Is it serious to forget to engage the handbrake when parking in P gear?
2 Answers
Forgetting to engage the handbrake when parking in P gear is not very serious. However, it is still necessary to engage the handbrake when parking in P gear, otherwise it may cause damage to the transmission. On flat roads, whether you engage the handbrake first or shift into P gear first doesn't make much difference. If parking on a slope, it's best to engage the handbrake first and then shift into P gear to reduce the burden on the car's transmission gears. Below is an introduction to P gear: 1. P gear position: P gear is the most common gear in automatic transmission models, usually located at the front of the gear shift console, in front of the R gear, designed to lock the axle when the car is stationary on a slope. 2. P gear function: The direct function of shifting into P gear is parking. When temporarily parked on a level road, shifting into P gear puts the car's transmission in neutral operation, completely interrupting the power transmission between the engine and the output shaft, allowing the driver to leave the engine running during short waits without turning it off. Additionally, P gear comes with a wheel-locking device, so even for long-term parking, the driver does not need to engage the handbrake.
As an experienced daily driver, I think forgetting to engage the handbrake when parking in P mode is no trivial matter. Although the P mode locks the transmission to secure the vehicle, it's not foolproof; on slopes or inclined surfaces, gravity can cause the car to roll, potentially leading to accidents where the vehicle might collide with people or objects. I once witnessed a neighbor in my community park on a slope without using the handbrake—the car rolled down and hit a railing, resulting in thousands in repair costs. The risk is lower on flat ground, but strong winds or external impacts could still trigger movement, causing component wear or safety hazards. For safety, I always follow a good habit: park, shift to P mode, and engage the handbrake—three simple steps. This routine is easy to adopt, taking just an extra two seconds to prevent major trouble. In the long run, protecting the transmission and saving on repair costs benefits both the car and the driver.
