What does the P gear mean when driving?
2 Answers
Driving in P gear means parking gear. After parking the car and shifting to P gear, the car will stop braking and there will be no rolling situation. It is mainly used when the vehicle is completely stopped. Other gears of the car include: 1. S gear is the sports mode, suitable for high-speed driving or overtaking. S gear and D gear are two driving modes of the car. In S gear, the car's automatic shifting will be delayed; 2. L low gear for downhill, suitable for automatically controlling the speed when the car is going downhill; 3. N neutral gear: generally used when waiting for traffic lights, mainly for starting, towing, and temporary parking; 4. D drive gear: D gear, also known as the driving gear, is mainly used when the car is moving forward.
The P gear stands for Parking gear. When you park your car, shifting to this position locks the wheels to prevent the car from moving. Having driven for over 20 years, I've encountered many instances of forgetting to engage the P gear on slopes. Once, a friend's car rolled down a hill because the P gear wasn't engaged, nearly causing an accident. When parking, don't rush to get out of the car. First, step on the brake to come to a complete stop, then shift to P gear, and finally pull up the handbrake firmly. This locks the transmission gears, keeping the car stable, which is especially crucial on rainy or icy roads. I recommend that beginners develop this habit: always engage the P gear when parking to prevent the vehicle from rolling and hitting pedestrians or other cars—safety first. Also, check the dashboard to confirm the gear display is correct, ensuring you haven't accidentally shifted to another gear. Remember, common gears in automatic cars include P (Park), R (Reverse), N (Neutral), and D (Drive), each with its purpose, but P gear is exclusively for parking.
