Should I Press the Brake, Shift to N, or P at a Traffic Light?
2 Answers
When waiting at a traffic light, you should press the brake and shift to N gear. It is strictly prohibited to shift to P gear. The N gear disconnects the power link between the engine and the transmission, and the passive wheel of the torque converter in the transmission is also in an idle state. At this time, it will not increase the resistance of the active wheel connected to the engine, and fuel injection will also be reduced, making it relatively more fuel-efficient. To prevent the car from rolling, you must press the brake or pull the handbrake. For shorter traffic lights, you can simply press the brake while in D gear, which avoids gear shifting and reduces unnecessary wear. The N gear is commonly known as neutral in manual transmission models. In automatic transmission vehicles, it can be used for brief stops, such as waiting at a traffic light.
I've been driving for over a decade and know all about waiting at traffic lights. For short red lights under 20 seconds, it's most convenient to keep your foot on the brake in D gear - just release when the light turns green without even needing to shift. For medium red lights between 30 seconds to 1 minute, shifting to N gear and engaging the handbrake is more reliable, giving your right foot a break while reducing transmission load. For long red lights exceeding 1 minute, it's best to shift to N gear with handbrake to avoid engine strain from holding the car. Important reminder: never use P gear while waiting - a rear-end collision could destroy your transmission. Many modern cars have auto start-stop; the engine shuts off when braking in D gear, but for red lights over 90 seconds I recommend shifting to N gear to avoid uncomfortable frequent restart vibrations.
