Ask any car enthusiast about the virtues of the manual gearbox, and they will likely rattle off a list a mile long. While driving with a manual transmission is without doubt fun and engaging, many of its supporters also think it may have a role to play when it comes to safety. From improving focus to deterring would-be thieves, the manual gearbox has been attributed all sorts of positive impacts on safe motoring. Let’s explore some of the reasons why, in an age of complex safety devices, the humble stick shift can be considered an advanced safety feature in its own way:
Increased Focus
Viktor Bystrov/Unsplash
Inattention is one of the biggest sources of danger when driving; especially when traveling at high speeds, even a brief lapse in attention can lead to an accident. Fans of the manual gearbox have long supported the theory that driving a manual improves your focus and makes you a more attentive driver, and there may be some concrete evidence to back this up.
A 2006 study by the University of Virginia researchers focused on one particular group statistically at high risk of getting into car accidents: adolescent males with ADHD. Participants spent some time using a driving simulator in manual and automatic mode; their driving behavior and performance in relation to safety was assessed, and they were asked to report their own perceived level of attentiveness. The study appeared to confirm manual gearbox fans’ idea, both objectively and subjectively: the study participants drove more safely and reported being more focused when using the simulator in manual mode.
Of course, as with any study, there are some limitations to take into account; the study was done on a small number of people from a very specific sample group, and a simulated driving experience will never be able to fully replicate the act of driving a real vehicle on the road. However, the initial signs are encouraging. While technology keeps evolving, with eye trackers keeping our eyes on the road and autonomous driving promising to make even that unnecessary, the humble manual gearbox has revealed itself as a useful tool to reduce distraction and improve driver safety.
Increased Connection With Your Car
Mazda
Have you ever parked your car at home after a long day and realized you don’t remember driving home? It can be easy, especially on familiar routes we take every day, to slip into “autopilot” and become disconnected from the driving experience; this is more likely to happen when we’re tired or stressed. However, driving a manual can be a protective factor, keeping us grounded and present in the moment.
Being mentally and physically engaged with the act of driving makes the journey safer, as you are more mindful of what your car is doing and have a greater degree of control over it.
There’s also another benefit that comes from the increased connection with your car brought about by having a manual gearbox. Any mechanical issues are more likely to be spotted quickly. A hands-on driving experience gives you more opportunities to get an idea of what feels normal, meaning you will be able to tell immediately if something is not right mechanically.
More Control In Adverse Weather Conditions
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Aside from focus and attention while on the road, another area where manuals excel on the safety front is poor weather conditions. Having the ability to select your gear of choice allows you to have better control of the car when dealing with a wet or icy road surface.
A manual transmission also allows you to use engine braking, which means gentler and less abrupt deceleration- handy when the weather conditions are less than ideal. Today, this is less of a problem thanks to all the elaborate tech gadgets and driver assistance features built to make our lives easier, no matter what the weather is like or what car we are driving. However, in some cases, having a manual gearbox can still make a difference.
The Choice Of Enthusiasts
Nissan
This one is a fairly straightforward point: manual cars are more likely to be bought by enthusiasts, and enthusiasts are more likely to care for and protect their vehicle in several ways. Someone with a personal interest in looking after their car, rather than just using it to get from A to B, is more likely to keep it in a garage rather than on the street, and more likely to invest in anti-theft measures (such as steering lock devices and GPS trackers) to keep their pride and joy safe from criminals. In a country like the US, where few people learn to drive a manual car, let alone buy one, the die-hard fans who do opt for one are not the people you’d want to try and steal from.
Myth Or Fact: An Anti-Theft Prevention Measure?
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According to die-hard manual gearbox fans, having a stick shift on board doesn’t just help keep you safer when driving, but also keeps your car safe when it’s parked. The longstanding theory is that, as most people in the US do not know how to drive a car with a manual gearbox, car thieves will be less likely to steal one; and if they do get stolen, they are more likely to be abandoned than sold, since demand for them is low even on the used market. Anecdotal evidence appears to support this idea: the internet is awash with stories of incompetent would-be thieves attempting to steal a car, only to abandon their mission when they realize they can’t operate the clutch or get the vehicle to move an inch. Pop culture has latched onto these stories, spawning an inordinate amount of jokes and memes about the manual transmission being an anti-theft device.
However, there are a few issues with that theory. When looking into the actual percentage of drivers in the US who know how to operate a manual transmission, the numbers vary wildly: some sources report only 18-20% of American drivers can handle a manual gearbox, while Kelley Blue Book reports that according to a 2020 study by Cadillac, the true figure may be as high as 66%. There also hasn’t been much research done into the impact of manual transmissions on car theft rates, meaning at least for now, anecdotal evidence is all that’s available to us. Still, if you’re an enthusiast dead set on buying a manual car, a bit of wishful thinking about its safety-enhancing properties probably doesn’t hurt.
What’s Next For The Manual Transmission?
Honda
Whether or not they do help you stay safe, manual transmissions are loved and appreciated by millions of car enthusiasts. However, their popularity with carmakers is going down fast, with several models that previously offered a manual gearbox dropping it for 2025. The demise of manual cars on the US market is somewhat of a self-fulfilling prophecy: low demand leads to fewer models available, which in turn lowers interest among drivers. If you are keen on bagging a manual car before they disappear completely, check out this list of models still on the market with a stick shift for the 2024 model year.
Sources:
Kelley Blue Book
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Pubmed