Is it okay to shift to neutral at a red light with an automatic transmission?
2 Answers
For automatic transmission vehicles waiting at a red light, the appropriate gear to shift into depends on the duration of the red light. The recommended shifting practices are as follows: 1. If the red light is less than 30 seconds, it is recommended that the driver simply keep their foot on the brake. 2. If the red light lasts between 30 seconds and 1 minute, the driver should shift to N (Neutral) gear + handbrake. 3. For red lights longer than one minute, it is recommended to directly shift to P (Park) gear + handbrake. Below are the meanings represented by the letters on an automatic transmission: 1. P stands for Park. 2. R stands for Reverse. 3. N stands for Neutral. 4. D stands for Drive. 5. S stands for Sport. 6. L stands for Low. 7. M stands for Manual.
When waiting at a red light in an automatic transmission car, I sometimes shift to neutral, especially if the light is particularly long. Releasing the brake to give my leg a rest feels quite relaxing. However, it's important to be aware that doing so may increase risks, such as if there's a slight slope on the road—forgetting to engage the handbrake could cause the car to roll backward. Or, when the light turns green, fumbling to shift back could delay starting, making you more prone to being rear-ended. Personally, I find it best to stay in Drive (D) with the brake engaged while driving, as it feels more stable and allows for quicker reactions. Nowadays, many new cars come with auto start-stop features that automatically shut off the engine at red lights to save fuel. Shifting to neutral, on the other hand, keeps the engine running, wasting some fuel. From a maintenance perspective, occasional neutral shifts won’t harm the transmission, but habitually moving the gear lever frequently may accelerate component wear. My advice: for short red lights, avoid unnecessary gear changes; for long ones, make sure the handbrake is firmly engaged before shifting to neutral. For more hassle-free driving tips, check out the website for shared insights.
