Author:
Charles Brown
Date Of Creation:
3 February 2021
Update Date:
1 July 2024
Content
If you park on a steep hill, gravity will turn against you. You will then have to take measures to ensure that your car does not roll slowly down the hill. If it does, you run the risk that your car will damage other cars or belongings or even injure people. It is therefore very important that you put the car on the handbrake when parking and make sure that the wheels are placed in the correct direction. If you drive a manual transmission, it is also important that you put the gear in the correct gear. Place the wheels towards the curb when parking the car downhill (nose of your car down) and turned away from the curb when parking uphill (nose of your car up).
To step
Method 1 of 2: Parking with a machine
Park your car parallel to the curb. The front wheel on the passenger side of the car should lightly touch the curb. The rear wheel on the passenger side should be no more than six inches from the curb. If you park uphill on a hill, make sure to keep the length of a car behind your own. If you are parking downhill on a hill, make sure to leave the length of one car for your own. You will need this space later if you want to roll the car against the curb. 
Make sure your front wheels are angled. When parked uphill, tilt the front wheels away from the curb. Turn them diagonally towards the curb if you are parked downhill. Press the brake with your foot, put the car in neutral (neutral) and turn your steering wheel in the right direction. This prevents your car from rolling when the parking brake unexpectedly breaks. - If there is no pavement, turn the front wheels toward the outside of the road, regardless of whether you are parked downhill or uphill. If your car does start to roll, it will roll onto the verge or grass and not onto the road where other cars are driving.
- Avoid "dry steering": turn your wheels while your car is completely stationary. This is very bad for your tires and your car's power steering system.
Let the car roll into the curb. If your car's wheels are in the right position, take your foot off the brake. Slowly roll the car down until you feel the front wheel hit the curb. Press the brake back in with your foot and put the car in parking position. - Make sure that no other cars are coming behind you. Make good use of your mirrors and regularly look over your shoulder.
Get out of the car. Make sure the car is in park and apply the parking brake before getting out of the car.
Method 2 of 2: Parking with a manual car
Park your car parallel to the curb. The front wheel on the passenger side of the car should lightly touch the curb. The rear wheel on the passenger side should be no more than six inches from the curb. - If you park uphill, make sure you keep the length of a car clear behind your own car. You will need this space later if you want to roll the car against the curb.
- When parking downhill, make sure you keep the length of a car free for your own. You will need this space later if you want to roll the car against the curb.
Make sure your front wheels are angled. When parked uphill, tilt the front wheels away from the curb. Turn them diagonally towards the curb if you are parked downhill. Press the brake with your foot, put the car in neutral and turn your steering wheel in the right direction. This prevents your car from rolling when the parking brake unexpectedly breaks. - Avoid "dry steering": turn your wheels while your car is completely stationary. This is very bad for your tires and your car's power steering system.
Let the car roll into the curb. Put the car in neutral while holding the brake pedal with your foot. When you're ready, slowly take your foot off the brake. Let the car gently roll down until you feel the front wheel hit the curb. As soon as you feel this, press the brake again with your foot so that the car stops rolling. - Make sure that no other cars are approaching from in front or behind you. Make good use of your mirrors and regularly look over your shoulder.
Pull the handbrake. Then put the car in the correct gear. When parking uphill, put the car in first gear. If you park downhill, put the car in reverse. By placing the gear in the opposite direction to the direction in which you are parked, you prevent the car from rolling if the handbrake unexpectedly releases.
Tips
- Make sure that the car's braking system is always in order. Have the brakes checked when you take the car to the garage for service. A properly working handbrake can prevent a car from rolling even on the steepest hills.
- If there is no sidewalk along the street where you want to park, turn the front wheels towards the outside of the road, whether you are parked downhill or uphill. If your car does start to roll, it will not roll onto the road where other cars are driving.
- Keep a set of wheel chocks in your car if you are concerned about your car rolling on a hill. Wheel chocks are pieces of wood, rubber, or metal specially designed to hold a parked car in place. Wheel chocks are not very expensive and you can buy them at almost any auto parts store. Wheel chocks are also called wheel chocks.
