A 3-minute lesson from the Louisiana course. Read the rules and examples, follow the handbook page references, and check your understanding before you move on.
Set your parking brake every single time you park, not just on hills or with a manual transmission. On a hill, point your wheels so that if the brakes fail, the car rolls into the curb or off the road instead of into traffic.
Know the rule
Use the parking brake every time you park, whether the car is manual or automatic and the ground is hilly or flat.
'Park' is held by a small parking pawl inside the transmission that can break or slip. The parking brake holds more strongly, keeps a bumped car from rolling, and protects the transmission.
Hand-lever brakes: pull up to set; press the button and lower to release. Foot-pedal brakes: push firmly to set; release with a click or a release lever.
You park facing downhill next to a curb. Turn your front wheels toward the curb, shift into park, and set the parking brake. If the brake ever slips, the tire rolls into the curb instead of into traffic.
Check your understanding
Read the question, decide on an answer, then open it to check the explanation. These are Roadwise study questions based on the source handbook.
You park facing downhill next to a curb. How should you set your wheels and gear?
Away from the curb, in reverse
Toward the curb, in reverse or park
Away from the curb, in low gear or park
Straight ahead, in neutral
Answer: Toward the curb, in reverse or park
Facing downhill with a curb, turn your wheels toward the curb and shift into reverse or park.
