What are the consequences of not engaging the handbrake when the car is in P gear?

[Athena]

If you do not engage the handbrake after shifting into P gear, the car will not roll, but it is recommended to engage the handbrake. Otherwise, it will cause excessive stress on the P gear locking mechanism, reducing its service life. P gear: 'Parking' means 'to park.' It is the parking gear used when the vehicle is stationary. When you reach your destination or need to park for an extended period, shift the gear lever into this position. Note: You must shift into P gear only after the vehicle has come to a complete stop. Shifting into P gear before the vehicle has fully stopped can damage parts of the automatic transmission. When in P gear, the wheels are mechanically locked, preventing the vehicle from moving forward or backward. Therefore, it is essential to shift into P gear when parking on a slope. Additionally, during brief stops (such as at traffic lights), it is best not to shift into P gear to avoid severe damage to the entire transmission in case of a rear-end collision. Besides, automatic transmission cars also have other gear positions such as R, N, S, M, L, and D, each with different gear combinations that output varying levels of power. When the car is at different speeds, you need to 'shift gears,' meaning selecting different gear combinations to output power. Below is a detailed introduction: R gear: 'Reverse' means 'to go backward.' Whether it's a manual or automatic transmission, R is the reverse gear. Shifting into R gear makes the car move backward. You can only shift into this gear when the vehicle is stationary and the engine is idling. Never use R gear when the car is moving forward, and pay special attention to accelerator pedal control when reversing. N gear: 'Neutral' means 'neutral,' also known as the neutral gear. At traffic lights, you can shift into this gear and press the brake pedal. If the waiting time is longer, it is recommended to engage the handbrake directly, allowing your foot to leave the brake pedal for a short rest. Many people also mistakenly believe that coasting in N gear downhill or at high speeds can save fuel. This is a serious misconception—it not only fails to save fuel but can also damage the transmission. S gear: 'Sport' means 'sport,' and in cars, it refers to the sport mode. When shifted into this gear, the transmission delays shifting to provide more power, typically used when overtaking. M gear: 'Manual' means 'manual control,' and in cars, it refers to switching to manual mode, similar to operating a manual transmission car, requiring manual gear shifting. L gear: 'Low' means 'low speed,' and in cars, it refers to the low-speed forward gear. When shifted into this gear, the transmission only operates in low gear (equivalent to first gear in a manual transmission) and does not automatically shift to other gears based on speed. This gear is generally used when climbing or descending slopes. In low gear, the drive wheels output greater torque, providing sufficient power to climb steep slopes. Prolonged braking can cause the brake pads to overheat, reducing braking effectiveness, which is very dangerous on long descents or steep slopes. In such cases, shifting into L gear allows the engine's low RPM to restrain the vehicle's movement, eliminating the need for constant braking. D gear: 'Drive' means 'to drive.' Shifting into this gear and pressing the accelerator pedal allows the car to move. In this gear, the transmission automatically shifts based on speed and accelerator input. At traffic lights, you can stay in D gear while pressing the brake pedal. If the waiting time is short, this is fine, but prolonged waiting can raise the transmission fluid temperature, causing it to deteriorate.