Should You Press the Brake When Shifting Gears in an Automatic Transmission Car?
2 Answers
When shifting gears in an automatic transmission car, you do not need to press the brake. Since the car is already in motion, the gear is in D (Drive) mode. At this point, shifting gears simply means switching to S (Sport) or M (Manual) mode. It is not allowed to shift to N (Neutral), P (Park), or R (Reverse) while the car is moving. Due to the presence of an automatic clutch or torque converter in the automatic transmission, the car will move forward or backward immediately after power is engaged. There is no manual clutch process, so there is no need to worry about stalling. Therefore, controlling the car's forward or backward movement can only be done via the brake. Since the brake and accelerator are on the same side, your foot is either on the brake or the accelerator. The main purpose of the system requiring you to press the brake to shift gears is to prevent your foot from being on the accelerator. Additionally, controlling the car's speed also relies on the brake.
When I first started driving an automatic car, this issue always bothered me because I was afraid of improper operation leading to accidents. In fact, shifting gears in an automatic transmission requires stepping on the brake; otherwise, the car might suddenly move, causing danger. For example, when shifting from P to D or R, the brake acts as a safety measure to prevent damage to the transmission during power switching. A friend of mine once accidentally shifted without stepping on the brake, and the car lurched forward suddenly, nearly hitting a wall—luckily, they reacted quickly and stopped in time. Developing this habit isn’t just for the car’s sake; it also makes driving smoother—for instance, when waiting at a traffic light, stepping on the brake before shifting avoids overloading the engine. In short, beginners should never cut corners—always firmly step on the brake every time they shift gears to protect themselves and others. This is how automatic transmissions are designed—it’s not a hassle but a precaution against accidents.
