Is it necessary to shift to neutral when parking?
1 Answers
It is not mandatory to shift to neutral when parking. For automatic transmission vehicles, when parking for an extended period, you should shift to P (Park) and engage the handbrake. If waiting at a red light for more than 30 seconds, you may shift to neutral and engage the handbrake. For stops under 30 seconds, it is recommended to remain in D (Drive) and simply apply the foot brake. For manual transmission vehicles during prolonged parking, shift to neutral and engage the handbrake. When stopped at a red light for over 30 seconds, shift to neutral and engage the handbrake; for shorter stops, it's advisable to stay in 1st gear while depressing both the clutch and foot brake. Neutral gear refers to the state where the vehicle's gearshift lever is not engaged in any forward or reverse gear, completely disconnecting the transmission from the drive wheels. In manual transmissions, neutral is the middle position, while in automatic transmissions it is marked as 'N'.