What kinda backwardness?

Whole world including America, Asia and Africa shifted into automatic transmission long time ago yet it seems Europe still stuck in 20th century.

At least we don't allow people to use guns for mass shootings in here.

In Italy we say, if you don't learn how to drive manual transmission cars, then you don't learn how to drive at all. Also if you rent a car on, let's say, a Greek island you go on vacation to, it's likely to have manual transmission, and they won't give it to you if you don't have a license for that
It might be hard for the Americans just like our education system, but trust me, once you've learned, you'll get used to it and won't even notice.

Do Americans still drive cars?

Well Europe still has some of the most safest roads compared with the other places you mentioned so I don't see what the problem is.

Wait. Here in South Africa manual still rules as well. And I prefer it because the control I have on my car is unparalleled.

It's not backward. It's called being able to actually drive and not just steer.

Actually America has much better and wider roads than most European countries (speaking for my country, Italy, our roads are extremely narrow). Yet, the death by car accident ratio here is much lower than in the US!

it's not that hard man