windshield. Check the lights in front and back as well as both turn signals. Ask someone to step on the brake pedal while you check the brake lights in the rear.
      Step 2:     Get in and buckle up. Pull the seatbelt and shoulder strap over yourself and snap it securely into the buckle. Enough could not be said about how seatbelts save lives. It only takes a few seconds to put one on and it’s not the least bit uncomfortable. Be sure all passengers are buckled, and follow safety regulations regarding children’s weight and proper restraining devices.
      Step 3:     Check mirrors. Clean and adjust the rearview and side mirrors. Set the rearview mirror to let you see straight out the back window. Side mirrors should show the back corners of the car to give you a location reference to other objects.
      Step 4:     Start it up. Turn the key to start the engine, apply the brake and shift into the desired gear with the gear lever on the steering column or floor console between the front seats. Depress accelerator lightly to get the car rolling. Now check the brakes before you actually need them to stop the car.
      Step 5:     Choose the gear. Shift the car into the best gear for the road and weather conditions. Obviously, if you want to back up, reverse is the only choice ("R'). For normal driving, shift into high gear and leave it there. A circled "D" allows best fuel efficiency at high speeds. On vehicles with overdrive, that’s high gear. To move forward on loose gravel or a muddy dirt road, use one of the lower gears ("L1" or "L2"). Shift into a low gear anytime you are going down a steep grade. Stay in high gear going uphill and the...