Should You Turn Off the Engine When Stuck in Traffic for One or Two Minutes?

[DiDaniela]

You do not need to turn off the engine when stuck in traffic for one or two minutes. Reasons for not turning off the engine in traffic: Since the traffic queue may move forward at any time, restarting after turning off the engine is equivalent to adding an extra step, which can easily cause waiting and honking from vehicles behind, reducing road traffic efficiency. For short-term traffic jams, manual transmission vehicles are recommended to shift into neutral and engage the handbrake, while automatic transmission vehicles are advised to shift into N gear and engage the handbrake. Advantages of turning off the engine in traffic: It can reduce braking, making it both safer and more fuel-efficient. If you are too close to the car in front, not only is a rear-end collision more likely, but frequent starting and stopping also increases fuel consumption. If you encounter prolonged traffic congestion, it is recommended to turn off the engine to avoid prolonged idling, which can also reduce fuel consumption and exhaust pollution.