What is the correct sequence between handbrake and gear shifting?
3 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. Here are the specific reasons: 1. When starting, engaging the gear before releasing the handbrake prevents the vehicle from rolling back. If you release the handbrake first, the vehicle will be in neutral for a period before the gear is engaged. Moreover, when starting, you may not know if the ground is level. If it is inclined, the vehicle in neutral may roll backward, potentially causing an accident. 2. When parking, after the vehicle has come to a complete stop, you should first apply the handbrake and then shift to neutral. This ensures the vehicle remains stationary to the greatest extent. This is because many people tend to release the clutch and brake after shifting to neutral. If the gear is not correctly shifted to neutral or the parking spot is on a slope, the vehicle may move. However, for automatic transmission vehicles, when parking, you can directly shift to P (Park) and then apply the handbrake.
I've been driving manual transmission cars for over twenty years, and my parking routine is always the same: first firmly press the brake to bring the car to a complete stop, then quickly shift into neutral, apply the handbrake with some force to ensure the car won't move, and finally turn off the engine before leaving. When starting, I always press the brake first, release the handbrake, then shift into first or reverse gear to move off. This sequence is crucial because if you engage the gear before applying the handbrake on a slope, the car might creep slightly, causing long-term wear or deformation to the transmission gears. Once on a mountain road, I missed a step in the sequence, and the car actually slid back half a meter, nearly hitting a tree behind me. Developing this habit not only protects the vehicle but also avoids potential dangers. Modern automatic transmissions follow a similar principle—apply the handbrake before shifting into Park to reduce stress on the locking mechanism. The key is consistency, and I've never had an accident.
When I first got my driver's license, my instructor repeatedly emphasized this sequence. When parking, you must first firmly engage the handbrake to stabilize the car, then shift to neutral or P gear; for starting, it's the opposite: press the brake, release the handbrake, and then shift into drive gear. This sequence is the most effective way to prevent rolling, especially on slopes like those in mall parking lots. Once, in a hurry, I forgot and directly shifted to D gear, resulting in the car lurching forward when I released the brake, startling myself and scraping the curb, costing hundreds to repair the wheel rim. Now, I remind myself daily to follow the steps: when parking, engage the handbrake to secure the position first; when starting, remove obstacles before shifting to ensure smooth operation. This habit also applies during traffic jams, preventing fatigue-induced mistakes—safe and worry-free. My driving teacher said it relates to the overall driving rhythm to avoid trouble.
