Do you need to press the brake when shifting to P gear in an automatic transmission car?
3 Answers
Shifting to P gear in an automatic transmission car does not require pressing the brake. Introduction to P Gear: The "P" in P gear comes from the first letter of the English word "park," so in the gear positions of an automatic transmission car, P gear is the symbol for the parking gear. P gear evolved from the N gear. In addition to placing the transmission in neutral mode, it also has a pawl inside the transmission that locks the gear on the output shaft to form a mechanical lock, thereby securing the drive axle to fix the vehicle in a stationary or slightly moving state. Although P gear appears very frequently in automatic transmission models, it is not one of the three standard gears of automatic transmission cars. Some models use the N gear with an auxiliary braking device for parking, but its basic working principle is almost the same as that of P gear. The difference between P gear and N gear is that P gear has a parking lock mechanism while N gear does not, but both have the nature of neutral. Purpose of P Gear: P gear is a special neutral gear that achieves the purpose of fixing the vehicle by mechanically locking part of the transmission output shaft. Its function is to act as a brake after parking, preventing the vehicle from moving. For safety reasons, car manufacturers place P gear in the first position of the gear shift console and set an internal mechanism to force the car key to be removed only when the gear shift lever is moved to P gear. Therefore, P gear is the gear specifically used for long-term parking in automatic transmission cars.
After driving automatic transmission cars for so many years, I always insist on stepping on the brake before shifting to P gear. This isn't unnecessary but an essential safety measure. Shifting gears while the car is moving or hasn't completely stopped can impact the transmission's locking mechanism, potentially damaging internal gears over time, leading to costly repairs. Especially on slopes, if you don't step on the brake and the car rolls, the consequences could be dire. I remember last year in the garage when I almost had an accident—I shifted directly from D to P without braking, and the car made a terrible screeching sound, which really scared me. Forming this habit is simple: wait until the car comes to a complete stop, press the brake firmly, then shift to P gear, and engage the handbrake. This practice can save new drivers a lot of money and time.
When I first got my driver's license, my instructor repeatedly reminded me to press the brake before shifting to P, saying it's a fundamental operation to avoid accidents. Automatic transmission vehicles lock the wheels in P position, but if you shift gears without pressing the brake while the car is still moving, it may cause wear on the locking mechanism and shorten the transmission's lifespan. After I started driving myself, I always firmly press the brake, wait until the car comes to a complete stop before shifting to P. This habit has protected my car for years without major issues. Especially in urban traffic with frequent traffic lights, developing this sequence can reduce unnecessary jolts and maintenance costs.
