Which Gear to Use When Waiting at a Red Light?
2 Answers
When waiting at a red light, you can shift to N (neutral) gear or neutral. For automatic transmission vehicles, if the waiting time exceeds 20 seconds, you can directly shift to N gear and engage the handbrake. If the waiting time is less than 20 seconds, you can stay in D (drive) gear and use the foot brake, which is also convenient. For manual transmission vehicles, you can directly shift to neutral and engage the handbrake. When there are about 5 seconds left, you can start pressing the clutch, shift to 1st gear, release the foot brake and handbrake, and wait to start moving. Traffic lights, also known as traffic signals, are signs that indicate whether vehicles and pedestrians can proceed. They are usually installed at intersections and other places requiring traffic control, generally consisting of red, green, and yellow lights. The red light means stop, the green light means go, and the yellow light serves as a warning.
I've been driving for over a decade, and I particularly like shifting to neutral and pulling the handbrake at red lights. This mainly relieves the need to keep my foot on the brake pedal, reducing foot fatigue, especially during long red lights. Shifting to neutral lightens the engine load, saving a bit of fuel and reducing emissions; it also reduces stress on the transmission, extending component life. Safety-wise, in case of a rear-end collision, the car won’t move unexpectedly or damage the transmission. Of course, for short red lights, staying in D and holding the brake is fine—quicker to start. I think forming a habit is key: observe the traffic light timing—if it’s over 20 seconds, go neutral without hesitation; otherwise, keep it simple. Remember to pull the handbrake tighter on slopes to prevent rolling. These practices make daily driving both comfortable and reassuring.
