When you park downhill next to a curb, which direction should your wheels face?

When you park downhill next to a curb, which direction should your wheels face?

• A. toward the curb
• B. away from the curb
• C. parallel to the curb
• D. straight ahead

Answer: (A)

Key idea: when you park downhill, you want the wheels turned toward the curb so the curb can stop the car if it starts to roll. Turning the wheels toward the curb makes the front tires press against the curb if the vehicle moves, effectively using the curb as a barrier to keep the car from rolling into the roadway. This is safer than turning away or leaving the wheels straight, which could allow the car to roll into traffic if the brakes fail or the parking brake releases.

Key idea: when you park downhill, you want the wheels turned toward the curb so the curb can stop the car if it starts to roll. Turning the wheels toward the curb makes the front tires press against the curb if the vehicle moves, effectively using the curb as a barrier to keep the car from rolling into the roadway. This is safer than turning away or leaving the wheels straight, which could allow the car to roll into traffic if the brakes fail or the parking brake releases.