What is the correct sequence between handbrake and gear shifting?
2 Answers
When starting the vehicle, you should first engage the gear and then release the handbrake. When parking, you should first apply the handbrake and then shift to neutral. Below are the specific reasons: When starting, engaging the gear before releasing the handbrake prevents the vehicle from rolling backward. If you release the handbrake first, the vehicle will be in neutral for a short period before engaging the gear. During startup, you may not know if the ground is level. If it's inclined, the vehicle in neutral could roll backward, potentially causing an accident. When parking, after bringing the vehicle to a complete stop, you should first apply the handbrake and then shift to neutral. This ensures maximum stability and prevents the vehicle from moving. Many people tend to release the clutch and brake immediately after shifting to neutral. If the gear isn't correctly in neutral or the parking spot is on a slope, the vehicle may move. However, for automatic transmission vehicles, you should directly shift to P (Park) and then apply the handbrake when parking.
Back when I was learning to drive, my instructor repeatedly emphasized: when parking on a slope, you must press the brake → shift to N → engage the handbrake firmly → release the foot brake → shift to P. The principle is simple: when parked on an incline, the vehicle's weight is most safely borne by the handbrake. If you shift to P before engaging the handbrake, the locking mechanism can jam the transmission gears, and you might hear a loud 'click' when shifting next time. I once tried this in a mall parking garage, and the gears got completely stuck—I had to rock the car back and forth to unlock them. Now, whether on flat ground or a slope, I've developed the habit of engaging the handbrake before shifting to P. After all, replacing a transmission is far more expensive than replacing brake pads.
