Should You Shift to Neutral When Stopping at Traffic Lights?
2 Answers
Manual transmission cars should be shifted to neutral when stopping at traffic lights, while automatic transmission cars do not need to be shifted to N gear when stopping at traffic lights. Neutral typically refers to the state where the vehicle's gear lever is not engaged in any forward or reverse gear, and the transmission is completely disengaged from the drive wheels. For manual transmissions, neutral is in the middle position, while for automatic transmissions, it is marked as "N". Below is relevant information: Precautions when shifting to neutral: After shifting to neutral, you must engage the handbrake or step on the brake pedal. Since the car is in neutral, the driveshaft has no restraining force, and any external force can affect the car's movement. This is particularly dangerous on slopes, where inertia can easily cause the car to move unexpectedly. Do not shift to P gear when waiting at a red light, as a rear-end collision could damage the transmission. When to use neutral: For temporary stops when the vehicle needs to be parked briefly; when waiting at a red light, to ensure safe parking. The purpose of neutral: The main purpose of neutral is to allow the vehicle to coast using inertia while idling, which helps reduce fuel consumption and minimizes wear on the transmission.
Having driven an automatic transmission car for over a decade, I've always believed that whether to shift to neutral at traffic lights depends on personal habits and the duration of the stop. For short stops, like just ten seconds or so, I never shift gears—I just keep my foot on the brake in D mode, and as soon as the light turns green, I press the accelerator and go, super smooth. For longer red lights lasting a minute or two, I shift to neutral to give my leg a rest and avoid fatigue. Modern cars are designed intelligently—when braking in D mode, the torque converter doesn’t engage rigidly, so there’s no extra fuel consumption or part wear. During rush hour in cities like Beijing or Shanghai, I often handle traffic lights this way, ensuring a quick and worry-free start. In short, there’s no absolute rule here—the key is to adapt flexibly for your own comfort.
