What do the gears of an automatic transmission vehicle mean?
2 Answers
Automatic transmission gears refer to: 1. D gear stands for Drive; 2. R gear stands for Reverse; 3. P gear stands for Park; 4. L gear stands for Low; 5. N gear stands for Neutral; 6. W gear stands for Winter (for snowy or rainy conditions); 7. S gear stands for Sport mode. An automatic transmission refers to a car's automatic gear-shifting mechanism, where the control system of the automatic transmission selects the appropriate gear based on the engine's speed and load during driving, replacing the driver's subjective judgment of timing and gear-shifting operations. The parking steps for an automatic transmission vehicle are: 1. After stopping the vehicle, shift to P gear and pull up the handbrake; 2. Press the start button to turn off the engine.
When I first started driving, those letters on the automatic transmission really confused me. Actually, they represent different driving modes. Simply put, P (Park) is for parking, locking the wheels to prevent rolling. R (Reverse) is for backing up—don’t press this button casually in daily driving. N (Neutral) is for idling, used when waiting at a red light or towing; the engine runs but doesn’t drive the wheels. D (Drive) is the most commonly used mode for moving forward, as the car shifts gears automatically, making driving effortless. Some cars also have S (Sport) mode for mountain roads or quick acceleration, and L (Low) for downhill braking to avoid overheating the brakes. Understanding these modes makes driving smoother. Beginners should practice more, not fear mistakes, and memorize them to get the hang of it.
