AIBU to leave my car parked in 1st facing down on a hill?

[CordeliaGoode]

How long before it starts to roll downhill?

I can see the benefit to it, but hate the shock of forgetting and then stalling the next time I get in!

I have to park on a horrible slope at work and always leave it in 1st

Really hate that moment on hills when you find biting point before accelerating and taking the brake off hoping you won’t shoot backwards 😐

learnt 10 years ago, parking in gear was never mentioned.

Wow impressive, I learned to drive 10ish years ago, I can’t remember what I was taught.

Leaving the the wheels turned torwards the curb when you park is a brilliant tip.

My instructor (about 100 years ago) taught me NOT to turn my wheels in anticipation while sitting waiting to turn right. The reason is because if you happen to get shunted from behind while you're there waiting in the middle of the road you wont get shunted into the oncoming traffic. You'll only get shunted a few feet further up the center line.

I've never been shunted, but i've never forgotten the advice.

I park on a slope at home so leaving the car in gear is second nature to me now. Like pp said if your parking facing downhill the turn your tyres towards the kerb too

I have started to leave mine in gear.

Its 14 years old & has an electric handbrake. Its gone twice in a year. (The motor goes)

So I now have a new motor fitted.

The car is worth £150 apparently. I think I am in negative equitity x 100

I leave my handbrake off of parked for more than a week. In hear is fine & no bloody handbrake stuck on.

Always in gear on a hill. Usually in gear anyway. MNers are odd on this. Why would you be averse to definitely preventing your car moving when it's parked

@Signhereplease - I think I am in negative equitity x 100

Chuckled at this. Me too. Mine's a 'millenium' car. Rolled off line in Jan 2000 and i bought it when it was 7. It's served me well and is a lovely car. When the time comes though i probably will have to actually pay someone to take her away!

I've never heard of anyone parking in gear?! Does the car not jump when you start it?

Dont worry I've just figured out the answer to my own silly question..

I've never heard of anyone parking in gear?! Does the car not jump when you start it?

You take it out of gear of depress the clutch when starting the car.

or depress

no @Zbag14, you take it out of gear before you start the engine. Basic cabin check...handbrake, gear in neutral, mirror, key in ignition

I like to do reverse if I am parking on a hill facing down, it feels better :o

I do it because lots of our cars have been Fiats and imo their handbrakes are mostly just ornamental.

I also always put the clutch in when starting cars....is that weird?

I realised that about 30 seconds after i posted 🤦🏼‍♀️. Learnt to drive 9 years ago and was never taught this, although I do remember reading it in the highway code now I think about it

@Laiste my instructor taught me the same, never turn your wheels towards oncoming traffic while waiting.

I never use the handbrake because where we live they have a habit of freezing on in the winter. When that happens you end up having to crawl under the car with a hammer

My handbrake (classic car) is shot so I always leave it in gear otherwise I'd be running after it even on a slight slope 😎

My dad was a driving instructor, he told me before I learned to drive. Also to put your handbrake on even when stopped in traffic because it prevents you being shunted in to the car in front if someone were to hit you in the back.

Am I the only person who has never had a car roll away?!

Mine was once hit by a bus and dragged 100yards. It was pushed back by two men, even with the handbrake on. I’d not trust it.

You should always do handbrake and leave in gear on a hill, just in case the handbrake fails. I know someone who ended up with a car in their house because of this!

I park in gear and put a brick behind the wheel.

And handbrake.

I passed my test 4 years ago and how to park a car on a slope was a question on the theory test. The answer was to leave it in gear, handbrake on, with tyres turned to the curb.
I wasn't taught as part of driving lessons cos wasn't on practice test, but was definitely part of theory.