CONCORD, N.H. (AP) – Teenagers would learn about cars with manual transmissions but wouldn’t be required to master the clutch under a bill proposed by a Hampstead lawmaker.

Republican Rep. Roger Wells wants students enrolled in drivers’ education courses to spend 10 or 15 minutes in the classroom learning about how to put a car into gear. “We’re not talking about driving the vehicle,” Wells said. “We’re just talking about being able to move it in an emergency situation.”

Wells said he got the idea from talking to his own kids, both of whom took driver’s education courses that didn’t include anything on manual transmissions.

Caitlin Hyland, 16, of Concord, said that when she was learning to drive stick-shift, she stalled out crossing a one-lane bridge. There were honking cars behind her and cars waiting on the other side.

“I started to cry,” Hyland said. “I got out of the car and said ‘I’m not going to do this.'” Her sister had to drive home.

Ashley Cail, 16, of Deerfield, said that her father recently tried to explain the basics to her and she got “really confused.”

“It’s too much thinking for me – just put it in ‘drive,’ ” Cail said.

Gaye Holt, who teaches driver’s education in Bow, said the state-approved textbook she uses already includes information about manual transmissions.

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