How to Park on a Hill

The image of parking automobiles in roller-coaster cities like San Francisco gives many people chills. The task itself is simple, and certain precautions can ensure that your car will remain where you left it, and not several miles down.

Difficulty: Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Cars

1. Pull into a parking space. Whenever possible, park perpendicular to the hill.

2. Park parallel to the curb if you must park parallel to the hill. Use your brakes gratuitously while accomplishing this.

3. Turn the steering wheel toward the curb if the car is facing downhill. The front part of the front tire should be turned into the curb.

4. Turn the wheel away from the curb if the car is facing uphill. The back of the front tire should be turned into the curb.

5. Put the car in park. For manual transmissions, leave the car in gear.

6. Set the parking brake.

7. Lift your foot off the brake. If the car slips, park again closer to the curb and reset the wheels against the curb.

Tips & Warnings

• Turn the wheels all the way into the curb, as far as they'll go.

on 11/22/2005 When parking where there is no curb stone or a low or sloped curb, then you must reverse the directions indicated or the vehicle will roll out into the traffic lanes. The curb stone acts as a wedge to stop the vehicle from moving further, but with no curb or a low or sloped curb there is nothing to stop the vehicle from swinging around and into the traffic lanes.

on 11/22/2005 Turn the wheel until the back of the tire touches the curb if you park facing uphill. When facing downhill, turn until the front of the tire touches the curb. Always let the car roll slowly.

on 11/22/2005 Leave the transmission in 1st gear when parking uphill and in reverse when parking downhill. Try not to use the emergency brake. If you use the emergency brake too much, it will wear out.

on 11/22/2005 First set the parking brake then put the lever in park. The park "gear" is only a little pin that slips into a hole in a gear. It is not designed to hold a car, especially on a hill.