Do You Need to Press the Brake When Shifting Gears in an Automatic Car While Driving?
4 Answers
Automatic cars do not require pressing the brake when shifting gears while driving. More information about automatic cars is as follows: 1. The engine's power is transmitted through the transmission, which is also a key factor affecting fuel consumption. Automatic transmissions consume 10% more fuel than manual transmissions. The more gears there are, the more fuel-efficient the car becomes. 2. Automatic transmissions use planetary gear mechanisms for shifting, automatically adjusting gears based on the degree of throttle pedal pressure and changes in vehicle speed. 3. The most common type is the hydraulic automatic transmission: primarily composed of a hydraulically controlled gear-shifting system, it mainly includes an automatic clutch and an automatic transmission. It can automatically shift gears according to the throttle opening and changes in vehicle speed. 4. The continuously variable transmission (CVT) consists of two sets of variable pulleys and a drive belt, belonging to a type of automatic transmission. However, it overcomes the shortcomings of conventional automatic transmissions, such as "sudden shifting," slow throttle response, and high fuel consumption. Compared to traditional automatic transmissions, it has a simpler structure and smaller size, allowing for free changes in the transmission ratio to achieve seamless shifting throughout, resulting in smoother vehicle speed changes.
As someone who drives frequently, I've encountered similar situations. Whether you need to press the brake when shifting gears in an automatic transmission vehicle depends on the specific gear. If you're simply switching from Drive (D) to other forward gears like Sport mode (S) or Manual mode (M), there's no need to press the brake at all—just move the gear lever directly, and the vehicle will transition smoothly. However, if you're shifting to Reverse (R) or Park (P), you must ensure the vehicle is completely stopped and the brake is fully depressed before operating; otherwise, the transmission gears will make clunking noises, and in severe cases, the entire transmission could be ruined. Last month when I was overtaking on the highway, I shifted directly from D to S for acceleration, and the whole process was seamless without touching the brake. Just remember that designs may vary slightly between different car models, so it's best to check the vehicle's manual to confirm the correct operation method first.
From my years of experience driving automatic transmission vehicles, the gear shifting rules while driving are quite simple: free switching between forward gears is allowed. For example, shifting from economy mode D to hill-climbing mode L or sport mode S only requires a light push of the gear lever without even touching the brake pedal. However, operations involving reverse or parking are much stricter – the vehicle must come to a complete stop with the brake firmly pressed before shifting to R or P gear, otherwise you'll be looking at transmission repairs. Last week when I switched to S gear to overtake a truck, the throttle response became much quicker, and the entire operation was completed in just one second. Driving an automatic transmission is all about making reasonable use of the gears, like switching to manual mode during long descents to save brake pads. These operations are all performed directly while driving without affecting driving safety at all.
Driving an automatic transmission is actually quite convenient. When shifting gears while driving, as long as you're switching between forward gears like D/S/L, there's no need to press the brake. For example, when shifting from normal mode to sport mode for overtaking, simply push the gear lever. However, remember never to shift into reverse while the car is moving; you must come to a complete stop and firmly press the brake before engaging the R gear. Once, I saw a friend accidentally shift into reverse while driving, and the transmission immediately malfunctioned. At regular red lights, you can simply shift to N gear without pressing the brake.
