What do the gear letters on a car represent?

[VonReagan]

The gear letters on a car represent the following: R stands for Reverse, which is the reverse gear. This gear can only be engaged when the vehicle is stationary, and models with a lock button require pressing the button to switch; N stands for Neutral gear, which is the neutral position. It is used for temporary parking to stop the vehicle's movement without interrupting power; P stands for Park, which is the dedicated parking gear, also known as the parking brake; D stands for Drive, the most commonly used gear for forward movement. Gear shifts can be controlled via the accelerator when needed; S stands for Sport mode, a gear that doesn't provide very high speed but is best used in situations like traffic jams or when a more relaxed driving experience is desired; L stands for Low gear, which reduces brake usage when going downhill and provides more power when climbing uphill; M stands for Manual mode, meaning the driver can manually shift gears; OD stands for Overdrive, a gear that improves fuel efficiency at high speeds, typically used on well-maintained highways.