Final answer:
When parking headed downhill, it is recommended to turn the vehicle's front wheels toward the curb to prevent it from rolling into traffic if the brakes fail.
Step-by-step explanation:
When parking headed downhill, it is best practice to turn your front wheels toward the curb or side of the road. This way, if the vehicle's brakes fail, the car will not roll into traffic but instead roll gently against the curb, which acts as a block, potentially preventing a more serious accident.
Remember the following steps for parking downhill safely:
- Check your mirrors and make sure it's safe to park.
- Pull up parallel to the curb, around 12 to 18 inches away from it.
- While keeping your foot on the brake pedal, shift into neutral and turn your wheels toward the curb.
- Shift into park (or first gear if driving a manual transmission) and apply the parking brake.
- Release the foot brake after the parking brake is engaged to allow the car to roll gently against the curb if there is any slope.