Will the car roll away if parked in P gear without engaging the handbrake?
3 Answers
Under normal circumstances, the car will not roll away. The P gear is the parking gear, located at the foremost position in the automatic transmission. It uses the gear position for parking brake, and unless there is damage to the brake shoes, it is difficult for the brake to fail. If damaged, it should be repaired as soon as possible. Below is the relevant introduction to the gear positions: P gear: The P gear is called the parking gear and is used when the car is parked. R gear: The R gear is called the reverse gear and is used when the car is reversing. N gear: The N gear is called the neutral gear and is used when the car is in a stopped state. Note that when shifting to neutral, the brake should be pressed to prevent the car from rolling away.
Parking in P gear without engaging the handbrake can indeed cause the car to roll, especially on slopes. I've been driving for almost twenty years and have encountered this situation. When parking on flat ground, simply shifting to P gear is sufficient as it locks the transmission, preventing the wheels from moving. However, if parked on a slope, relying solely on P gear allows gravity to slowly move the car. Once, I forgot to engage the handbrake in a sloped parking lot, and the car rolled a short distance, nearly hitting a wall. Now, I've developed a good habit: always engage the handbrake first, then shift to P gear. This dual protection prevents rolling and safeguards the transmission from long-term damage. Safety is more important than convenience, and developing the habit of using the handbrake can save trouble, especially on rainy or icy roads.
As a novice driver, I also struggled with this question when learning to drive. Will the car roll if parked in P gear without the handbrake? My experience tells me that on flat ground, it's generally not a big issue - the P gear can lock the wheels in place. But on slopes, like hillside parking lots, it's dangerous as the car might slowly slide. My instructor taught me that P gear only locks the engine connection, while the handbrake is the main force securing the wheels. Not using it could not only cause rolling but also wear out the P gear mechanism. I once experienced a minor roll, fortunately without consequences. So it's best for beginners to always engage the handbrake before shifting to P gear, developing safe habits to prevent accidents. Taking a few extra seconds when parking is much cheaper than repairing damage later.
