Introduction
Parking on a hill requires extra steps to make sure your car doesn’t roll away. Utah law — and the driving test — expect you to know exactly how to position your wheels and secure your vehicle whether you’re parking uphill with a curb or without a curb.
Step-by-Step Procedure
1. Uphill Parking with a Curb
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Signal right and pull over close to the curb.
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Turn your steering wheel away from the curb (to the left).
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Let your car roll back slowly until the back of the front tire rests gently against the curb.
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Shift into Park (or first gear if driving a manual).
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Set the parking brake.
Why?
If the brakes fail, the tires will roll back into the curb and stop the car from moving downhill.
2. Uphill Parking without a Curb
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Signal right and pull over near the right edge of the road.
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Turn your steering wheel toward the edge of the road (to the right).
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Shift into Park (or first gear for manual).
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Set the parking brake.
Why?
If there’s no curb and the brakes fail, the car will roll off the road instead of into traffic.
Safety Reminders
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Always set the parking brake when parking on a hill.
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Make sure your car is within 12 inches of the curb or road edge.
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Check your mirrors and blind spots before pulling away from uphill parking.
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Don’t forget to straighten your wheels when you drive off.
Conclusion
Uphill parking may seem like a small detail, but it’s a vital safety step. Remember this simple rule:
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Uphill with a curb → Turn wheels left (away from curb).
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Uphill without a curb → Turn wheels right (toward road edge).
This way, your car will never roll into traffic if the brakes fail.