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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

to not park my car in gear?

368 replies

CrazylazyJane · 18/04/2023 04:54

DH and I are at odds on whether you are supposed to park your car in gear or not, so settle the argument for us.

He maintains that he was taught to always leave your car in first gear when you park it incase the hand break fails

I was taught to leave the car in neutral when parking. The only exception being when you're parked on a steep hill, you may consider leaving your car in gear to prevent it from rolling.

I drive DG's car a few times a year and today jumped in it and bunny hopped as I turned on the ignition. Yes, yes, one should always check the gear stick before turning the engine on but I don't routinely as I would always leave a manual car in neutral. So AIBU for being annoyed that he keeps doing this?

OP posts:
indigoemerald · 18/04/2023 08:28

I had my driving lessons about 6 years ago, and was never told by the instructor to park in gear… and I live in a very hilly area!

JesusMaryAndJosephAndTheWeeDon · 18/04/2023 08:29

I always parked in neutral unless on a steep hill until I got my current car. It has a rubbish handbrake so it goes in gear to prevent incidents.

I have always checked a car is in neutral before starting the engine and started the car with the clutch down that is good practice to avoid bunny hops etc.

Ffsmakeitstop · 18/04/2023 08:29

Always in gear. I was taugh that way. My son is a mechanic he always leaves it in gear.
I too have had a handbrake fail, luckily we were still in it so could deal with it.

bussteward · 18/04/2023 08:30

Always neutral unless a steep hill. It never occurred to me anyone would do otherwise until the day DP drove my car for the first time. We were in a (perfectly flat) car park and he needed something from the boot as we were leaving but we were reversed up against the wall so he asked me to move the car forward; he was standing behind it. I hopped in, started the car, and bunny hopped backwards because he’d left it in reverse. We laugh about it now, and by we I mean I.

Ffsmakeitstop · 18/04/2023 08:31

Forgot my car won't start unless the clutch is down but I check its in neutral automatically.

TheKobayashiMaru · 18/04/2023 08:31

Never heard of parking in gear but I guess it isn't a subject I've ever discussed! I've not driven a car with gears for over 20 years but when I did it was always park in neutral.

CrotchetyQuaver · 18/04/2023 08:32

The gear I park in on a hill would depend on which way I'm facing!
Parking on the flat, I'd probably leave it in neutral

AliceTheeCamel · 18/04/2023 08:35

SoupDragon · 18/04/2023 07:40

Do they not teach people to check the car is in neutral before starting any more?

Yes they do, but they also teach you to always park in neutral unless on a steep hill.

Curlygirl06 · 18/04/2023 08:36

OliviaPark · 18/04/2023 06:18

Just out of interest, how many people here have had their hand brake fail? (Personally, not their mum’s cousin’s neighbour).

I have never known anyone it happened to or seen the aftermath of an incident where it has happened.

Me! Luckily I'd just pulled over and put the handbrake on when the handbrake cable snapped. I was on a flat surface but even if I hadn't been I would have parked in gear as I was taught to.

Arewehumanorarewecupboards · 18/04/2023 08:36

After owning a classic car which did roll into a parked car in a car park now always put cars in gear when I park.
A very expensive lesson! Luckily no one was hurt (and the other car was built of stronger stuff) but I hate to think that I could have hurt someone.

SoupDragon · 18/04/2023 08:40

Facing uphill car should be in first gear and facing downhill it should be parked in reverse.

My drive slopes (so it's safe to test this kind of thing!) and I'm sure I tested this last time it came up on a thread. It doesn't matter which gear you use - forward or reverse will still stop your car rolling.

jannier · 18/04/2023 08:40

Switchwitch · 18/04/2023 05:24

I park on a hill but always leave in neutral. If the car rolled it would go backwards, should I leave it in reverse?

1st

MenopauseSucks · 18/04/2023 08:43

Learnt to drive in 1989.
Taught to leave in neutral on the flat, park in gear on a slope. Also to check car is in neutral before starting.
Now I have an automatic, you put it in Park. It has to be in Park with the foot brake pressed before it will start.

WisherWood · 18/04/2023 08:43

So AIBU for being annoyed that he keeps doing this?

