# POLL: What percentage of the adults that you know can drive a stick shift? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [September 18, 2003, 2:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/poll-what-percentage-of-the-adults-that-you-know-can-drive-a-stick-shift/202288 "2003-09-18T02:53:19Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![sandythecur](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/6de8d8/32.png) [@sandythecur](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sandythecur)\ **Post date:** [September 18, 2003, 2:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/poll-what-percentage-of-the-adults-that-you-know-can-drive-a-stick-shift/202288/1 "2003-09-18T02:53:19Z")
Desperately important information, I know. šŸ™‚ My husband and I have a long-running discussion about this. He believes that 80-90% of adults in the U.S. (I believe other countries are quite different) know how to drive a stick shift. He is a farmer and talks to a lot of other farmers. Farmers and their families know how to drive stick shift vehicles out of necessity, what with tractors and similar vehicles littering the place. I believe that only 40-50% of adults in the U.S know how to drive a stick shift. Before marrying and moving to the farm, I worked in a large city, and a significant number of the adults I knew couldnā€™t drive my stick shift Civic in a pinch. I think Iā€™ve seen a more representative sample of the population. So ā€¦ put us out of our misery. Of the adults that you know, what percentage know how to drive a stick shift? Do _you_, indeed, know how to drive a stick shift? ---
**Author:** ![sandythecur](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/6de8d8/32.png) [@sandythecur](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sandythecur)\ **Post date:** [September 18, 2003, 2:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/poll-what-percentage-of-the-adults-that-you-know-can-drive-a-stick-shift/202288/2 "2003-09-18T02:53:21Z")
Desperately important information, I know. šŸ™‚ My husband and I have a long-running discussion about this. He believes that 80-90% of adults in the U.S. (I believe other countries are quite different) know how to drive a stick shift. He is a farmer and talks to a lot of other farmers. Farmers and their families know how to drive stick shift vehicles out of necessity, what with tractors and similar vehicles littering the place. I believe that only 40-50% of adults in the U.S know how to drive a stick shift. Before marrying and moving to the farm, I worked in a large city, and a significant number of the adults I knew couldnā€™t drive my stick shift Civic in a pinch. I think Iā€™ve seen a more representative sample of the population. So ā€¦ put us out of our misery. Of the adults that you know, what percentage know how to drive a stick shift? Do _you_, indeed, know how to drive a stick shift? ---
**Author:** ![sandythecur](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/6de8d8/32.png) [@sandythecur](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sandythecur)\ **Post date:** [September 18, 2003, 2:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/poll-what-percentage-of-the-adults-that-you-know-can-drive-a-stick-shift/202288/3 "2003-09-18T02:56:04Z")
Erm ā€¦ I apologize most abjectly for the multiple threads. I donā€™t _think_ I clicked Submit more than once, but obviously I hashed it up somehow. Sorry. ---
**Author:** ![Lobsang](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lobsang/32/4067_2.png) [@Lobsang](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lobsang)\ **Post date:** [September 18, 2003, 3:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/poll-what-percentage-of-the-adults-that-you-know-can-drive-a-stick-shift/202288/4 "2003-09-18T03:01:41Z")
Being a brit - I guess of all the people I know that can drive, %100 of them can drive ā€˜stick-shiftā€™ (or ā€˜manualā€™ as we call it) I am one of them. This is just a complete educated guess, that about 98% of UK drivers can drive manual transmission. Correct me if I am wrong. ---
**Author:** ![Bricker](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/977dab/32.png) [@Bricker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bricker)\ **Post date:** [September 18, 2003, 3:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/poll-what-percentage-of-the-adults-that-you-know-can-drive-a-stick-shift/202288/5 "2003-09-18T03:02:45Z")
I can. My wife cannot. My two brothers-in-law, my sister-in-law, and my brother all can. Before my mom lost her sight, she could. Thatā€™s all I know offhand. Soā€¦ 5 out of 6 can. ---
