Should You Release the Handbrake First or Shift Gears First?
2 Answers
Shifting gears before releasing the handbrake is primarily for safety considerations. After engaging a gear, the power transmission path in the transmission is connected. When you first shift into gear, the transmission is in first gear, where the torque is at its maximum. If the brake is not properly applied, the vehicle might suddenly lurch forward. The car gears include: 1. P (Park): After stopping the car, engaging P gear will brake the vehicle to prevent movement; 2. R (Reverse): This gear can only be engaged when the vehicle is stationary. For models with a lock button, the button must be pressed to switch; 3. N (Neutral): This gear is used for temporary stops, such as at traffic lights, and the handbrake should be engaged simultaneously.
When starting a manual transmission car, I'm used to engaging the gear first before releasing the handbrake. With the clutch and brake pedals pressed, I shift into first gear, then gradually release the clutch to the friction point until the car starts shaking before releasing the handbrake and applying throttle to move off. This method works especially well on slopes. Last time when queuing on a steep slope in my neighborhood, a car that released the handbrake first rolled back half a meter and almost hit the vehicle behind. The same principle applies to automatic transmissions - shift to D gear before releasing the handbrake. Developing this sequence is both safe and worry-free. After eight years of driving, I've never experienced any rollback incidents.
