for cars with automatic tranmission, should you shift to N when waiting for the light?

[aplefka]

Originally posted by: Mark R
You are supposed to shift to neutral for safety reasons. If you get rear-ended, the first thing that will happen to you is that your foot will come off the brake pedal and the car will move forward from the impact, but then start accelerating under its own power.

You should also engage the handbrake, again for safety reasons. If your car doesn't have a handbrake, then you should shift into Park.

After dark, out of courtesy for other drivers you should avoid leaving your foot on the brake pedal, because the brake lights can be dazzling. You should shift into Park for added security.

From the POV of the transmission, there is slightly more wear when you shift from N-D and vice versa but if the transmission and engine are correctly adjusted, this should be negligable.

Yeah, and don't forget, while you're driving, you should actually take off your seatbelt because the force of it pushing against your body above 25MPH is bad for your shoulder/neck.

 

[HyTekJosh]

In my auto I keep it in Drive or Sport mode when waiting for the light. If I am in Tiptronic mode I keep it in first gear.

 

[murphy55d]

Drive or 1st gear...depending on if I'm using my sportronic transmission.

 

[Mark R]

After dark, out of courtesy for other drivers you should avoid leaving your foot on the brake pedal, because the brake lights can be dazzling. You should shift into Park for added security.

Why? So people can think you aren't either stopped or are starting to take off? Absolutely terrible advice, and a great way to get rear-ended.

I wasn't clear. I meant when stuck in traffic - not when waiting at lights on an otherwise empty road. Obviously, in the latter case, this is not appropriate. However, when stuck in traffic - and the vehicle in front is an auto, with the drive sitting on the foot brake - it gets very uncomfortable and degrades night vision.

In case, no one noticed, the rest of my post was somewhat facetious. Believe it or not, when I asked an advanced driver about the correct thing to do, that was his response. Except, I think, he actually meant it.

Seriously, however, I do maintain that you should always engage the handbrake when stopped at lights - albeit leave the transmission in D. [This is genuine advice from several accident prevention socieities].

 

[91TTZ]

Originally posted by: Mark R


Seriously, however, I do maintain that you should always engage the handbrake when stopped at lights - albeit leave the transmission in D. [This is genuine advice from several accident prevention socieities].

You can't listen to those advocacy groups because you wouldn't have enough time in the day to do anything. Let's look at a few examples:

You have one set of advocates saying that you should check your tire pressure each time you're about to get in your car. Checking all 4 wheels will take a few minutes. Then they say that you should check the oil level every time you're about to start the engine. Then they say to let it warm up for xxx minutes. Then you should check your headlights and blinkers to make sure they work. Then you get in the car, check the seatbelt tension, blah blah blah.

If you followed all of these recommendations to a "T", it would take you quite a while to just get in the car in the morning. This isn't to mention the other advocacy groups that say you should brush your teeth after every single snack or drink, floss, wash your hands 15 times a day, drink at least a gallon of water a day, drink 3 large cups of milk a day, drink 2 large cups of orange juice a day, eat 2 eggs, 10 oz of chicken, 10 oz of beef, whole grains, wheat, bread, rice, fruit, and the list goes on.

Just about every organization with a pet cause thinks that everyone should follow their advice.

 

[andylawcc]

Originally posted by: 91TTZ
You have one set of advocates saying that you should check your tire pressure each time you're about to get in your car. Checking all 4 wheels will take a few minutes. Then they say that you should check the oil level every time you're about to start the engine. Then they say to let it warm up for xxx minutes. Then you should check your headlights and blinkers to make sure they work. Then you get in the car, check the seatbelt tension, blah blah blah.

If you followed all of these recommendations to a "T", it would take you quite a while to just get in the car in the morning. This isn't to mention the other advocacy groups that say you should brush your teeth after every single snack or drink, floss, wash your hands 15 times a day, drink at least a gallon of water a day, drink 3 large cups of milk a day, drink 2 large cups of orange juice a day, eat 2 eggs, 10 oz of chicken, 10 oz of beef, whole grains, wheat, bread, rice, fruit, and the list goes on.

haha!!