Which gear should an automatic car be in when waiting at a red light?
2 Answers
When waiting at a traffic light in an automatic car, if the expected wait time is within 20 seconds, you can use D gear along with the foot brake. For situations with traffic congestion where the wait exceeds 30 seconds, shift to N gear and engage the handbrake. Below is relevant information about the N gear in cars: Main purpose: In automatic transmission models, engaging N gear creates a power interruption effect similar to shifting to neutral in manual transmissions, though there are some differences. Precautions: Automatic cars should not coast in neutral under non-special circumstances, as it is not only unsafe but can also lead to transmission failure due to insufficient lubrication of gears and other components caused by inadequate oil supply from the transmission oil pump.
I've been driving automatic transmission cars for almost ten years. When it comes to which gear to use at red lights, let's talk from a safety perspective. If the stop is brief, like just a few seconds, I usually stay in D gear while holding the brake, so I can start moving immediately when the light turns green without blocking traffic behind me. But for long red lights, say over 30 seconds, I recommend shifting to N gear and engaging the handbrake. This gives your foot a rest and protects the transmission – if you get rear-ended while in D or P gear, it could damage the gears, whereas N gear is relatively safer. Also, remember to keep your brake lights on so following drivers can see you're stopped, reducing accident risks. In summary, be flexible based on the stop duration – don't always rigidly use P gear.