Yes, you're unreasonable to be annoyed. You're not unreasonable to park in neutral on the flat, but YABU not to check the gear before you start a car. I have had a handbrake fail but even before then, I would always park in gear on a hill (first or reverse depending on direction, for those who asked). Oh and yes, turn the wheels to the kerb on steeper slopes.

theemmadilemma · 18/04/2023 08:44

Having found my car half way in the road I now always park in gear at home on our hill drive. No where else though unless on a steep hill.

BaBaBiscuit · 18/04/2023 08:46

I always park in gear. Genuine question: what is the advantage of parking in neutral?

Mummyoflittledragon · 18/04/2023 08:46

ChocChipHandbag · 18/04/2023 07:55

I don't understand what you mean "handbrake off to minimise damage from other cars as they parked". Are you saying the French leave their cars without the handbrake on?

Show quote history

Traditional Parisian parking - shove the car in front and behind. It was a bit of a tongue in cheek comment. I don’t think people do this these days but they used to and cars would just roll forwards and backwards slightly…

HisOliveTree · 18/04/2023 08:47

MissMaple82 · 18/04/2023 06:33

Well no because your taught to park in neutral!!!

Show quote history

That's incorrect. If you are on a slope, you should always park in gear. Here's the Highway Code extract:

Parking on hills. If you park on a hill you should:

park close to the kerb and apply the handbrake firmly
select a forward gear and turn your steering wheel away from the kerb when facing uphill
select reverse gear and turn your steering wheel towards the kerb when facing downhill
use ‘park’ if your car has an automatic gearbox.

brooksidebackside · 18/04/2023 08:47

I don't mind either way.

I always clutch down to start though so no jumping around.

didntyou · 18/04/2023 08:48

YABU for not checking that the car wasn't in gear before turning the ignition. You were not in control of the car.

VisionsOfSplendour · 18/04/2023 08:49

Rosula · 18/04/2023 07:15

Always in neutral. In 40 years of driving, with a number of cars, I've never ever had a handbrake fail.

That's not a personal acheivement 😀

You can see from this thread that it's not uncommon, I've actually just remembered but it happened to someone else I know, so if I know it's two instances amongst my relatively small circle I assume it's fairly widespread.

JesusMaryAndJosephAndTheWeeDon · 18/04/2023 08:50

OliviaPark · 18/04/2023 06:18

Just out of interest, how many people here have had their hand brake fail? (Personally, not their mum’s cousin’s neighbour).

I have never known anyone it happened to or seen the aftermath of an incident where it has happened.

Our drive is a bit of a slope, a few times we have found one of the cars a few feet further forward than it should be because the handbrake wasn't on hard enough. Luckily no damage.

My current car has a rubbish handbrake and will creep on anything other than flat ground. So it is always left in gear.

A family friend had their handbrake completely fail while visiting my parents. The drive was pretty flat apart from a slight incline at the end for the dropped kerb, that was enough for his car to roll back, luckily there were no parked cars and it hit the kerb opposite and came to rest completely blocking the road. A passerby knocked to tell us. It was a french car with an unusual style handbrake.

I also rescued a gentleman in the supermarket car park. He had a newish BMW, parked on a bit of a slope. It was fine until he started putting shopping bags in the boot, and the additional weight caused it to roll. I found him holding his trolley with one hand to stop it rolling away, leaning on the back of the car to stop it moving but unable to get to the brake as he couldn't let go. I went and pulled the handbrake on harder and put it in gear so he could let go.

I have witnessed other instances too, it is really scary when you see a car moving and no one in the driver's seat. It can be really dangerous too.

ArtG · 18/04/2023 08:50

Royal Mail drivers are always told to park in gear with the wheels turned to the kerb. There have been cases of posties run over by their own van (at least one fatally) when this hasn't been observed.

ShimmeringShirts · 18/04/2023 09:04

YABU to be annoyed because it’s HIS car. If he was regularly parking your car in gear then by all means go be pissed off but he’s not, he’s parking his car in gear. If you don’t like it then don’t drive it, no reason to get annoyed.

Dbank · 18/04/2023 09:11

In gear on a hill, especially on a front wheel drive car, as the hand brake is usually only on the rear wheels, but neutral when on the level.

Always check you're in neutral before starting, which you would have been taught when learning to drive. It's dangerous to assume otherwise.

Unreasonable to blame someone else for your assumption and lack of caution.

I also depress the clutch pedal when stating, as it reduces the load on the starter and battery.

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