Do I Need to Pull the Handbrake When in N Gear?
3 Answers
You need to pull the handbrake when in N gear, as its function is to provide resistance to the car when parking to prevent it from rolling. The steps for parking a car are: 1. After coming to a complete stop, shift the gear to N; 2. Pull the handbrake and then shift the gear to P before turning off the engine. The steps for starting the car are: 1. Sit in the driver's seat and press the start button, the ACC light will turn on; 2. Press the start button again for the vehicle to perform a self-check; 3. Press the brake pedal and press the start button to ignite and start the engine; 4. Press the foot brake, shift to D gear, and release the handbrake. The gears of an automatic transmission are: 1. P gear is the parking gear, also the starting gear; 2. R gear is the reverse gear; 3. N gear is the neutral gear; 4. D gear is the drive gear, also known as the forward gear; 5. L gear is the low gear; 6. S gear is the sport mode.
It's best to engage the handbrake when in Neutral (N) gear. After years of driving, I've developed this habit, especially when parking on slopes or making temporary stops. In neutral gear, the vehicle has no power transmission and is prone to rolling, which can lead to accidents. Once, I forgot to engage the handbrake in my neighborhood, and the car slowly rolled downhill, nearly hitting a wall. For safety, it's essential to develop the habit of using the handbrake at all times when parked, including when waiting at traffic lights in N gear. While electronic parking systems can assist, manually engaging the handbrake feels more secure. Remember to regularly check the handbrake's tension to prevent failure. These details ensure safe driving.
I think whether to engage the handbrake after shifting to N in an automatic transmission car depends on the situation. For short stops on flat roads, like waiting at a red light for half a minute, I often don't bother to save hassle; but if it's on a slope or for a longer stop, I always pull the handbrake to prevent the car from accidentally sliding. Learned my lesson once when the car slightly rolled back on a slope without the handbrake properly engaged—gave me a scare. Talking about driving habits with friends, some say it's about saving fuel? Not entirely, it's more about safety considerations. Developing good habits makes driving more relaxed.
