Should I Step on the Brake After Shifting to Neutral Gear?
2 Answers
You don't need to step on the brake after shifting to neutral gear. Here are the main reasons: 1. The N gear is the neutral gear, which means there is no power connection. When shifting to neutral, you must engage the handbrake firmly; otherwise, the vehicle may roll. 2. If you drive for a long time in N gear while the vehicle is moving forward, it can cause the transmission to overheat and burn out. This is because automatic transmissions do not have clutch plates. The engine's power is transmitted to the transmission's driving wheel, which then transfers it to the driven wheel through the torque converter. The power transmission between the driving and driven wheels relies on transmission fluid. Shifting to N gear increases the speed difference between the two wheels, causing the fluid temperature to rise excessively and potentially damaging the transmission.
When I first started learning to drive, I often forgot to step on the brake after shifting to N gear. Once, while stopped at a red light, the car actually rolled forward slightly, almost hitting the rear of the car in front of me, which gave me quite a scare. Now I always remember this rule: whenever parking in N gear, you must keep your foot on the brake pedal because, in neutral, the connection between the wheels and the engine is disconnected, and the car loses resistance. Even a slight slope or a gust of wind can cause it to move. Especially when driving in the city, whether waiting at traffic lights or queuing in a parking lot, gently pressing the brake can keep the car steady, protecting yourself and preventing accidental rear-end collisions. After developing this habit, I feel much safer driving and have saved myself a lot of worry about the car sliding. For new drivers, I recommend forming this habit from the start—it's simple, practical, and helps avoid turning small mistakes into major accidents.
