Which Gear to Use for Reversing in an Automatic Transmission Car?
2 Answers
Automatic transmission cars use the R (Reverse) gear for reversing. The gear positions in an automatic transmission car, from top to bottom, are as follows: 1. P (Park) gear is for parking; 2. R (Reverse) gear is for reversing; 3. N (Neutral) gear is for neutral; 4. D (Drive) gear is for forward movement, with D1 and D2 being specialized gears for long uphill and downhill drives. The gear selector in an automatic transmission car is equivalent to the gear lever in a manual transmission and is mostly located on the floor. Generally, automatic transmission cars have the following gear positions: P (Park), R (Reverse), N (Neutral), D (Drive), S or 2, which is the second-speed gear, and L or 1, which is the first-speed gear. Correct usage of these gear positions is particularly important for those driving automatic transmission cars.
When I first started learning to drive, my instructor emphasized that to reverse in an automatic transmission car, you must shift to 'R' gear. Before getting in the car each time, check if the gear is in 'P' or 'N', then press the brake to stop the car completely before sliding it to the right to 'R'. Never rush, because if you shift gears while the car is still moving, the transmission will whine and could get damaged. I still remember last time when I was reversing into a parking space, I got slightly distracted and almost scraped the corner of the wall. Now I'm used to it, I only move when the rearview mirror or camera is clear. The overall operation is simple, but the details can't be overlooked. Beginners can get the hang of it with a few more practices.
