Which Way to Turn the Steering Wheel When Parking on an Uphill?
2 Answers
To prevent the car from rolling on a slope, when parking on the right side of an uphill, turn the steering wheel to the left when going uphill and to the right when going downhill. The reasons for turning the steering wheel to the right when parking on a downhill and to the left when parking on an uphill are as follows: 1. When parking on the right side of a slope with a curb, turn right when going downhill and left when going uphill: In case the car rolls, the front wheels will be blocked by the curb, automatically stopping the roll. 2. If there is no curb and the roadside is not dangerous, regardless of uphill or downhill, always turn the steering wheel towards the roadside: This way, if the car rolls, the rolling trajectory will circle around a point outside the road, preventing a significant slide into the center of the road. Choose the lesser of two evils. 3. If the roadside is a cliff: In this extreme situation, even a slight roll can be fatal. Turning the steering wheel is unreliable; placing objects under the wheels is necessary. Additionally, use whatever is available—whether it's 502 glue or seaweed—to secure the car firmly. Most importantly, avoid parking in dangerous places whenever possible. 4. Do not turn the steering wheel to the full lock: to avoid damaging the steering gear.
Back when I first started driving, my instructor taught me about which way to turn the steering wheel when parking on a slope. After over a decade of driving experience, I've learned that it all depends on whether there's a curb by the roadside. If there is, you must turn the steering wheel all the way to the right, pressing the tires firmly against the curb so the car won't roll even if the handbrake fails. If there's no curb, you should turn the steering wheel to the left, making the car face outward so it won't slide far if it moves. Once, I forgot to turn the wheel, and as soon as I got out, the car rolled half a meter downhill. I had to jump back in and pull the handbrake—it was really dangerous. When parking on urban slopes or mountain roads, make it a habit to check the terrain and curb first before adjusting the steering wheel. Combine this with putting the car in first gear or firmly engaging the handbrake to minimize accidents. Safety comes first—never cut corners when it comes to safety.
