Should You Engage the Handbrake or Shift to P Gear First When Parking?
2 Answers
When parking, you can either shift to P gear first or engage the handbrake first. Below are the parking methods for automatic transmission vehicles: 1. Short-term parking: You can simply press the foot brake. 2. Long-term parking: Shift to N gear and engage the handbrake. The method of shifting to N gear and engaging the handbrake is suitable for situations where the traffic light has just turned red or the remaining time of the red light is long. Shifting to N gear cuts off the engine power, while engaging the handbrake prevents the vehicle from moving. Below are some extended notes on driving precautions for automatic transmission vehicles: 1. Starting: Accelerate gently, shift to P gear or N gear when starting, and avoid coasting in neutral. 2. Waiting at traffic lights: Shift back to N gear for brief stops, and shift to P gear when parking. 3. While driving: Do not shift into P gear. 4. When reversing: Ensure the vehicle is completely stopped before shifting to R gear to reverse.
After driving for so many years, I believe that pulling the handbrake first before shifting to P gear is the safest practice, especially on slopes. This helps avoid the risk of vehicle sliding and prevents extra stress on the transmission. If you shift to P gear first, the entire weight of the car on the slope presses onto the small lock of the P gear, which can damage the internal gears over time, and repairs can be very costly. I always pay extra attention to this when parking in mountainous areas or underground garages. Making it a habit has helped prolong my car's lifespan. In terms of safety, this sequence ensures the vehicle is completely secured. In case of a dead battery, manually pulling the handbrake can still serve as an emergency measure. Overall, the steps taught by my driving instructor are very practical, and I’ve never had any accidents following them. It’s definitely worth sharing with others.
