Should You Turn Off the Engine When Stopping at a Red Light with an Automatic Transmission?
2 Answers
When stopping at a red light with an automatic transmission, there is no need to turn off the engine. An automatic transmission does not require the driver to manually shift gears; the vehicle will automatically select the appropriate gear based on driving speed and traffic conditions. The method for handling gear shifts while waiting at a red light depends on the duration of the stop: 1. For short stops at a red light, you can simply press the brake pedal; 2. For prolonged stops, shift to N (Neutral) and engage the handbrake. The gear positions in an automatic transmission are as follows: 1. P (Park) for parking; 2. R (Reverse) for reversing; 3. N (Neutral) for neutral; 4. D (Drive) for forward driving; 5. S (Sport) for high-speed engine braking; 6. L (Low) for low-speed engine braking.
I believe the key to whether to turn off the engine at red lights with an automatic transmission lies in balancing convenience and fuel efficiency. During daily commutes, I don't turn off the engine for short red lights to save effort; for long red lights, I manually shut off the engine to save fuel, though restarting takes a bit longer. The start-stop system is the ideal solution, automatically handling engine shutdown and restart. Environmentally, reducing idle emissions is a contribution, but it's not mandatory. Safety comes first—always keeping the car in D or N gear to prevent rolling.
