Can You Shift to P Gear at a Red Light?
2 Answers
It is possible to shift to P gear at a red light, but it is not recommended for drivers to do so. If the car is shifted into P gear and is rear-ended by another vehicle, the transmission of the driver's car may be damaged. Therefore, it is advisable to stay in D gear with the handbrake engaged or shift directly into N gear when waiting at a red light. Automatic transmissions have both N gear and P gear, both of which can be used when parking. When shifted into N gear, there is no locking mechanism to secure the transmission gears, so the car can still move if the handbrake is not engaged. However, P gear is different—it has an internal locking mechanism that secures the transmission gears once engaged. In this case, the car cannot move even without the handbrake being applied.
Stopping at a red light in P gear is not recommended. From my years of driving experience, it increases the risk of rear-end collisions. If a car behind accidentally hits you, the transmission will be locked, damaging parts and resulting in costly repairs. Red lights only last for a few seconds, and shifting from P to D gear wastes time, potentially causing accidents when the light turns green due to slow reactions. A safer approach is to stay in D gear and lightly press the brake, or shift to N gear to relax the transmission and reduce wear. I've tried this method, and the car starts more smoothly while also saving a bit of fuel. Modern cars with auto-hold function work better in D gear. Developing this habit makes driving safer and more worry-free, avoiding repair hassles. In short, avoid P gear for brief stops at red lights—it's safer and more convenient.
