How to Shift Gears in an Automatic Car While Driving?

[SanRiley]

Here are the methods for shifting gears in an automatic car while driving: 1. While driving, you can manually shift from a lower gear to a higher gear, but shifting from a higher gear to a lower gear must be done within a certain speed range. That is, the vehicle can be manually shifted to the current gear it is operating in. For example, you cannot shift into second gear at 90 km/h because the transmission is at least in third gear at that speed. You must wait until the speed drops to 50 km/h before manually shifting into second gear. Similarly, shifting into first gear should be done when the speed drops below 20 km/h. 2. Once the speed increases to a certain level, you can switch to D (Drive) mode for normal driving. If you are cruising at high speeds on the highway, you can use the O/D (Overdrive) mode to save fuel. Most automatic transmissions have 6 to 7 gear positions, arranged from front to back as follows: P (Park), R (Reverse), N (Neutral), and D (Drive). Some forward gears include D, 3, 2, and 1. Certain models may only have three forward gears (D, 2, and 1). If equipped with a four-speed transmission, there may also be an O/D switch to engage the overdrive gear.

[DeRebecca]

As a veteran driver with over a decade of experience driving automatic transmissions, there are actually nuances to shifting while driving. Using D gear for highway driving is certainly worry-free, but when encountering long downhill slopes or mountain roads, don't foolishly keep pressing the brakes. In these situations, shifting to L gear or 1/2 gear can help slow the car down using engine braking, protecting the brake pads. When overtaking, don't just stomp on the accelerator and let the engine roar—I'm used to quickly switching to S gear or manually downshifting with M gear; the increased RPM makes overtaking much smoother. For red lights, shifting to N gear and pulling the handbrake is the most comfortable approach, as staying in D gear and holding the brakes for long periods can damage the transmission. Oh, and before shifting gears, make sure to press the brake pedal firmly—otherwise, the locking mechanism will make a clattering noise, and that's no joke.

[LaNaomi]

Think automatic transmissions are as simple as point-and-shoot cameras? You just don't know how to use manual mode. When I'm driving on mountain roads, I switch to M mode - thumb the paddle shifters or use the +/- gear selector to control gears manually. Downshift before exiting corners to maintain torque, and lock in lower gears on climbs to avoid constant gear hunting. The key is to shift only when the speed matches - don't forcibly engage 2nd gear at 60 mph, or you'll make the transmission cry. On steep slopes, stay in 1st gear for steady climbing, and use 2nd gear starts in snow to prevent wheelspin. Many modern cars now allow temporary manual control via paddles even in D mode, conveniently returning to automatic after overtaking.

[McElliot]

When shifting gears while driving, it's crucial to prioritize safe operation. Last month, I witnessed someone playing with the gear lever while driving, which resulted in scraping against the guardrail. The correct approach is to firmly press the brake pedal before shifting gears, and when moving the lever past the R (Reverse) position, do it decisively without hesitation. With newer electronic gear selectors, extra caution is needed: Porsche's button-style selector requires holding for half a second to respond, while Mercedes' column-mounted gear selector only needs a gentle flick. The key point is that shifting from D (Drive) to manual/S (Sport) mode doesn't require coming to a complete stop, but engaging P (Park) or R (Reverse) mandates the vehicle be fully stationary. In emergencies, repeatedly pulling the electronic parking brake can also provide braking, which is far safer than randomly shifting gears.