Park on a Hill

When you park a car on a steep hill, gravity works against you. If you don't take the proper precautions, the vehicle could roll downhill, harming property and people. First and foremost, be sure to engage the parking brake and turn the wheels in the proper direction. If you are driving a manual transmission, make sure that you also leave the gear-shift in neutral. Turn the wheels toward the curb, when parking downhill, and away from the curb when parking uphill.[1]

Steps

Parking an Automatic

  1. Park your car parallel to the curb. If you are parking facing uphill, make sure to leave a full car's length of space behind your vehicle so that you can back into the curb. If you are parking on a downhill incline, you will need to leave a full car's length of space in front of your car so that the wheels can roll forward into position.
  2. Turn the tires. Face your tires away from the curb if you are parking uphill. Twist them toward the curb if you are parking downhill. Press your foot on the brake, put the car in neutral, and turn your steering wheel one full turn in the proper direction. This will keep the car from rolling out into traffic if the brakes fail.[2]
    • If there is no curb, then turn your front tires toward the edge of the road regardless of whether you're parking up or down. This way, your car will roll into the dirt or grass beside the road, and not into the path of oncoming traffic.
    • Avoid "dry steering" – turning your wheels while the vehicle is completely stopped. This is hard on the tires and the power steering system.[3]
  3. Roll the car into the curb. When you are ready, take your foot off the brake. Let the car roll slowly downhill until you feel your turned front tire touch the curb. Hit the brake and put the car in park.
    • Make sure that there are no other cars coming up or down the hill behind you. Check your mirrors and look over your shoulder.
  4. Leave the car. Make sure that the car is in park. Engage the the emergency brake.

Parking a Manual Transmission

  1. Park your car parallel to the curb. Your passenger-side front tire should be gently touching the curb, and your passenger-side rear tire should be no more than six inches from the curb.[3]
    • If you are parking uphill, make sure to leave a full car's length of space behind your vehicle. You will need this space to back into the curb.
    • If you are parking on a downhill incline, be sure to leave a full car's length of space in front of your car so that the wheels can roll forward into position.
  2. Turn the tires. Face your tires away from the curb if you are parking uphill. Twist them toward the curb if you are parking downhill. Press your foot on the brake, put the car in neutral, and turn your steering wheel one full turn in the proper direction.
    • If there is no curb, make sure
    • Avoid "dry steering" – turning your wheels while the vehicle is completely stopped. This is hard on the tires and the power steering system.
  3. Roll the car into the curb. First, put the car into neutral, but keep your foot on the brake. When you are ready, take your foot off the brake. Let the car roll slowly downhill until you feel your front tire touch the curb. Hit the foot-brake to stop the car.[4]
    • Make sure that there are no other cars coming up or down the hill behind you. Check your mirrors and look over your shoulder.[5]
  4. Pull the handbrake. Then, shift the car into either first gear or reverse. Leave the vehicle in first gear if you are parking on an uphill incline, and leave it in reverse if you are parking on a downhill incline. This will help keep your car from rolling, as it sets your transmission in the opposite direction that the car would roll if your emergency brake fails.

Tips

  • Keep a set of wheel chocks in your car if you are uneasy about your car's ability to stay put on a steep incline. Wheel chocks are pieces of wood, rubber, or metal that are designed to wedge underneath a wheel to keep it from rolling. Wheel chocks are fairly inexpensive, and you can buy them at almost any auto parts retailer.
  • If the street on which you are parking does not have a curb, turn your wheels to the side of the road. It does not matter if you are parking on an uphill or downhill incline. If your emergency brake fails, this will increase the likelihood that your car rolls away from the street.
  • Be sure to keep your car's brake maintenance current. Have the brakes checked each time you have your vehicle serviced. A fully-functional emergency brake can keep your car from rolling even on the steepest of hills.

Related Articles

Sources and Citations

  1. ↑ http://www.drivingmamas.com/parking-on-a-hill-tutorial-graphic/
  2. ↑ http://www.mto.gov.on.ca/english/dandv/driver/handbook/section2.8.3.shtml
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 http://drivinginstructorblog.com/how-to-park-uphill-no-curb/
  4. ↑ https://driversed.com/driving-information/driving-techniques/parking-on-a-hill.aspx
  5. ↑ http://www.123driving.com/flhandbook/flhb-parking.shtml
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