Which gear should be used when waiting at a red light?
3 Answers
When the red light is about 10 seconds, use D gear. When the red light is more than 30 seconds, use N gear. Here is a partial introduction about gear selection when waiting at a red light: 1. Red light about 10 seconds: Automatic transmission models generally have four gears, namely P, R, N, and D. D gear is the drive gear. Following the principle of not frequently shifting gears, if the red light time is very short, about 10 seconds, then there is no need to switch gears. Just keep it in D gear and step on the brake. 2. Red light more than 30 seconds: If the red light time is more than 30 seconds, and some urban intersections can even have red lights lasting up to 99 seconds, it is generally recommended to shift to N gear, which is the neutral gear, and then pull the handbrake. This allows you to release your foot and take a slight rest.
As a veteran driver with over a decade of experience, I believe gear shifting at traffic lights requires careful consideration. For long red lights lasting more than half a minute, I shift to P or N gear. Why? Because keeping it in D gear means the car remains in drive mode - if a rear-end collision occurs due to the vehicle behind failing to brake in time, the transmission could get damaged, leading to costly repairs. For short waits under 10 seconds, I sometimes stay in D gear but make sure to firmly press the brake. Always remember to engage the handbrake, especially on slopes to prevent rolling. Safe driving is no trivial matter - this traffic light gear habit I've maintained since my youth has kept me accident-free throughout my driving career.
I usually pay close attention to fuel consumption when driving, so I'm in the habit of shifting to N (Neutral) gear at red lights to save fuel. The engine idling state consumes much less fuel than when in D (Drive) gear under load, which can save a considerable amount on gas money over time – maybe tens of dollars a month. For short red lights where the wait is brief, staying in D gear is fine for quick acceleration, but for long red lights, shifting to N gear is wiser. It's no trouble at all, just a quick gear change. By the way, shifting to N gear doesn't affect the normal operation of the air conditioning – you'll still get cool or warm air as usual, keeping you comfortable. From an environmental perspective, it's also a small contribution by reducing emissions. I recommend everyone give it a try and develop this good habit – you'll notice your fuel gauge dropping more slowly.
