What do the letters N, R, etc. on a car's gear shift mean?
2 Answers
R stands for Reverse gear, used when backing up. N stands for None (Neutral), used when temporarily stopping (e.g., at a red light). Below is an introduction to other car gear positions: 1. Parking gear: P stands for Parking. When the car is parked and not in use, engaging P gear mechanically locks the wheels to prevent rolling. 2. Drive gear: D stands for Drive, also known as the driving gear. Use this gear when moving forward. 3. Low gear 2: This is a low gear used when climbing steep slopes or starting on a significant incline. Engaging this gear restricts the car's automatic gear shifting to lower gears (equivalent to first and second gears in a manual transmission car), ensuring maximum forward power. 4. Low gear L: L stands for Low, used when going downhill or descending long slopes. Engaging this gear restricts the car's automatic gear shifting to the lowest gear only (equivalent to first gear in a manual transmission car), allowing the car to use engine power for braking. This prevents the driver from having to brake continuously, which could overheat the brake pads and lead to danger.
When I first started learning to drive, the symbols on the gearshift looked like hieroglyphics to me, but now I know them as well as my daily meals. N stands for Neutral, meaning the engine is disconnected from the wheels—the car can be pushed but won't move on its own. It's typically used at red lights or for short stops, but I advise against using it on slopes to prevent rolling. R is Reverse gear; engaging it makes the car move backward, but always remember to firmly press the brake and check the rearview mirror when backing up. Other gears include P for Park (locks the wheels) and D for Drive (forward motion). Safety tip: Never rush when shifting gears—come to a complete stop with the brake before changing to avoid accidents. I once mistakenly shifted into R instead of D in a parking lot and nearly hit a wall, which made me much more cautious ever since.
