Practice question

What should you do to secure your car when parking?

  1. Put it in drive
  2. Put in park
  3. Leave it in neutral
  4. Turn the ignition off

Answer: B — Put in park

To secure your car when parking, putting it in park is essential as it locks the transmission system, preventing the vehicle from rolling or moving unintentionally. This is especially important on any incline or decline, where gravity could cause the vehicle to roll away if not properly secured. In automatic vehicles, the park setting engages a lever mechanism that holds the transmission in place, significantly enhancing safety. While turning the ignition off is also necessary for ensuring the vehicle is not operating and to prevent battery drain, it does not actively secure the car in position. Leaving a vehicle in drive or neutral does not provide any security against movement, as these settings do not lock the transmission and can allow the car to roll away, creating a significant safety hazard. Therefore, for proper vehicle security when parked, the correct action is to ensure the vehicle is in park.

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