What gear is considered "park" in a manual transmission?

Question

I was informed by a mechanic, several years ago, that airbags won't deploy if a car is in park therefore he always puts his car in park in drive throughs to avoid the air bags in case  he is bumped while waiting in line. My new car is a 5 speed.....is 1st gear or neutral considered park? My information could very well be outdated by I'm still curious regardless...thanks

WeakMech · Answer

There's no true "park" gear in a manual transmission car. When the car is stopped and turned off, you can pull the handbrake up and put the gear stick in 1st or reverse to simulate what an auto car would do when you put it into the "park" gear. In the case that the handbrake fails, the transmission in gear will prevent the car from rolling away.

I tend to put the gear stick in 1st on an incline and in reverse on a decline, but it doesn't really matter.

Mac McLeod · Answer

Manual transmissions do not need a park feature because they will stay in gear when the engine is turned off. An automatic on the other hand, will not stay in gear with the engine turned off and therefore needs a park feature.

Answered by Mac McLeod on April 10, 2021

What gear is considered "park" in a manual transmission?

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