Should You Engage the Gear or Pull the Handbrake First When Parking a Manual Transmission Car?
2 Answers
For manual transmission vehicles, you should first pull the handbrake and then shift to neutral. 1st Gear: Used for normal starts or when climbing very steep slopes. The speed is generally around 10 km/h. 2nd Gear: Used as a transitional gear for acceleration after starting or for low-speed driving, with speeds generally around 20 km/h. 3rd Gear: Used at speeds between 20-40 km/h, commonly used for city driving. 4th Gear: Used at speeds between 40-60 km/h. 5th Gear: Used at speeds above 60 km/h. N (Neutral) Gear: Used when the car is idling or parked.
I've driven a manual transmission off-road vehicle on mountain roads for ten years, and I always insist on pulling the handbrake first before shifting gears, especially on slopes. This is because the handbrake directly locks the wheels, preventing the vehicle from rolling. If you shift gears first, such as into reverse, the parking inertia can subject the transmission to enormous torque, potentially causing gear damage or a rollaway accident. Once, I forgot to pull the handbrake first on a steep slope and shifted gears—the car rolled half a meter and nearly hit a tree. So, make it a habit: after stopping with the foot brake, immediately pull the handbrake, confirm the car is stationary, then shift into first or reverse as a backup, and finally turn off the engine. This sequence is not only safer but also protects the transmission and extends the vehicle's lifespan, especially crucial in rainy or snowy conditions. Don’t find it troublesome—do this every time to make driving more reliable.
