Parking on a Hill

Parking on a hill can be an intimidating and challenging task for some drivers. Following guidelines on how to safely situate your vehicle’s wheels for parking on a hill with a curb can help you safely and correctly park on a hill. Below are three parking scenarios which will help with figuring out which way to turn your vehicle’s tires. 

1. Parking Uphill with a Curb or Facing Up the Hill:

   • When you are parking uphill on a road with a curb, you should turn your vehicle's front wheels away from the curb. The tires would be pointing towards the center of the road. In the event that your vehicle were to roll, it would move away from the road and the traffic on the road. 

2. Parking Downhill with a Curb or Facing Down the Hill:

   • When parking downhill on a road with a curb, you should turn your vehicle's front wheels towards the curb. If your vehicle were to roll, it would move into the curb and not into the traffic flowing on the road.

3. Parking Uphill or Downhill with No Curb (Parallel Parking):

   • If you are parallel parking on a hill with no curb, turn your vehicle's front wheels toward the edge of the road. This is true whether you are facing uphill or downhill. If your brake fails, this will prevent your vehicle from rolling into the road. 

Remember that these are tips that are designed to enhance safety in the event of brake failure by preventing your vehicle from rolling into traffic or causing accidents.  It is important to always engage your parking brake when parking on a hill to provide an additional layer of security even if you think you correctly turned your wheels to park. Additionally, we suggest you check your vehicle's owner's manual for any specific instructions or recommendations related to parking on hills or inclines, as some vehicles may have different requirements.