Do You Need to Press the Brake When Shifting Gears in an Automatic Car?
2 Answers
When shifting gears in an automatic car, you need to press the brake. Pressing the brake during gear shifting is to prevent the vehicle from moving forward or backward while shifting, ensuring it remains stationary. Therefore, apply normal pressure to the brake pedal to stabilize the car. Remember not to press the brake too lightly. Otherwise, the brake pedal sensor may not detect that the driver has pressed the brake, and it will not release the gear. Additionally, the vehicle may not achieve effective braking. While driving, you can select the transmission mode based on your driving preferences, such as shifting from D (Drive) to M (Manual mode) or S (Sport mode). The transmission also allows the driver to shift into neutral (N) in special situations to cut off engine power. If you attempt to shift into P (Park) or R (Reverse) while driving, the transmission will not execute the command. Modern transmissions are computer-controlled to prevent accidental gear shifts while driving. If you mistakenly shift into P or R, the transmission's computer will recognize it as an invalid operation and refuse to execute the shift command, so there's no need to worry about shifting into the wrong gear while driving.
From the perspective of an experienced driver, when shifting gears in an automatic transmission car, it is usually necessary to press the brake, especially when shifting from P (Park) to D (Drive) or R (Reverse). This is mainly because the car is designed with a safety lock mechanism—without pressing the brake, the gear lever might not move at all, preventing the vehicle from accidentally rolling. For example, when starting on a slope, shifting gears without pressing the brake could cause the car to lurch forward, which is extremely dangerous. Even when shifting to N (Neutral), I usually make it a habit to press the brake first to ensure safety. Remember, this is a feature designed by manufacturers to prevent accidents, and developing this habit can avoid a lot of trouble. Additionally, when starting the engine or parking, pressing the brake is mandatory—otherwise, the key won’t even turn. Safety comes first when driving, so don’t skip this step.
