Should an automatic transmission car be turned off when waiting at a red light?
2 Answers
An automatic transmission car does not need to be turned off when waiting at a red light. The method of shifting gears while waiting depends on the duration of the red light: 1. For short waits, simply press the foot brake; 2. For longer waits, shift to N (Neutral) and engage the handbrake. An automatic transmission does not require the driver to manually shift gears; the vehicle automatically selects the appropriate gear based on driving speed and traffic conditions. The method to start an automatic transmission car is: 1. Sit in the driver's seat and press the start button to turn on ACC mode; 2. Press the start button again for the vehicle to perform a self-check; 3. Press the foot brake and press the start button to ignite and start the engine; 4. Press the foot brake, shift to D (Drive), and release the handbrake.
I think the main reason for turning off an automatic transmission car at a red light is to save fuel. If you're waiting at a traffic light for a relatively long time, say over 60 seconds, turning off the engine allows it to rest and can indeed save some money on gas. A friend of mine who drives during city rush hours tried manually turning off the engine and saw some fuel savings over a few months. However, frequent engine shutdowns and starts put a lot of stress on the starter and battery, especially in older cars which are more prone to damage. Unless your car has an auto start-stop feature, which is designed to handle this for you, manual operation carries the risk of delayed startup—you might not be ready to move when the light turns green, leading to honking from cars behind you. Personally, I make it a habit to turn off the engine only at major intersections with long waits; for short stops, I let it idle. While it's good from an environmental perspective, you have to balance it against the vehicle's durability.
