Which gear should be in when waiting at a red light?
3 Answers
When waiting at a red light, first brake the car and then shift down. Large vehicles should start in second gear, while ordinary cars should start in first gear. Here are some additional details: 1. For manual transmission models, it is recommended to shift gears at around 2000 RPM for a more scientific approach. While driving, relying solely on the tachometer for shifting may not be timely or accurate. 2. When stopping at a red light, always engage the handbrake. Starting without the handbrake engaged can cause the vehicle to roll backward, creating a hazardous situation. 3. When waiting at a red light, shift to neutral and avoid keeping the car in first gear. Also, do not keep the clutch pedal pressed with your left foot, as this can lead to fatigue. Prolonged periods (more than 1 minute) can cause confusion and increase the likelihood of making mistakes when starting.
I think when waiting at a red light, especially when driving a manual transmission car, it's best to shift to neutral and engage the handbrake or step on the foot brake. The main reason for this is that if you keep pressing the clutch pedal continuously, the clutch disc will wear out quickly, and over time, it may cause strange noises when starting the car or increase repair costs. For short red lights, under 10 seconds, sometimes it's acceptable to be lazy and just press the clutch, but for long red lights over 30 seconds, it's recommended to shift to neutral to reduce the engine load and also for safety. I've been driving for over ten years and have encountered friends who didn't shift to neutral, leading to clutch overheating and damage, resulting in unnecessary repair expenses. For automatic transmission cars, you can just step on the brake while in D gear after stopping, but for long waits, you can also shift to N gear to make the car quieter and reduce minor vibrations in the transmission. In short, developing good habits makes driving more worry-free.
From an energy-saving perspective, shifting to neutral at red lights is a wise choice. This reduces engine load and minimizes fuel consumption, especially when the red light lasts over 20 seconds. With the auto-hold function or handbrake engaged, engine RPM stabilizes further, and emissions decrease. For manual transmissions, keeping the car in gear while depressing the clutch forces the engine to work unnecessarily, wasting fuel. Although automatic transmissions can simply remain in Drive (D) with the brake pedal pressed, shifting to Neutral (N) improves overall efficiency. In my personal test, adopting the habit of neutral gear at red lights in city driving reduced fuel consumption by approximately 0.5 liters per 100 km. Of course, safety must be ensured—applying the handbrake is standard practice. Modern cars with auto start-stop systems may shut off the engine during brief stops, but this doesn’t alter the principle. Cultivating this habit benefits both the environment and your wallet.
