Should You Shift to Neutral or Keep the Brake Pedal Pressed at a Red Light?

[DeBlakely]

Here are the reasons for shifting to neutral or keeping the brake pedal pressed at a red light: 1. If the red light lasts long: If you have to wait at an intersection for an extended period, you should shift to neutral (N) and engage the handbrake. Keeping the brake pedal pressed for too long can cause the transmission fluid temperature to rise excessively. 2. If the red light is short: If the wait at the intersection is brief, there's no need to shift to neutral to minimize impact; simply keep the transmission in drive (D) and press the brake pedal. Below are some precautions to take when waiting at a red light: 1. Do not shift to reverse before the car comes to a complete stop: If you need to shift to reverse, ensure the vehicle has fully stopped. Otherwise, it may damage the gears or even the entire transmission. 2. Avoid frequent gear changes: While shifting to sport mode (S) allows the car to change gears freely, it's best not to use it regularly. Frequent use of S mode can severely affect the transmission.