6 common mistakes when driving an automatic car.

(Baonghean.vn) -Thanks to their simplicity and reduced driving effort, automatic cars are becoming increasingly popular. However, if the operating principles are not followed correctly, dangerous mistakes can easily arise from the very conveniences of this type of vehicle.

Here are some dangerous mistakes to avoid when driving an automatic car.

1. The habit of using both feet.

In the Road Traffic Law, there is a question: "When driving an automatic car, how should the driver use their feet correctly?" - the correct answer is: "Do not use your left foot; your right foot controls both the brake and accelerator pedals."

However, recently, many "runaway car" accidents caused by mistakenly pressing the accelerator instead of the brake have stemmed from the driver using both feet to control the vehicle, one on the accelerator and the other on the brake.

In automatic cars, the accelerator and brake pedals are positioned directly in line with the right foot, ensuring the most stable seating position. If the driver tries to move their left foot to the brake pedal, that foot will always be in an awkward position, making the seating posture uncomfortable, and the braking force will be insufficient in case of emergency braking.

When the right foot remains on the accelerator pedal for an extended period, in a sudden situation requiring braking, the accelerator pedal may not be released in time, significantly reducing braking effectiveness. The vehicle will continue to move forward even if the driver applies the brakes, leading to loss of control.

2. Keep your foot on the gas pedal.

Because all operations are integrated into a single foot, most mistakes when using automatic cars are related to foot usage, specifically not following the "if not accelerating, then braking" principle, being lazy or forgetting to switch to the brake pedal and leaving it on the accelerator instead.

If the driver isn't pressing the accelerator, they must immediately move their foot to the brake pedal. If they keep their foot on the accelerator, in a dangerous situation, the driver will instinctively press the brake pedal, causing the car to not stop but instead suddenly lunge forward. This is one of the main causes of "runaway car" accidents today.

3. Do not use the sport mode.

Even with automatic transmissions, there are still sport mode, manual mode, or semi-automatic mode, usually indicated by "+,-" or "M1, M2, L1, L2"... right on the gear lever. Some models are even more convenient with integrated paddle shifters on the steering wheel.

When the gear is in this mode, the car doesn't automatically shift up based on speed; instead, the driver manually shifts gears as needed. Once the driver understands the function of each mode, they can set the appropriate gear for each road section, thereby minimizing wear and tear and preventing accidents.

4. Regarding the number N when going downhill

Many drivers have a habit of shifting to neutral (N) when going downhill to let the car coast and save fuel. This is a completely wrong idea, because modern automatic cars are capable of automatically cutting off fuel supply to the engine when going downhill. Shifting to neutral will inadvertently restart the system, sometimes even costing more.

Furthermore, letting a vehicle roll downhill by inertia is extremely dangerous; the driver has to constantly apply the brakes, causing them to overheat or wear out quickly, and it's difficult to react in time to unexpected obstacles.

5. Do not shift to P (park) when the vehicle is stopped.

In some cases, due to slightly sloping terrain, when the driver applies the brakes, shifts to P gear, engages the handbrake, and releases the foot brake, the vehicle may jerk slightly and run with considerable force, which can also affect the gearbox.

The best way is to shift to neutral (N) and apply the parking brake, letting the car move until it comes to a complete stop, then shift to park (P).

6. Press the accelerator pedal firmly when you need to speed up.

Many drivers believe that simply shifting to the D position and pressing the accelerator hard will allow the car to reach high speeds. However, this is a common mistake, as gear changes are based on the principle of "pressing the accelerator to shift up and releasing it to shift down."

Therefore, to ensure fuel efficiency and safe operation, drivers should gently press the accelerator pedal at a moderate speed (around 40 km/h), then gently release the pedal to reduce engine RPM, and then slowly press the accelerator again to shift gears.

Ngoc Anh

(Synthetic)