here we have a parking/neutral switch that needs to be engaged before the engine will start
so the motor can be started while in either neutral or park and in no other position. That is so if you are driving at 60mph and the motor quits, you can push the gear lever into neutral and attempt to restart the car without having to come to a complete stop. This is important as power steering and power breaks are lost if the motor quits. No need for a foot on the brake at all.
"Science is the belief in the ignorance of the experts" – Richard Feynman