What do the gear letters represent?
2 Answers
The meanings represented by the gear letters: 1. P stands for Parking gear. When the car needs to be parked for a long time, pushing the gear to P position can prevent the car from rolling. At this time, the car is in a mechanical lock state. The P gear must be used when the car is completely stopped, otherwise it will damage the car's locking mechanism; 2. R stands for Reverse gear. Before shifting into reverse, the car needs to be completely stopped, and then press the safety button on the lever to move the gear lever to R position; 3. N stands for Neutral gear, usually used when waiting at traffic lights. After the car is shifted to neutral, the connection between the transmission and the engine's power system will be disconnected; 4. D stands for Drive gear. When using the drive gear, the transmission will automatically switch gears according to the car's driving speed, achieving automatic gear shifting; 5. S stands for Sport mode, mainly used when the car is going uphill or overtaking. The sport mode can be switched at will during driving.
When I first learned to drive, I also found the gear letters mysterious. Later, I understood that P stands for Park, used after parking to prevent the vehicle from moving; R is Reverse, specifically for driving backward; N is Neutral, where the engine doesn't transmit power to the wheels when stationary, suitable for brief stops like at red lights; D is Drive, used for normal forward driving. These designs make driving more intuitive and safe, such as avoiding accidentally shifting into R and causing a collision. In snowy conditions or traffic jams, I also use L (Low) or manual mode to control speed and prevent the transmission from overheating. In short, familiarizing yourself with these letters can make driving smoother, and I recommend beginners practice gear shifting in safe areas.
