How to Drive an Automatic Transmission Car at a Red Light?
2 Answers
When waiting at a red light with an automatic transmission car, the driving method is as follows: If the waiting time is within 30 seconds, press the brake and keep the gear in D (Drive). Once the light turns green, release the foot brake and press the accelerator to move forward. If the waiting time exceeds 30 seconds, shift to N (Neutral) and engage the handbrake. After the light turns green, shift back to D, release the handbrake, and press the accelerator to proceed. For waiting times longer than 2 minutes, you can turn off the engine. Automatic transmission generally refers to the car's automatic gear-shifting mechanism, where the transmission control system automatically selects the appropriate gear based on the engine's speed and load, replacing the driver's manual judgment and gear-shifting operations. Typically, an automatic transmission car has six gear positions, from top to bottom: P (Park), R (Reverse), N (Neutral), D (Drive), S (Sport), and L (Low). The commonly used automatic gear positions are P (Park), R (Reverse), N (Neutral), and D (Drive).
When waiting at a red light in an automatic transmission car, I believe the simplest and most reliable method is to keep your foot on the brake pedal while leaving the gear in D (Drive). This ensures the car remains firmly stationary without any risk of rolling, and you can start moving immediately by releasing the brake when the light turns green. This is my usual driving habit, especially in city traffic with frequent traffic lights—it's both hassle-free and safe. Even if the wait is longer, it's fine; if your foot gets tired, you can occasionally shift to neutral (N) for a short break, but avoid shifting to P (Park) to prevent potential transmission damage in case of a rear-end collision. Additionally, if the intersection is on a slope, manually engaging the electronic parking brake for extra stability is a safer option. It's important to avoid distractions like looking at your phone and stay focused on traffic signal changes. Overall, this approach makes my driving smooth and worry-free, saving me from unnecessary troubles.
