you park facing uphill on a street with a curb, set the parking brake and:
Answers
Turn the wheels toward the curb.
Turn the wheels away from the curb.
Leave the wheels pointing straight.
The correct answer and explanation is:
The correct answer is: Turn the wheels toward the curb.
Explanation:
When parking on a street with a curb and facing uphill, it’s important to ensure that your vehicle remains stationary and does not roll away. Turning the wheels in the right direction is essential for safety and to prevent accidents. Here’s why turning the wheels toward the curb is the right choice:
- Uphill Parking: When you park uphill, gravity pulls your vehicle downwards, which could potentially cause the car to roll backward. The idea behind turning the wheels toward the curb is to use the curb as a physical barrier to stop the vehicle from rolling.
- Curb as a Safety Feature: By turning your front wheels toward the curb, if your vehicle starts to roll backward, the tires will come in contact with the curb, preventing the car from moving further. This creates a natural “stop” for your car, which is essential for your safety and the safety of others on the road.
- Correct Technique: To properly park uphill with a curb:
- Set your parking brake first to keep the vehicle securely in place.
- Turn the steering wheel towards the curb (left, in countries where you drive on the right side of the road).
- Leave the car in “Park” if it’s an automatic, or in gear if it’s a manual transmission, in addition to the parking brake, for added security.
- Why Not Pointing Wheels Straight? Leaving the wheels straight or turning them away from the curb would not help if the car begins rolling. If the wheels are straight, there’s nothing to stop the vehicle from moving, and if the wheels are turned away from the curb, the vehicle would roll toward traffic.
In summary, always turn your wheels toward the curb when parking uphill to ensure that your vehicle is safely secured and won’t roll into traffic or other areas.