What Gear Should an Automatic Transmission Be in at a Traffic Light?
2 Answers
When waiting at a traffic light in an automatic transmission car, if the expected wait time is within 20 seconds, you can use D gear with foot brake; if the wait time is more than 30 seconds due to traffic congestion, shift to N gear with hand brake; if the expected wait time exceeds 2 minutes, use N gear with hand brake and finally turn off the engine to reduce vehicle wear. Introduction to the automatic transmission gear positions: 1. P gear is the parking gear, also known as the parking position. 2. R is the reverse gear. 3. N is the neutral gear. 4. D is the drive gear, also known as the forward gear. 5. S or 2 gear represents sport mode. 6. L or 1 is the low gear, also known as 1st gear.
When waiting at a red light, I choose the gear based on the waiting time. For short waits, like under 30 seconds, I simply keep it in D (Drive) gear while holding the brake – it's convenient and allows quick acceleration when the light changes. For waits exceeding 30 seconds, I shift to N (Neutral) gear and engage the handbrake to give the transmission a rest, preventing system overheating from prolonged D-gear braking, especially since my car is a few years old – this habit helps protect mechanical components. Some drivers shift to P (Park) gear, but I don't recommend it because if rear-ended, the locked transmission in P gear is prone to damage, and acceleration is slower too. Developing good driving habits like maintaining safe distances and staying ready to move is particularly useful in urban traffic congestion.