**Author:** ![SweetLucy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/bcef8e/32.png) [@SweetLucy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SweetLucy)\ **Post date:** [September 18, 2003, 3:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/poll-what-percentage-of-the-adults-that-you-know-can-drive-a-stick-shift/202288/6 "2003-09-18T03:07:11Z")
I absolutely do not know how to use a stick shift- I really need to learn how, in case I ever needed to drive one in an emergency. ---
**Author:** ![TVeblen](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/4bbf92/32.png) [@TVeblen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TVeblen)\ **Post date:** [September 18, 2003, 3:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/poll-what-percentage-of-the-adults-that-you-know-can-drive-a-stick-shift/202288/7 "2003-09-18T03:11:37Z")
**Mod note:** Tried to merge threads; if anyoneā€™s response got lost, the hamsters ate it. Thatā€™s my story and Iā€™m sticking to it. Veb (Shee-YIT, nibbled to death by _hamsters_? No problem. Just move along nowā€¦::death rattle:šŸ™‚ ---
**Author:** ![Hanna](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/b3f665/32.png) [@Hanna](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hanna)\ **Post date:** [September 18, 2003, 3:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/poll-what-percentage-of-the-adults-that-you-know-can-drive-a-stick-shift/202288/8 "2003-09-18T03:16:44Z")
I can drive a stick, so can my boyfriend. Out of other people I know, I guess I donā€™t really pay attention. I think that a lot of people _can_ drive a stick, but donā€™t, for whatever reason. ---
**Author:** ![fizgig](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/f04885/32.png) [@fizgig](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/fizgig)\ **Post date:** [September 18, 2003, 3:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/poll-what-percentage-of-the-adults-that-you-know-can-drive-a-stick-shift/202288/9 "2003-09-18T03:17:17Z")
Iā€™m guessing 75%. I think most guys can, and maybe 60?% of women. I probably donā€™t have a representative sample, as I work in a field where we have to drive manual 4x4 vehicles, and Iā€™m also around horse people a lot. ---
**Author:** ![Shirley\_Ujest](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/45deac/32.png) [@Shirley\_Ujest](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shirley_Ujest)\ **Post date:** [September 18, 2003, 3:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/poll-what-percentage-of-the-adults-that-you-know-can-drive-a-stick-shift/202288/10 "2003-09-18T03:19:01Z")
Most guys I know can. the majority of city females I know, cannot. The majority of country-raised or country-living girls I know, can. Itā€™s all in survival. I learned to drive a stick on a tractor. ---
**Author:** ![Danalan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/76d3ee/32.png) [@Danalan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Danalan)\ **Post date:** [September 18, 2003, 3:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/poll-what-percentage-of-the-adults-that-you-know-can-drive-a-stick-shift/202288/11 "2003-09-18T03:42:44Z")
Until fairly recently Mrs. danalan was unable to drive an _automatic_! Sheā€™d hit the brake (thinking it was the clutch) and reach for the shifter when she heard the engine rev up. Other than that, Iā€™d say 80% of my friends can drive a stick, but probably less than 50% of the general public. ---
**Author:** ![whistlepig](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/73ab20/32.png) [@whistlepig](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/whistlepig)\ **Post date:** [September 18, 2003, 4:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/poll-what-percentage-of-the-adults-that-you-know-can-drive-a-stick-shift/202288/12 "2003-09-18T04:23:34Z")
100% I donā€™t know anyone who canā€™t drive stick - itā€™s Montana. I can also remember being amazed at once having met someone who had never shot a gun. ---
**Author:** ![Ringo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/779978/32.png) [@Ringo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ringo)\ **Post date:** [September 18, 2003, 4:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/poll-what-percentage-of-the-adults-that-you-know-can-drive-a-stick-shift/202288/13 "2003-09-18T04:34:58Z")
I live in a big city, and I canā€™t think of anyone I know, amongst my elders, my friends, their kids and my nieces and nephews, who canā€™t drive a stick. ---
**Author:** ![Ringo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/779978/32.png) [@Ringo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ringo)\ **Post date:** [September 18, 2003, 4:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/poll-what-percentage-of-the-adults-that-you-know-can-drive-a-stick-shift/202288/14 "2003-09-18T04:36:28Z")
I havenā€™t fired very many guns, though. Maybe five. ---
