Which Letter Represents Reverse Gear in an Automatic Car?
3 Answers
In an automatic car, the letter R represents the reverse gear. The other gears are as follows: 1. D gear stands for Drive; 2. P gear stands for Park; 3. L gear stands for Low; 4. N gear stands for Neutral; 5. W gear stands for Winter/Snow mode; 6. S gear stands for Sport mode. The steps to reverse an automatic car are: 1. Press the foot brake; 2. Shift from N to R gear; 3. Release the handbrake; 4. Check the rearview mirror to observe the path behind; 5. Slowly release the foot brake; 6. After reversing to the designated position, press the foot brake, pull up the handbrake, and then release the foot brake; 7. Press the foot brake and shift from R to N gear; 8. Release the foot brake.
I've been driving automatic transmission cars for over a decade, and the reverse gear is always marked with the letter R in a prominent position on the gear shift. Remember to come to a complete stop before shifting into reverse, otherwise you'll damage the transmission – that's veteran driver wisdom. The gear sequence is typically P-R-N-D, with reverse right next to parking. I always make it a habit to glance down and confirm the R position before reversing, because no matter how good your parking sensors or camera are, selecting the wrong gear spells trouble. Newer models now feature electronic shifters with safer reverse gear designs, but the basic principle remains unchanged – the letter R remains the most reliable symbol for reverse.
During driving lessons, the instructor emphasized countless times that for automatic transmission cars, you must shift to the letter R position when reversing. When I first practiced reverse parking, I was always flustered. Looking back now, the main issue was not memorizing the gear positions firmly. R stands for Reverse, located near the P (Park) position on the gear lever. You need to press the brake pedal before shifting. Once, I forgot to check the gear while reversing and nearly hit a corner wall—fortunately, I braked in time. Now, I’m extra cautious when reversing: first, I check the rearview mirror, then confirm that I’ve shifted into R, gently press the accelerator, and only start reversing after hearing the reverse warning beep. These details may seem simple, but they directly impact driving safety.
