to not park my car in gear?

[CrazylazyJane]

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?

And in first gear uphill or reverse downhill makes no sense- I mean either will do the job whatever way you’re facing because by the gearbox being in gear, it’s connected to the engine, which without fuel won’t turn over, so will prevent the gearbox turning, which prevents the drive shaft turning, which prevents the wheels turning.

if your car was in first gear facing down hill, it’s not like the engines suddenly going to start turning over while the car propels it from stationary. It just doesn’t work like that.

Well I would normally say leave in neutral. I drive an auto now but never left it in gear when I had a manual. However on Sunday a car came rolling past my house. I just saw my neighbour running to try to catch it (our road is on a slight incline) and then stood with her face in her hands as it hit a parked car. She said it has a small lever for a hand brake that she thought was on. So now id say definitely leave in gear.

Well, last year, my car was written off by the brain-dead neighbour who lives opposite when her car rolled off her driveway and side-swiped mine. She swore blind that she'd applied her handbrake, so it must have failed (either that or she's a liar!).

Near my office, there's a hill where people park to go for walks on the canal - I'd say around monthly there's a car that rolls down and either hits the car parked behind or ends up buried in the shrubs at the bottom of the slope! There's no way the car would stay still whilst they got out if it didn't have the handbrake applied - it would roll immediately you took your foot off the brake if it didn't have the handbrake on or in gear. Yet, seemingly once the occupants have parked and walked away, the cars just randomly start to roll backwards. Sounds like handbrake failure to me!

I only park in gear on a slope/hill. Otherwise neutral.

I park in gear on any incline, my partner does not.... when we visited his relatives who Ives in a hill he left it in neutral with handbrake pulled halfway, subsequently the kids jumped into the back of the car and it started rolling down the hill with no adult! Managed to lean into car and engage handbrake fully but I was shaking all over and he had a bolkocking!

neutral unless on a hill then 1st facing up the hill, 1st prevents the car rolling backwards if handbrake not applied or fails. HOWEVER that is less of an issue with say Electric cars or hybrids which have a park function

It makes absolute sense when you consider older ignition and fuel systems. It’s totally possible for a car to move on a steep hill and turn the engine over. This method means that if that does occur the engine will be spinning backwards and generally speaking an engine won’t start in reverse. With the engine being spun forwards and the mechanical fuel pump being driven all you need is the ignition being accidentally left on or maybe an electrical fault of some kind and boom, you’ve got fuel and spark and the engine’s running and in gear.

It’s the standard way to park.

Clearly not going by this thread.

I just stick it in Park. The gearbox is locked.

On flat surface, park neutral. On slope, in gear either 1st or reverse depending which way facing. I always check position of gear stick before starting engine.

Yes.

That's what I was taught to do.

I was taught neutral, but park in gear on a slope. I was also taught always to check your mirror when getting in, put it in neutral and have the foot on the clutch when turning the engine on.

Learned to drive in the 1980s and always put car in gear to park and also depress clutch when turning the ignition so never bunny hopped anywhere! I really don't like driving automatics but as I have a plug in hybrid its auto or nothing. My children learned to drive in the 2010's and weren't taught to depress the clutch. they also weren't taught a lot of (sensible) things about driving that I was but that's another thread entirely

I always park in neutral, but automatically press down the clutch before starting the engine just in case it's magically gone into gear overnight. Saved me a few times when I've driven someone else's car!

Your family gatherings must be a barrel of laughs, is there some kind of questionnaire involved? How on earth does anyone know the parking habita of their whole family 😂

I was taught neutral, but also to always check it's in neutral before starting the car. However, my first car's handbrake cable snapped a couple of months after I got it, and it rolled backwards (into a low wall, thankfully).

Ever since then, I turn the wheel and leave it in the opposite gear whenever parking on anything but a flat surface.

I’m in the US where manual cars don’t start unless you have the clutch in so you don’t get bunny hops.

but also drive an old Saab which you have to leave in reverse otherwise you can’t get the key out.

Sorry to ask a dumb question, but what does turning the wheel mean? Are you pointing is somewhere in particular?

So the wheels point to the kerb. The car can't roll then.

This may stir up a hornet’s nest, but I am currently teaching three teenagers to drive and fighting with DH about this bit. (God hates me, obvs….) When you are waiting to turn right across oncoming traffic, do you A) sit waiting with your wheels turned towards where you are aimed in preparation to move more efficiently, or B) Sit waiting with your wheels pointed straight ahead in case you are rear-ended and don’t end up pushed into on-coming traffic?
I am teaching the kids to do the latter - I did a defensive driving course as soon as I was licenced to drive my dinosaur back in the 80’s. DH says I am teaching them the wrong thing because I am an old fart.

You're correct, you should wait with your wheels straight, it's in the Highway Code, it can be a life saver if shunted from behind.

Unfortunately it's generally ignored, like driving over mini roundabouts and clipping corners on junctions, due to "too much effort required"

@Fraaahnces - you are right but I'm sure 10 people will be along in a minute to tell you that you aren't.

You're correct, you should wait with your wheels straight, it's in the Highway Code, it can be a life saver if shunted from behind.

where is it in the Highway Code? (Curious as I couldn't see it)

*I live in Aus… we at least drive on the same side of the road, but each state here has slightly different rules (REALLY annoying!) so we don’t have a single Highway code. But at least my “rule” makes more sense from a safety point of view, right?

I stand corrected, I must admit I can't find the rule in the HWC, either way it's still a really good idea, especially when crossing a busy road.