What Gear Should the Car Be in When Waiting at a Red Light?
2 Answers
When waiting at a red light, shift the car into N (Neutral) gear and engage the handbrake or hold the brake pedal. Below is an introduction to the relevant driving gears of a car: 1. P (Park) gear is the parking gear: When the gear lever is in the P position, the transmission is in neutral internally, but the output shaft is mechanically locked. At this time, the car will stop in place even if the brake is not pressed, and it is generally used when the car is parked for a long time. When shifting into P gear, the car must be completely stationary. Do not shift into P gear when the car has not come to a complete stop, and always engage the handbrake. When parking on a slope, first engage the handbrake and then shift into P gear. 2. R (Reverse) gear is the reverse gear: When the gear lever is in the R position, the rotation direction of the transmission output shaft is opposite to that of the engine, allowing the car to move backward. When shifting into R gear, the car must be completely stationary. Do not shift into R gear when the car has not come to a complete stop. 3. N (Neutral) gear is the neutral gear: When the gear lever is in the N position, the gears inside the transmission are in a freewheeling state, and the clutch is not engaged, so the load on the transmission is minimized. N gear is generally used for short stops, such as waiting at a red light. Additionally, when the car is being towed, the transmission should also be in N gear. 4. D (Drive) gear is the driving gear: When the gear lever is in the D position, the gears inside the transmission automatically switch between the lowest and highest gears according to factors such as vehicle speed and throttle opening, based on the preset shifting pattern. In most cases, D gear can be used for driving.
As a car owner who frequently drives in the city, it's crucial to be careful about gear shifting when waiting at red lights. I drive an automatic transmission car, so I usually just leave it in D gear and firmly press the brake. Why? First and foremost, safety comes first. In D gear, the car still has power, and in case of a rear-end collision, the transmission can act as a buffer to reduce damage. Secondly, it's convenient and quick—once the light turns green, I can accelerate immediately without wasting time shifting gears frequently. If the red light is exceptionally long, say over a minute, I might consider shifting to N gear to reduce the engine's load, but I always keep my foot on the brake. For manual transmission cars, it's absolutely necessary to shift to neutral and engage the handbrake or press the brake to prevent rolling. In short, developing good habits protects both yourself and your beloved car—don’t cut corners for convenience.
