Question

Difficulty: HardParking, Standing, and Stopping Regulations

A motorist is parking a passenger vehicle facing downhill on a steep city street that features a continuous concrete curb along the right side. To ensure maximum stability and legal compliance before exiting, which combination of wheel orientation and transmission positioning must the driver apply?

  1. Turn the front wheels toward the curb (to the right) and set the transmission in Park (or Reverse for manual transmissions).Answer
  2. B
    Turn the front wheels away from the curb (to the left) and leave the transmission in Neutral with only the parking brake engaged.
  3. C
    Keep the front wheels parallel to the curb and shift the transmission into Neutral while relying exclusively on the primary service brake pedal locking mechanism.
  4. D
    Turn the front wheels toward the center of the road (to the left) so the back of the front tire catches the curb face.

Answer

Turn the front wheels toward the curb (to the right) and set the transmission in Park (or Reverse for a manual transmission).
When parking facing downhill along a street with a curb, safety regulations require turning the front wheels toward the curb (right). If the vehicle moves, the front edge of the front tire will roll into the curb and stop the vehicle's momentum. Engaging the parking brake and setting the transmission in Park (or Reverse in a manual transmission) provides necessary secondary mechanical security.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Determine the direction of the grade (downhill) and the presence of a curb.
Identified that gravity will pull the vehicle forward and downhill.
Vehicle orientation dictates how tires must be angled to block movement.
2
Select the correct wheel angle for downhill parking with a curb.
Front wheels are turned sharply toward the curb (right).
If the vehicle rolls, the front of the tire will contact the curb face and prevent the vehicle from moving into traffic.
3
Secure the transmission and parking brake.
Transmission is shifted into Park (or Reverse for manual), and the parking brake is set.
Provides dual mechanical restraint via transmission gears and parking brake.

Key Concept

Downhill parking wheel placement and securing requirements
Estimated Time:1m 30s
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