Should You Press the Brake or Shift to Neutral When Stopping at a Red Light with an Automatic Transmission?
2 Answers
When encountering a red light with an automatic transmission, the parking methods are: 1. For short red lights, you can directly press the brake pedal; 2. For long red lights, shift to N (Neutral) and engage the handbrake. Driving precautions for automatic transmissions include: 1. Accelerate gently when starting, and shift into P (Park) or N (Neutral) when starting the car—do not coast in neutral; 2. Shift back to N (Neutral) when stopping at a red light or briefly parking, and shift into P (Park) when parking; 3. Do not shift into P (Park) while driving; 4. When reversing, ensure the vehicle is completely stopped before shifting into R (Reverse). The steps for starting an automatic transmission car are: 1. Insert the key and turn it to the second ignition position (power-on mode), then wait for the system to complete self-inspection; 2. Shift the gear lever from P (Park) to N (Neutral); 3. Release the brake and start the engine; 4. Press the brake pedal, shift the gear lever from N (Neutral) to D (Drive), release the brake, and press the accelerator to start moving.
I usually drive an automatic transmission car, and when encountering a red light, I always keep my foot on the brake. This way, as soon as the light turns green, I can release it and go immediately—simple and convenient. Many people hesitate whether to shift into neutral, thinking it might give their foot a rest or save some fuel. However, modern cars are designed intelligently; the transmission automatically handles everything when you press the brake, so there's no need to go through the extra step of shifting. Moreover, shifting into neutral means you have to switch back to D (Drive) to start again, which can lead to panic or slower reactions—especially annoying with frequent city traffic lights. I remember once trying neutral on a slope and forgetting to engage the handbrake; the car almost rolled back—scared me to death! Since then, I just keep my foot on the brake—safety first and hassle-free. A friend also mentioned that engineers have designed it well; normal idling is perfectly fine.
