Should You Press the Brake When Starting an Automatic Car?
3 Answers
Starting an automatic car requires pressing the brake. Here is the relevant information: 1. An automatic transmission eliminates the need for the driver to manually shift gears, as the vehicle automatically selects the appropriate gear based on driving speed and traffic conditions. Typically, an automatic transmission has six gear positions, arranged from top to bottom as: P, R, N, D, S, and L. 2. Driving an automatic car primarily involves using the Park (P), Reverse (R), Neutral (N), and Drive (D) gears, which are sufficient for normal driving conditions. However, in certain special driving environments, other functional gears may be required. Therefore, by choosing the correct control method, an automatic car can perform even better than a manual transmission vehicle.
I've been driving automatic transmission cars for almost ten years, and stepping on the brake before starting the engine is a fundamental safety rule. The design logic of most automatic transmission models nowadays is that you simply can't turn the key or press the start button without pressing the brake. Last time I tried my friend's old Toyota, the car beeped an alarm and wouldn't start if the brake was only half-pressed. The safety logic here is solid—it prevents you from starting the engine without the gear in P, which could cause the car to lurch forward dangerously. Especially when parked on a slope, if the brake isn't fully pressed before ignition and the electronic parking brake hasn't engaged, the car could roll away in an instant, leading to an accident. I recommend developing muscle memory: always press the brake firmly before hitting the start button, and take the opportunity to check the dashboard for any warning lights.
Driving instructors repeatedly emphasize this basic rule: Starting an automatic transmission car requires pressing the brake pedal. The principle is quite simple—the brake pedal is connected to both the brake light switch and the gearshift lock, a design specifically implemented to prevent accidental operation. Take the Hyundai Tucson I've driven as an example: the start button flashes red and refuses to function if the brake isn't pressed. The Honda CRV is even more straightforward, displaying a "Please Press Brake to Start" prompt on the dashboard. Never underestimate this step—I once witnessed a Tesla suddenly lurch forward in a mall's underground parking lot because the driver forgot to press the brake before pushing the start button. Developing this habit also reduces starter motor wear, especially during cold starts when engaging the brake provides added stability.
