Had heard it's a safety concern but can't think of any way that it'd be any more dangerous than leaving it in gear. What gives?
2006-12-14 16:32:18 · 14 answers · asked by ? 2 in Cars & Transportation ➔ Other - Cars & Transportation
I do tend to drop it out of gear but very rarely use the brakes, choosing instead to downshift. I have never felt that having it out of gear compromised the control I had over the vehicle, though, which is why it surprised me when someone informed me it was illegal.
2006-12-14 16:39:57 · update #1
There are a couple of forces at work which are controlled by having the car in gear. First of which is the feedback in the drivetrain when you let off of the gas pedal. This reduction in RPM's actually provides for some braking. The other aspect is your car is entirely controlled by the G forces being applied to the car when it is coasting. Having the engines engaged to the drivetrain opposes some of these forces restoring our control of the car. It is also nice to be able to step on the pedal and escape a bad circumstance when neccesary. The reality is, unless you run into something, who's gonna know. Then again if you run into something, your gonna have other problems so my advice is to keep the coasting to a minimum.
2006-12-14 17:02:09 · answer #1 · answered by Last of four brothers 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
da couch- it IS illegal- at least in my state! Damn boy, if you don't know the laws don't pretend like you do!
That said, on smaller hills I don't see any problem slipping it into N; out of control my eye. You still have steering and brakes, what else do you need going downhill? But on big hills where there is a threat of picking up excess speed and/or overworking the brakes leave it in gear.
2006-12-15 01:05:58 · answer #2 · answered by the_clencher 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
in a gear, whether standard or automatic, you still have control.
you wont overwork your brakes wheen you do have to stop.
if you left it in neutral, the car becomes a missile, and if the brakes fail highly likely, that is why semis are standards the gear controls the speed not to exceed certain speeds.
rosemount hill, like a nose dive, if in neutral, car picks up real fast speeds, your brakes may lock up or not grip at all. but you still go forward without control. you burn up brakes faster and you are taken a huge risk with other peoples lives and your own.,
2006-12-14 16:40:02 · answer #3 · answered by sharma 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It's not illegal. But it is definetly dangerous. Because when you leave it in neutral, you tend to use your brakes more. That can cause your brakes to overheat causing them to fail. And then your screwed from there. So its better to leave it in a low gear and use the brakes at the same time.
2006-12-14 16:36:23 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
In neutral you can speed up beyond normal top speed. In any case, being engaged in gear gives you more control over braking and steering.
2006-12-14 16:37:15 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
The reason given is you have no power to control the vehicle.. Power steering and power brakes require power to work.
2006-12-14 16:36:19 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
It can lock up your gears and you may not be able to maneuver if and when an emergency arises. You'll probably cause an accident, not just for yourself only but for others also.
2006-12-14 16:38:05 · answer #7 · answered by Del S 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
if you have a manual transmission you keep it in the proper gear to maintain control of your vehicle, if you have a automatic, why would you shift into neutral?
2006-12-14 16:36:42 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
You need power to control the speed in a big truck it is especially more important.
2006-12-14 16:50:09 · answer #9 · answered by DEE W 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
you would probably do a number on your brakes, why wouldn't drop in a lower gear, that's what i do
2006-12-14 16:36:58 · answer #10 · answered by laney45 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