What does the D in automatic transmission mean?
2 Answers
In an automatic transmission, the D stands for Drive, which is used for forward movement on regular road surfaces and is one of the most commonly used gears. It automatically switches to a comfortable working state based on road conditions and vehicle speed. Below is an introduction to automatic transmission gears: 1. Cars equipped with automatic transmission clutches, commonly known as automatic transmission cars, generally have P, N, R, and D gears. 2. The N gear is Neutral, which functions similarly to the neutral gear in manual transmissions and is used for temporary parking. Another function is when the engine suddenly stalls while driving, you need to shift into N gear. 3. The P gear is Park, used when the engine is off and the car is stationary. When the vehicle is stopped, you need to shift into P gear to power off, remove the key, and lock the doors. 4. The R gear is Reverse, which functions the same as the reverse gear in manual transmissions.
I've been driving for twenty years, and the D gear in an automatic transmission stands for Drive. Once you shift into it, the car moves forward normally. After engaging D gear, the car shifts gears on its own, unlike a manual transmission where you have to press the clutch and change gears—it’s especially convenient in city traffic jams. I always shift directly into D gear and drive off, and it’s steady even at 100 km/h on the highway. Just be careful not to accidentally shift into R (Reverse) or P (Park), or the car might jerk unexpectedly. Remember to shift into P gear and engage the handbrake when parking. Automatic transmissions make driving much simpler, and beginners can pick it up easily—the D gear is the heart of the whole system.
