Should You Engage the Handbrake or Shift to P Gear First When Parking an Automatic Transmission Car?
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When parking an automatic transmission car, you should engage the handbrake first and then shift to P gear. It is safer to shift to P gear after the vehicle has achieved the braking effect of the braking system, thereby locking the transmission shaft. Below are the methods for parking an automatic transmission car and an introduction to the car gears: Methods for parking an automatic transmission car: First, press the foot brake to stop the car, then shift the gear from D to N and engage the handbrake. Release the foot brake but do not turn off the power. Then, press the foot brake again and shift the gear from N to P. Release the foot brake and turn off the power. Introduction to car gears: Car gears include L gear, B gear, P gear, R gear, N gear, D gear, and S gear. L gear is the low gear, used when climbing hills, maintaining high RPM and low gear status. B gear is the brake gear. When driving on long downhill sections, you can shift to B gear, which engages engine braking to avoid overheating the brake pads due to prolonged use of the service brake, preventing accidents. P gear is the parking gear. When parking, shift to P gear to stop the vehicle's braking and prevent rolling. R gear is the reverse gear, used when reversing the vehicle. However, R gear should only be engaged when the vehicle is completely stopped, as engaging it while moving can cause severe damage to the transmission. N gear is the neutral gear, used for brief stops, such as waiting at traffic lights. D gear is the drive gear, used when moving forward. S gear is the sport mode, where the transmission freely shifts based on the current speed and the driver's throttle input, though with a slight delay during shifts.