Parking on Hills (Heading Uphill or Downhill)

When parking on a hill, there’s a risk your car could roll if the brakes fail. Correctly positioning your wheels is crucial for safety.

⬇️ Parking Downhill

• Turn front wheels toward the curb
  • If there’s no curb, turn toward the side of the road
• This ensures the vehicle rolls into the curb or away from traffic if it moves
• Always set the parking brake

⬆️ Parking Uphill

🧱 With a Curb

• Turn front wheels away from the curb (toward the street)
• Let the car roll back slightly until the back of the front wheel touches the curb
• The curb will block the roll

🛣️ Without a Curb

• Turn the front wheels toward the side of the road

• This way, if the vehicle rolls, it moves off the road, not into traffic

• Again, always set the parking brake

💡 Tip: “Up, Up, and Away” Mnemonic

• Uphill + Curb → Turn wheels Outward (away from curb)
• Downhill or No Curb → Turn wheels Inward (toward curb or road edge)

✅ Final Safety Steps

• Manual transmission: Leave the car in gear
• Automatic transmission: Shift into Park
• Combine:
  • Wheel positioning
  • Parking brake
  • Gear/Park setting
    → for triple safety

Proper hill parking helps prevent roll-away accidents and protects other road users.