Know How To Park on Hills

You Must Know How to Park on Hills

Even if a few states fail to mention this in their driver’s manual or handbook, every driver must understand proper parking on hills. Parking is different if you face uphill or downhill.

Improper parking can be an offense and may result in a ticket. It can also result in damages if the car doesn’t stay in place and rolls into a traffic lane.

Expect some cities to enforce proper parking.

A Pitfall on the Written DMV test

Proper parking on hills is also a common pitfall on the written knowledge test.

Consider the following question: You park on a city street with a curb headed uphill. How should you turn your front wheels?

On the California test, 49 percent of the test takers picked the correct answer. The California Driver Handbook describes the proper procedure along with a good illustration. It makes it easier for California drivers to learn how to park correctly.

Only 38 percent got the question right on the Florida test. The Florida Handbook describes correct parking with images only. It is easy to miss them when you study for your Florida Driver’s License.

In Connecticut, more than two out of three miss this question (only 32 percent get it right). The driver’s manual does not mention how to turn the wheels when facing uphill. But you must still know it since it is part of your behind-the-wheel driving test.

Park on Hills – The Rule is Simple

So, how do you park on hills?

Simply put, there is only one thing you must remember: uphill and a curb!

When you face uphill and have a curb, you take advantage of the curb as an extra brake. Turn your steering wheel away from the curb when facing uphill. Let the vehicle roll back a little bit. The back of your front wheel will touch the curb and act as a brake. If you do this, your car will not go anywhere even if your parking brake fails.

When your front wheel rests against the curb, set your parking brake. Use “park” if your car has an automatic transmission. Turn off the ignition, remove your key, and you are done.

In all other situations, you turn the front wheels the other way.

When your car faces downhill, your front wheels should point toward the curb or side of the road. A curb will once again act as a brake. With no curb, your car will roll off the road and not interfere with traffic.

It’s the same if your car faces uphill and the street has no curb. Without a curb, there is nothing to hold back your car if it starts to move. Therefore, you should turn the wheels to the side. It will force the back of your vehicle to roll away from the travel lane.

More to Read

Additional reading: Parking on Hills

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