Is it normal to put an automatic car into "park" when stopping at traffic lights. ?

Ironball

Are you parking at the light? DUH

Bink

No. You'll fail the test if you put it in park at a stop light.

Mud Killer

Nope!! Next!!

bradrb91@sbcglobal.net

no.. this is not normal and could be potentially dabgerous if you are stuck in park and cant get out of the way of a car etc. just depress the foot brake

Britbloke

If it appears your stop may be brief, merely keep your foot firmly on the footbrake. If your stop turns to a wait, select neutral, pull on the handbrake and release the footbrake. Do not select park.

nemesis114

Keeping your foot on the brake is the easier option, which is what I do. I don't see the point of messing with the shift - that sort of negates the whole idea of an automatic.

WENDEL HOMES

PARK will hold your car safely disconnected from the drive when you leave it unattended for any period with the HAND BRAKE ON.
Never allow a tow if you have Automatic drive EVEN IN NEUTRAL OR PARK always be loaded correctly by the tow truck piggy back style.

You are not recommended or required to select 'park' at traffic lights, doing so is foolhardy and You would fail in a test for doing so, use the hand brake here with neutral selected and foot away from the gas peddle, this is because you might not be able to re-select at sometime and will therefore hold the world and his mate up whilst you require a 'Proper' tow home or to a garage but if in neutral then a push to the kerb is possible.

Friendly Stranger..

No. You don't put a car in park unless you know you won't be moving for a while. Usually lights do not take very long to turn. There are a few exceptions but for the most part lights run on a sequence and they change based on how many cars are stopped at a different light. If you put your car in park when you stop at a traffic light you will fail. You are not to put your car in park until you are ready to stop and turn the vehicle off.

Fellside13

Personally, I leave mine in drive and keep my foot on the brake, admittedly this probably isn't the right thing to do.

You certainly shouldn't use park as the selector will go through reverse and scare the s**t out of the driver behind when the reverse lamps come on!!.

You could put it in neutral though.

moouers

No, don't do that during a driving test. The only time I do it, which is still rare, is for one street I have to cross where the light is literally an eight minute wait.

joesmart8699

No you will fail. Keep both hands on the wheel, use your mirrors frequently or you will fail. Good driving.

Bardic

To add power to your argument, you leave it in drive while waiting and hold it still with the handbrake. You shouldn't keep the footbrake depressed, the glare of the brake lights can cause problems for other drivers. It's bad practice and will annoy any examiner.

The idea is that more wear is caused by clunking in and out of drive than by leaving it alone. Furthermore, the flash of the reversing lights as you go from park to drive can dazzle following drivers. Park is only for use when finally stopped, i.e parked.

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