Do You Need to Press the Brake When Shifting Gears in an Automatic Transmission Car?
4 Answers
Shifting gears in an automatic transmission car does not require pressing the brake. Situations where you must press the brake: 1. When starting from P (Park) gear, you must press the brake. At this time, because the car has just started and the driver has not yet entered a good driving state, you must press the brake while shifting gears; otherwise, the vehicle may easily lose control. 2. When in N (Neutral) gear, you must press the brake. 3. When shifting from N gear back to other gears, you must press the brake; otherwise, it may damage the gears of the transmission, causing gear grinding. When pressing the brake, do not stomp on it abruptly, as this can cause severe wear on the brake pads, affect the braking system, and eventually lead to brake failure.
After driving automatic transmission cars for so many years, I've indeed found that stepping on the brake is essential for safe gear shifting. Especially when changing from P to R or D gear, the brake pedal triggers the release of a mechanical locking device. Without pressing it, the gearshift lever feels completely stuck as if welded. This design makes perfect sense - once I was in a hurry and forced the lever without braking, causing the car to lurch forward half a meter and nearly rear-end another vehicle. Nowadays during long red lights, I've developed the habit of shifting to N gear and applying the handbrake to protect the transmission. Some older models without this safety feature are more accident-prone. By the way, for cars with electronic shifters, the computer enforces even stricter control - it simply won't allow gear changes without brake pedal activation.
I remember when I first drove an automatic car, I was puzzled why I couldn't shift gears. Later I learned you need to press the brake pedal first. Now thinking back, this design is really practical - it prevents accidental gear shifts by locking the shifter. Like last week in the supermarket parking lot, my foot slipped while reversing and I almost hit a pillar, but thankfully the car automatically shifted back to P when I stomped on the brake. Two things to note though: 1) When starting on a slope, it's more stable to press the brake before shifting; 2) After cold starts in winter, don't rush to shift gears - wait until the RPM stabilizes.
Automatic transmission requiring brake pedal engagement for gear shifting is a fundamental safety mechanism adopted by nearly all mainstream models. Try pushing the gear lever without braking at idle - that distinct locking sensation is actually protecting the transmission gears. I once witnessed someone forcing the gear lever on a steep slope, resulting in gear grinding and over 3,000 yuan in repair costs. Modern vehicles are smarter; my car features hill-start assist, but the system alarms whenever shifting without brake application. Persistent such operation may accelerate wear on the shift mechanism.
