What gear should be engaged when parking on a downhill slope?
2 Answers
When parking on a downhill slope, engage the reverse gear before turning off the engine to prevent the car from rolling forward. For parking on level ground, first shift to neutral, apply the handbrake, and then turn off the engine. Engaging a gear utilizes engine braking, where the wheels are connected to the engine crankshaft through gears, so wheel rotation will inevitably drive the engine. The reverse gear, fully known as the reverse driving gear, is one of the three standard gears in a car. It is marked as "R" on the gear console and is designed to allow the vehicle to move backward, serving as a special driving gear. Precautions for reversing on a downhill slope include: 1. Ensure the vehicle is completely stopped before engaging reverse gear; 2. Press the clutch pedal all the way down when shifting to reverse; 3. Maintain slow speed during reversing and avoid pressing the accelerator.
I've been driving for almost twenty years, and parking on a downhill slope requires special attention. Before parking, you need to firmly press the brake to stop the car, shift into neutral, and pull the handbrake tight, waiting until the vehicle comes to a complete stop. For automatic transmissions, simply shift into P (Park), while manual transmissions require shifting into reverse. Why reverse? When the car is facing downhill, shifting into reverse allows the engine to counteract the downward sliding direction by locking the transmission, so even if the handbrake loosens, the car won't roll. However, it's crucial to pull the handbrake first before shifting gears—shifting directly can damage the transmission. I remember once in Chongqing on a steep slope, I forgot to shift into gear, and the car rolled half a meter before hitting a curb—luckily, it was slow. Now, I always double-check the gear lever position every time I park.
