Should You Press the Brake When Shifting Gears in an Automatic Transmission Car?
2 Answers
When shifting gears in an automatic transmission car, you should press the brake. The gear positions in an automatic transmission car are: P (Park), R (Reverse), N (Neutral), and D (Drive). Regardless of which gear you are operating, you need to press the brake. If you don't press the brake, the gear lever cannot be moved because there is a safety lock mechanism in place. The gear positions in an automatic transmission are: 1. D (Drive) refers to the forward gear; 2. R (Reverse) refers to the reverse gear; 3. P (Park) refers to the parking gear; 4. L (Low) refers to the low-speed gear; 5. N (Neutral) refers to the neutral gear; 6. W (Winter) refers to the snow/rain gear; 7. S (Sport) refers to the sport mode driving gear.
As an experienced driver of automatic transmission vehicles, I've driven many models. The habit of pressing the brake while shifting gears has been my practice for over a decade, especially when changing from P to D or R. The vehicle manuals all state that pressing the brake prevents accidental movement. I remember once queuing on a downward slope in a mall parking garage - the car suddenly lurched forward when I shifted into drive without firmly pressing the brake, nearly causing a rear-end collision. Later, I specifically consulted a 4S店 technician who explained that automatic transmissions have electromagnetic locking mechanisms requiring brake pedal activation to release the gear. Now before starting, I always fasten my seatbelt, press the brake, then shift into gear - it's both safe and worry-free. This simple action may seem insignificant, but it truly helps avoid trouble when it matters most.
