What does the L gear in a car mean?

[Janelle]

The L gear in a car is the low gear, which limits speed. When engaged during uphill driving, it maintains a high RPM and low gear state, providing the vehicle with ample power. When used during downhill driving, it prevents the car from accelerating uncontrollably. Shifting from D gear to L gear does not require stopping or braking; you can simply move the gear lever while driving. Once in L gear, the transmission will only switch between 1st and 2nd gears, and no matter how hard you press the accelerator, it will not shift up to 3rd gear or higher. Some car models on the market may have additional markings like L1 or L2 on the L gear, indicating the corresponding restricted gear. The vehicle will not shift above the restricted gear, and the gear can only be engaged at a sufficiently slow speed; otherwise, the transmission will not respond to the shifting operation.