**Author:** ![Erika](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/47e85d/32.png) [@Erika](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Erika)\ **Post date:** [September 18, 2003, 4:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/poll-what-percentage-of-the-adults-that-you-know-can-drive-a-stick-shift/202288/15 "2003-09-18T04:44:13Z")
I cannot drive stick. Iā€™m not at all sure percentage-wiseā€¦ but Iā€™m certainly not an oddity [for that reason, anyway]. I know several people who can, too. ---
**Author:** ![justwannano](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/7ab992/32.png) [@justwannano](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/justwannano)\ **Post date:** [September 18, 2003, 4:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/poll-what-percentage-of-the-adults-that-you-know-can-drive-a-stick-shift/202288/16 "2003-09-18T04:47:59Z")
Except for my mother I donā€™t know of any including my 16 year old daughter who received no instructions who canā€™t drive a stick shift. She just went out one day and got into my pu truck and said I gotta learn to do this. ---
**Author:** ![TVeblen](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/4bbf92/32.png) [@TVeblen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TVeblen)\ **Post date:** [September 18, 2003, 4:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/poll-what-percentage-of-the-adults-that-you-know-can-drive-a-stick-shift/202288/17 "2003-09-18T04:48:32Z")
I can drive a stick. Learned on one, as a matter of fact. Itā€™s been a while since actually using one, but the skill get hard-wired, kinda like riding a bicycle or swimming. (Of course those assume a certain tolerance for landing face-down in the dirt or nearly drowning.) Driving a stick is a much more _involved_ process. Ya gotta know the sound, feel and ā€œwherezā€™atā€ of the car: The feel of the clutch, the grade of the road, the sound and FEEL of the engine, whatā€™s up ahead and how you and the car are gonna get there. Iā€™m middle-agedā€“and femaleā€“and quite a few of my contemporaries can handle manual drives. Iā€™m afraid itā€™s a dying art, and thatā€™s too bad. ---
**Author:** ![ataraxy22](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ataraxy22/32/307_2.png) [@ataraxy22](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ataraxy22)\ **Post date:** [September 18, 2003, 5:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/poll-what-percentage-of-the-adults-that-you-know-can-drive-a-stick-shift/202288/18 "2003-09-18T05:12:13Z")
hmmā€¦I lived in Montana 6 years and never drove a stick. Itā€™s absolutely not necessary. Iā€™d rather space out when I drive than concentrate on it. > [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by whistlepig \* > \*\*100% > > I donā€™t know anyone who canā€™t drive stick - itā€™s Montana. > > I can also remember being amazed at once having met someone who had never shot a gun. \*\* ---
**Author:** ![TVeblen](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/4bbf92/32.png) [@TVeblen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TVeblen)\ **Post date:** [September 18, 2003, 5:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/poll-what-percentage-of-the-adults-that-you-know-can-drive-a-stick-shift/202288/19 "2003-09-18T05:24:36Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by ataraxy22 \* > \*\* Itā€™s absolutely not necessary. Iā€™d rather space out when I drive than concentrate on it. \*\* True, not necessary, but nothing to be sniffed at either. Itā€™s a skill, and it has itā€™s uses. Iā€™m not ready to debate whether it gives overall, optimal better control over a car but itā€™s certainly a subtely different experience. And, as with any skill, after a while it takes no concentration at all. It becomes instinctive. Do you have to _think_ about reading? Thatā€™s much more complex but you probably do it without conscious thought. Same goes for anybody who learns things so well and thoroughly they just DO them without thinking about them. Necessary? Almost certainly not. ā€œBetterā€? Hmmmm. ---
**Author:** ![FallenAngel](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/5daacb/32.png) [@FallenAngel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FallenAngel)\ **Post date:** [September 18, 2003, 6:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/poll-what-percentage-of-the-adults-that-you-know-can-drive-a-stick-shift/202288/20 "2003-09-18T06:04:08Z")
Of the people I regularly associate with (about 10), there is only one I know for certain canā€™t drive a stick. So, around 10% I guess. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/poll-what-percentage-of-the-adults-that-you-know-can-drive-a-stick-shift/202288.md?page=2)