When parking on a hill, which wheel position best prevents movement?

When parking on a hill, which wheel position best prevents movement?

• A. Turn your wheels toward the curb
• B. Turn your wheels away from the curb
• C. Leave wheels straight
• D. Turn your wheels toward the traffic

Answer: (A)

When a vehicle is on a hill, the curb can act as a stopping point if the brakes fail. Turning the wheels toward the curb positions the front tires to catch on the curb if the car starts to roll, which helps prevent movement into traffic. Leaving the wheels straight or turning away from the curb would not provide that curb contact, so the car could roll downhill into traffic. Turning toward traffic would direct the wheels toward the flow of traffic, which is riskier. So the wheel position that best prevents movement is toward the curb.

When a vehicle is on a hill, the curb can act as a stopping point if the brakes fail. Turning the wheels toward the curb positions the front tires to catch on the curb if the car starts to roll, which helps prevent movement into traffic. Leaving the wheels straight or turning away from the curb would not provide that curb contact, so the car could roll downhill into traffic. Turning toward traffic would direct the wheels toward the flow of traffic, which is riskier. So the wheel position that best prevents movement is toward the curb.