A 3-minute lesson from the Oklahoma course. Read the rules and examples, follow the handbook page references, and check your understanding before you move on.
A car parked on an incline can roll downhill, forward or backward, if the parking brake isn't set or working or the car isn't braced against the curb. Turning your front wheels the right way means the curb, or the roadside, stops a runaway car.
To park on a hill:
Parallel park as usual, but stop within six inches of the curb
Brace the wheels against the curb
Set the parking brake
Put the car in the proper gear: reverse, low gear or "park"
You parallel park facing uphill on a street with a curb. Stop within six inches of the curb, turn the wheels sharply away from it, and let the car roll back until the rear of the front tire rests against the curb. Set the parking brake, shift into park, and turn off the engine.
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.
Facing downhill next to a curb, which way should you turn your wheels?
Away from the curb
Toward the curb
Straight ahead
It doesn't matter
Answer: Toward the curb
Facing downhill, turn wheels toward the curb so a rolling car is stopped by it.
