Do I need to keep my foot on the accelerator when driving an automatic car?
2 Answers
When driving an automatic car, you don't need to keep your foot on the accelerator all the time. You can use cruise control to maintain a constant speed. When overtaking, press the accelerator, and after completing the overtaking, release the accelerator to return to the original speed. Lightly pressing the brake can turn off the cruise control. Precautions for driving an automatic car: Be careful not to coast in neutral. Many drivers believe that coasting in neutral saves fuel, but for automatic cars, coasting in neutral does not achieve fuel savings. Prolonged coasting in neutral can lead to insufficient oil pressure in the hydraulic lines of the automatic transmission, which not only increases friction and reduces lubrication but also damages the friction plates inside the automatic transmission. Precautions for parking an automatic car: When parking, the method for automatic cars is completely different from manual cars. When parking an automatic car or idling for a long time, you should first press the brake, shift into N (Neutral), then engage the handbrake and release the brake pedal. Once the car is completely stopped, shift into P (Park).
After years of driving, I feel it's unsafe to keep my foot on the accelerator all the time. In normal driving, after accelerating, placing the foot in a resting position or near the brake is called 'pre-braking,' which allows timely braking in emergencies to prevent mistakenly hitting the accelerator. In city traffic with frequent stops and starts, it's safer to move the car slowly by placing the foot gently. Remember, in automatic transmission's D gear, the car naturally slows down when you release the accelerator, so there's no need to constantly press it. Especially on long trips, developing this habit can significantly reduce the risk of fatigue-related accidents. In short, being flexible with foot placement while driving is beneficial for safety.
