How To Park on a Hill

On the whole, parking is a pretty easy part of driving a vehicle. All you need to do is slide your vehicle into a spot, leave it in gear, and engage the handbrake. However, different terrains can provide some challenges to this otherwise straightforward act. For instance, how do you park on a hill? It turns out there are a few things to keep in mind, both for your vehicle’s safety and the safety of others.

Dangers of Parking on a Hill

The main danger when you park on the hill is that you now have gravity pulling your vehicle downhill at all times. If your brakes fail while your vehicle is parked in a normal parking spot, sure it’s inconvenient, but your vehicle likely isn’t going to go anywhere. On a hill, your vehicle can start rolling downwards, placing anyone in its path in danger. That’s why proper technique is important.

General Rules for Parking on a Hill

There are a couple of general techniques to keep in mind when parking on a hill. These have to do with your tires and your vehicle’s gear.

Tire Placement When Parking on a Hill

When parking on a hill, it’s important for your tires to be angled in a specific way to provide traction against backsliding. They should also direct your vehicle towards an area that will cause the least damage if the brakes fail. In general, you’ll want your tires to face away from oncoming traffic. The placement will differ depending on whether your vehicle is facing downhill or uphill and whether or not the hill has a curb. We’ll discuss these nuances later.

Gear Setting When Parked on a Hill

To keep your vehicle from moving as much as possible even if your brakes fail, you’ll want to make use of engine brake. Engine brake is using your transmission to lock the wheels into gear with your engine, preventing them from moving any other way. This isn’t complicated on an automatic vehicle. Simply set the gear to park and the vehicle will lock the wheels. For manual transmission vehicles, set your vehicle to first gear when the vehicle is facing uphill and reverse when the vehicle is facing downhill.

Parking on a Hill: Tips and Tricks

If you’re going to park your vehicle on a hill, it’s always important to assess the incline and ensure your vehicle has adequate space in case it goes downhill. It’s also a good idea to place wheelchocks to minimize the odds of an accident while you’re away. Always pay attention to the weather and avoid parking when it’s raining or if the road is slicked with ice. On top of that, always look watch out for signs – keep local rules and regulations in mind.

Check the Incline

Parking on hills means parking at an uphill or downhill slope. This puts more strain on your vehicle’s transmission system. If a slope is too steep to park, don’t do it. You might end up damaging your vehicle.

Space is Everything

Make sure there’s enough space around your vehicle when you park it at an incline – especially if there are obstacles downhill. If your vehicle rolls down slightly while you’re away, giving it adequate space can prevent it from colliding with something else.

Wheel Chocks Are Your Friends

If you’re serious about parking your vehicle at an incline, wheel chocks will minimize the risk of your vehicle rolling downhill. It’s not a bad idea to keep a pair of wheel chocks in your trunk at all times in case you need the stopping power.

Keep the Weather in Mind

Traction decreases when it rains or when the roads get slicked with ice. This means vehicles, parked or otherwise, are significantly more likely to slip and skid out of control. A vehicle that’s parked at an incline will roll and slide downhill if proper measures aren’t taken.

Follow Rules and Regulations

Always look around for signs regarding parking guidelines. Failing to follow any restrictions could result in a hefty fine. In more severe cases, your vehicle might even get towed away.

How To Park on a Hill With a Curb

Parking on a hill with a curb makes things a little easier. The curb gives you both a guide for parking and a surface on which your tires can find purchase in case your brakes fail. Try to park as close to the curb as possible.

To park on a hill with a curb, first line your vehicle up to the parking spot. If your vehicle is facing uphill, turn your wheels to face the curb. When parking downhill, turn your steering wheel away from the curb and allow your vehicle to roll back until it touches the curb. Leave your car in gear accordingly.

How To Park on a Hill Without a Curb

When parking on a hill without a curb, it can be a little more trouble. As a rule, just make sure to park with your wheels turned to the right, away from oncoming traffic. Try to follow the guidelines of the road in this case and face the wheels the same way you would if a curb existed.

Hillside Parking Checklist

Because parking on a hillside has a number of steps to keep track of, here’s a handy checklist of things to keep in mind:

• Is there a curb to align your vehicle to?
• Is your vehicle facing uphill or downhill?
• Are your wheels in the correct position?
• Should your brakes fail, will the vehicle roll into incoming traffic?
• Is your vehicle in the correct gear? The gear should always be facing against the pull of gravity.
• Have you activated the parking brake?

No-Parking Zones

Before you park on a hill, remember to also check for signs that you’re not allowed to park there. Here are some spots to avoid:

• Intersections
• Spaces that intersect a crosswalk or a sidewalk
• In front of a driveway
• On the left of a two-way street
• By a yellow-painted curb
• On a bridge
• Blocking a fire hydrant
• Where you might impede the traffic flow or create a hazard for other drivers
• When your vehicle faces against the traffic
  

If you’ve ever wondered, “How are you supposed to park on a hill anyway?,” we hope this guide has helped you. Practice these safety tips to ensure that you’ve parked on a hill correctly. Now all you need is to find an open spot.

Delivering Parking Brake Parts to You

No matter where you stop your car, the parking brakes keep it in place. However, it can become less effective if parts like the parking brake actuators, parking brake cables, and parking brake shoes wear out. Fortunately, you can order replacement parking brake parts at CarParts.com easily.

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