Should You Use P Gear or N Gear for Temporary Parking on the Roadside?
2 Answers
For long-term parking, use P gear, while for short-term parking, N gear can be used. Automatic transmissions include P, R, N, and D gears. The relevant details are as follows: 1. P—Parking gear, also known as the start gear: When the vehicle is parked and not in use, placing the gear in this position mechanically locks the wheels to prevent rolling. 2. R—Reverse gear: Used for reversing the vehicle. 3. N—Neutral gear: Used for temporary parking (e.g., at a red light). Note that this gear is neutral, and to prevent the vehicle from rolling on a slope, the brake must be applied. 4. D—Drive gear, also known as the driving gear: Used for moving forward.
From my years of driving experience, using P (Park) gear for temporary roadside parking is much safer than N (Neutral) gear. The P gear locks the transmission, preventing the car from rolling away, which is especially crucial on slopes. Once, I left the car in N gear on a slope without properly engaging the handbrake, and the car slowly rolled, nearly hitting a roadside tree—it gave me quite a scare. Since then, I've made it a habit to always use P gear plus the handbrake, even for stops lasting just a few minutes. N gear is only suitable for very brief stops like at traffic lights, but for temporary parking where you might step out of the car, P gear provides double security. The risk of using P gear in a rear-end collision is minimal, and compared to the danger of a rolling car accident, it's far more reliable. Safe driving leaves no room for carelessness, and I believe this is a fundamental practice.
