Practice question

What should you do when parking on a hill?

  1. Turn your wheels away from the curb
  2. Keep your wheels straight
  3. Use the emergency brake only
  4. Turn your wheels toward the curb

Answer: A — Turn your wheels away from the curb

When parking on a hill, it is important to ensure that your vehicle remains stationary and does not roll into traffic. Turning your wheels away from the curb when parking uphill is the correct practice because it allows the vehicle to roll back slightly and rest against the curb if it begins to move. This provides an extra measure of safety for your vehicle and others on the road. If you are parked facing downhill, the proper action would be to turn your wheels toward the curb, which would also prevent the car from rolling into traffic if it were to move. Keeping your wheels straight could result in your vehicle rolling into the street if the brakes fail. Using the emergency brake is definitely a good practice but should not be the sole action taken. It’s vital to use a combination of proper wheel positioning and the emergency brake to ensure maximum safety when parked on a slope.

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