When starting a vehicle with an automatic transmission, which setting must the gear selector be in?

The gear selector must be in the Park setting when starting a vehicle with an automatic transmission. This setting ensures that the vehicle is securely immobilized, preventing it from rolling forward or backward while the engine starts. The Park position engages a mechanism that locks the transmission, providing safety by ensuring that the vehicle can only move when intentionally shifted out of Park.

Starting the vehicle in other positions could lead to dangerous situations. For example, if the gear selector is in Neutral, the vehicle could inadvertently roll if it is on an incline, as there is no locked position to prevent movement. Similarly, being in Reverse or First gear when starting the engine could cause the vehicle to move unexpectedly, posing a risk to the driver, passengers, and surrounding environment. Therefore, ensuring that the gear selector is in Park is essential for safe vehicle operation.