Will the car roll in P gear?
2 Answers
P gear will not cause the car to roll. There is an automatic locking device on the P gear. When the car's gear is shifted to P, this device automatically locks, preventing the car from rolling. When using P gear, it is recommended to use it together with the car's handbrake. After parking the car, pulling the handbrake first and then shifting to P gear provides better protection for the power system and to some extent helps protect the transmission. P gear is a common gear in automatic transmission models, usually located at the frontmost position of the gear shift console, in front of the R gear. Its purpose is to lock the axle when the car is stationary on a slope. In automatic transmission cars, the car key can only be removed when the gear is shifted to P, which forces the driver to ensure the car is secured before leaving with the key.
The P (Park) gear generally prevents the car from rolling on flat ground by locking the transmission and stopping the wheels from turning. However, when parking on a slope, especially a steep one, relying solely on the P gear might not be enough—gravity can cause the car to slide slightly. I remember once forgetting to engage the handbrake on a steep hill, and the car slowly slid a few centimeters, which scared me into quickly correcting it. Since then, I’ve made it a habit to always pull the handbrake firmly first before shifting into P gear—this double safety measure prevents any minor mishaps. After years of driving automatic cars, I’ve learned that while the P gear is reliable, it needs backup on slopes. Safe driving means no shortcuts—don’t skip this step for convenience. I recommend always double-checking that the handbrake is fully engaged when parking.
