What to Do When Stuck in Traffic on an Uphill with an Automatic Transmission Car?

[DelMolly]

When stuck in traffic on an uphill with an automatic transmission car, it is important to prevent the car from rolling back and to maintain braking. For automatic transmission cars, the gear should be placed in the P position, and the handbrake should be properly engaged. Some automatic transmission models are equipped with an O/D button, which serves important functions as follows: 1. When encountering a downhill section during driving, pressing the O/D button will force the car to stay in a low gear without upshifting. This allows the use of engine braking and avoids frequent use of the brake pedal, contributing to safer downhill driving. 2. If you encounter traffic congestion with frequent stops and starts, the car will continuously shift between 1st and 2nd gears, leading to increased fuel consumption and wear on the brake pads. Pressing the O/D button at this time can avoid these issues and extend the car's lifespan. 3. When overtaking is necessary and pressing the accelerator does not provide a noticeable acceleration effect, pressing the O/D button will increase the vehicle's torque. The increased torque will raise the engine's RPM, resulting in quicker acceleration, making overtaking easier.