Should You Shift to P Gear First or Turn Off the Engine First When Parking an Automatic Transmission Car?

[Valeria]

When parking an automatic transmission car, first shift to P gear. After the car comes to a complete stop, shift the gear to N, engage the handbrake, then shift to P gear before turning off the engine. The gears in an automatic transmission are: 1. P gear: Parking gear, also the starting gear; 2. R gear: Reverse gear; 3. N gear: Neutral gear; 4. D gear: Drive gear, also known as the forward gear; 5. L gear: Low gear; 6. S gear: Sport mode. Additional relevant information is as follows: 1. Pedals: An automatic transmission car has only two pedals: the brake pedal on the left and the accelerator pedal on the right. It is important to note that both pedals should ideally be controlled by the right foot. Using the left foot to control one pedal increases the risk of simultaneously pressing the accelerator and brake. 2. Precautions: Always maintain high concentration while driving. Additionally, in any situation where acceleration is not needed, keep the right foot on the brake pedal. This action is also known as 'covering the brake.' In case of any unexpected situation, braking can be applied immediately, resulting in a shorter braking reaction time and reducing the likelihood of pressing the wrong pedal.