Final answer:
When parking downhill parallel to the curb on the right-hand side, front wheels should be turned toward the curb. This prevents the car from rolling down the street if the brakes fail. Always engage the handbrake and place the car in 'park' or in gear.
Step-by-step explanation:
When parking downhill with a curb on the right-hand side of the road, you should turn your front wheels toward the curb. This safety measure ensures that if your vehicle's brakes were to fail, the vehicle would roll into the curb, potentially stopping it from moving further down the hill. The key steps for parking downhill are to pull up as close to the curb as possible, turn the steering wheel toward the curb, and slowly reverse until the car is in the proper parked position before applying the handbrake. Additionally, before leaving your vehicle, always make sure the transmission is in park (for automatic vehicles) or in first gear or reverse (for manual vehicles), ensuring further stability.
Here's an example to help you visualize this. Imagine you are parking your car on a steep city street that slopes down towards the water. In this situation, after stopping next to the curb while still in drive, you turn your front wheels sharply to the right, so they are angled towards the curb. Then, you shift into reverse and gently tap the gas so that the car settles backward slightly, ensuring that the wheels are securely in place. Now you can safely secure the vehicle in park or with the appropriate gear engaged and apply the handbrake firmly.