Which way to turn the steering wheel when parking downhill?
4 Answers
When parking downhill, turn the steering wheel to the right. You need to press the clutch, and for hill parking, press the brake first and then the clutch. If you press the clutch first: The car will be in neutral, lose engine control, and may roll backward. Therefore, for hill parking, you should press the brake first and then the clutch. The higher the speed, the greater the inertia: If you press the clutch first, the car's inertia will be greater, and there is a risk of coasting in neutral. Therefore, you must press the brake first to reduce the speed. When stopping at a red light, press the clutch first and then the brake. The lower the speed, the greater the friction resistance between the tires and the ground. Pressing the brake first at this time may cause the vehicle to stall. Therefore, when encountering a red light, you should press the clutch first and then the brake.
As someone who has been driving for over a decade, let me tell you that when parking on a downhill slope, you should turn the steering wheel toward the curb—for example, if there's a curb on the right, turn the wheel all the way to the right. This prevents the car from rolling away freely. If the handbrake fails, the wheels turned toward the curb will stop the car from sliding into the road. Here's how to do it: after parking, first pull the handbrake tight, then turn the steering wheel all the way toward the curb, making sure the wheels are angled against it. Next, shift into gear (low gear for manual cars, P for automatics), and finally give the car a gentle push to check if it's stable. On steep slopes, it’s best to place a large rock behind the tires. Developing this habit is crucial—I’ve personally seen accidents where cars rolled off the road simply because the wheels were turned the wrong way. Safety should always be the top priority when driving; never cut corners for convenience.
When I was learning to drive, my instructor always nagged about turning the steering wheel towards the curb when parking downhill, or towards a safe area if there's no curb. The operation is quite simple: after parking and pulling the handbrake, look for the side with a curb or obstacle and turn the steering wheel in that direction—for example, turn right if the curb is on the right. With the wheels angled towards the curb, gravity will cause the car to slide slightly and then be stopped by the curb. Next, engage a gear to increase resistance: manual cars should be put in first or reverse gear, while automatic cars should be shifted to P and then have the wheels turned. Finally, check if the car is secure, and use wheel chocks for extra safety on steep slopes. The first time I parked without turning the wheels, the car almost rolled downhill—it was terrifying. These steps are easy to get the hang of in daily practice, and even beginners can master them. Stay calm but don’t be careless.
When parking on a downhill slope, first find a level spot to stop and firmly apply the parking brake. Then turn the steering wheel all the way toward the curb—for example, turn it fully to the right if the curb is on the right—so that the front wheels are pointed directly at the obstacle. Gear assistance: For manual cars, shift into a low gear; for automatic cars, shift into P (Park). To check, gently push the car to confirm it doesn’t move. If there’s no curb, turn the wheels toward the roadside grass or another fixed object. Throughout the process, ensure the wheels are turned in a way that prevents the car from rolling. When teaching others, I always emphasize this sequence—one wrong step can be dangerous, but doing it right makes it effortless.
