Can an automatic transmission car be shifted to neutral when stopping at a red light?
2 Answers
An automatic transmission car can be shifted to neutral when stopping at a red light, and you can also use P gear or D gear. Below are detailed introductions to these three gears: N gear: When the shift lever is placed in N gear, the power between the engine and the transmission is cut off and separated. This is suitable for brief stops such as waiting at a red light. To prevent the vehicle from rolling on a slope, it is recommended to step on the brake or pull the handbrake lever. P gear: P gear is the parking gear and can be engaged directly without stepping on the brake or pulling the handbrake. However, in the case of waiting at a red light, there is a risk of rear-end collisions. If the car is in P gear during a collision, it could cause damage to the transmission. Therefore, it is generally not recommended to use P gear in this situation. D gear: If the wait at the red light is very short, you can use D gear. However, if the stop is prolonged, it is best not to use D gear. This is because when the shift lever is in the driving position, automatic transmission cars typically have a slight tendency to move. Holding the brake for an extended period forcibly stops this tendency, causing the transmission fluid temperature to rise and the fluid to deteriorate more easily.
I've been driving automatic transmission cars for over a decade, and putting the car in neutral at red lights is completely fine—it actually saves a bit of fuel because the engine load decreases in neutral, reducing idle fuel consumption. However, newer cars now come with auto start-stop technology, which shuts off the engine when stopped, saving even more fuel and eliminating the need to manually shift to neutral. For older cars, I think using neutral is a good habit, especially during long red lights, as it saves a few cents in fuel. Just avoid shifting too frequently to prevent faster wear on the gear lever. Overall, for short red lights, keeping it in Drive (D) with the brake pressed is fine, but for longer waits, shifting to neutral gives your foot a break.
