Should You Engage the Gear or Release the Handbrake First When Starting?

[OBryce]

For manual transmission vehicles, the correct operation is to engage the gear first and then release the handbrake. This method helps prevent the vehicle from rolling. For automatic transmission vehicles, it doesn't matter whether you engage the gear before releasing the handbrake or release the handbrake before engaging the gear, as automatic vehicles require the brake pedal to be pressed to start and shift gears. The correct operation for driving an automatic vehicle is to press the brake pedal, then start the engine and engage the gear. Once the gear is engaged, the transmission's power transfer path is connected. Initially, the transmission is in first gear, where the torque is the highest. If the brake is not properly pressed, the vehicle may suddenly lurch forward, potentially causing an accident.