Parking a car in neutral.

MAYOMICK

This morning my neighbour in his twenties called to me looking for spanners.I said what are you at and he said he was replacing the boot lid on his car.We live on elevated sites along a main road and he parked his car outside the house last night an obviously didnt put on the handbrake properly and during the night the car decided th hit for the road.Luckily there was a tree in the way which stopped it.I said why do young fellas not park their cars in gear and he said it was drummed into him before the driving test to park the car in neutral.I cannot understand the logic of this atall.I looked through the AA Book of the Car published 1970 which I got when I started driving.The advice in this was when paring on an incline put the car in gear,put on handbrake and turn the wheels towards kerb.Why has this advice changed ?

fleet

MAYOMICK wrote: »

The advice in this was when paring on an incline put the car in gear,put on handbrake and turn the wheels towards kerb.Why has this advice changed ?

I'm guessing it has something to do with the next person to turn the key in the ignition forgetting, or not realising that that car was in gear, and ploughing into whatever kid happened to standing in front of it.

fleet

Yes, we all know we're supposed to clutch on ignition... but there are lots of reasons you may just want the engine running but not want to drive straight away. Icy windows, AC, waiting on passengers etc.

It's just maths. They probaby crunched the numbers and saw that inadvertent acceleration was more dangerous than the occasional roll down a hill.

punisher5112

A friend done that years ago, he started the car through an open window but car was in gear, next thing car obviously takes off and smashes another 2 cars in the process.

Brasso

Well it's still the advice from the RSA. If you check the rules of the road on their website page 132 on parking indicates you should park in first, reverse or P in an automatic.

Atlantic Dawn

I always park in gear, I always clutch in on starting. It's easy enough to forget to put on the handbrake or for it to slip.

Charles Babbage

fleet wrote: »

Yes, we all know we're supposed to clutch on ignition... but there are lots of reasons you may just want the engine running but not want to drive straight away. Icy windows, AC, waiting on passengers etc.

It's just maths. They probaby crunched the numbers and saw that inadvertent acceleration was more dangerous than the occasional roll down a hill.

a lot of modern cars won't turn over in gear.
First thing before starting is to check the gear.

appledrop

I also always park in neutral. That's how I was told learning to drive by my instructor. I'm not an idiot though always leave the handbrake on. My husband tried to get me to park in gear but after a few near misses of car jumping ahead when I started it I went back to neutral. Much safer for me.

Alanstrainor

It's been ten years since I did my test, but I don't remember anything about leaving it in gear or not. It's certainly not something you get marks for. I'm not so sure I would agree with instructors telling learner drivers not to put the car in gear when parked. The main thing I remember my instructor drilling into my head was clutching in before starting.

I always park in gear, hill or not. And I always clutch in before starting. I wouldn't want to trust a handbrake on its own if I was on any kind of incline.

bazz26

Never understood the logic in parking a car in neutral especially on an incline. If your handbrake fails (and they do) then the car rolls away until it hits something or someone. As for using the excuse that it will shoot forward when started, well for me that's just bad habit and not training your brain to clutch before starting the vehicle.

washman3

MAYOMICK wrote: »

This morning my neighbour in his twenties called to me looking for spanners.I said what are you at and he said he was replacing the boot lid on his car.We live on elevated sites along a main road and he parked his car outside the house last night an obviously didnt put on the handbrake properly and during the night the car decided th hit for the road.Luckily there was a tree in the way which stopped it.I said why do young fellas not park their cars in gear and he said it was drummed into him before the driving test to park the car in neutral.I cannot understand the logic of this atall.I looked through the AA Book of the Car published 1970 which I got when I started driving.The advice in this was when paring on an incline put the car in gear,put on handbrake and turn the wheels towards kerb.Why has this advice changed ?

The AA Book of the Car 1970 is 2 generations ago and should be binned.
That was from an era where brakes were barely adequate to slow down a car never mind stop it and handbrakes were usually accompanied by a large stone behind the wheel. As for parking with the wheel locked towards the kerb, there are still some clowns practicing this nowadays. Might have been the norm in the 1970's but with modern vehicles with 17" and 19" wheels and even bigger on SUV's means a large portion of the wheel is protruding onto the roadway and is lethal when other vehicles are passing by. I honestly cannot understand why Gardaí don't take a tougher stance on this practice. its crazy.

Isambard

it used to be the case with diesels that they could start and make off, if in gear and , for instance, get shunted. I don't think that applies anymore. ALways park in gear with parking brake on

(except with my Classics where I leave off the handbrake to save it seizing on (but only in the garage)

Doltanian

As an automatic driver I just pop the car into park, rarely use the handbrake at all, unless stopped at traffic for a long time to avoid having my brake lights annoying the car driver behind. N and Handbrake then.

Tenigate

When i was learning to drive i was never told to leave the car in gear when parking so i rarely leave it in gear (unless parked on a slope).

I always thought it was the safest thing to do if sharing a car with someone but as new cars usually force you to clutch to start it's not an issue any more.
I remember getting a lift from someone who hadn't parked the car. She turned the key and thankfully the handbrake was on because it was left in reverse a few inches from a wall.

Del2005

washman3 wrote: »

The AA Book of the Car 1970 is 2 generations ago and should be binned.
That was from an era where brakes were barely adequate to slow down a car never mind stop it and handbrakes were usually accompanied by a large stone behind the wheel. As for parking with the wheel locked towards the kerb, there are still some clowns practicing this nowadays. Might have been the norm in the 1970's but with modern vehicles with 17" and 19" wheels and even bigger on SUV's means a large portion of the wheel is protruding onto the roadway and is lethal when other vehicles are passing by. I honestly cannot understand why Gardaí don't take a tougher stance on this practice. its crazy.

If the gearbox and handbrake fails then the vehicle will roll down the street. Always better to turn the wheel so that if the vehicle does somehow get moved it's natural course is into the kerd not the road.

grogi

punisher5112 wrote: »

A friend done that years ago, he started the car through an open window but car was in gear, next thing car obviously takes off and smashes another 2 cars in the process.

Unfriend that person...

grogi

appledrop wrote: »

I also always park in neutral. That's how I was told learning to drive by my instructor. I'm not an idiot though always leave the handbrake on. My husband tried to get me to park in gear but after a few near misses of car jumping ahead when I started it I went back to neutral. Much safer for me.

So instead of changing unhealthy habit of starting without depressing the clutch you decided to do less safe thing. I would dry run starting (doing it so many times would render the battery flat) fifty times for depressing the clutch got into the habit...

When clutch is depressed, it is much easier for the starter to start. It simply does not have to move the whole shafts in gearbox, which might be a significant effort when oil there is cold.

dilallio

washman3 wrote: »

As for parking with the wheel locked towards the kerb, there are still some clowns practicing this nowadays.

In San Francisco, there's a $58 fine if you don't park with the wheel turned towards the kerb.

Nekarsulm

These frosty nights, you'd be better advised to park it in gear with the handbrake off.

mikeecho

I always park in neutral,
(unless its an auto, where the car will put itself into P when the engine is shut off, or with the older autos, you couldn't remove the key unless it was in P)

But then , there's a lot to be said for having a properly functioning handbrake, and the fact that everywhere i park seems to be level.

Clareman

My home house was on a substantial incline so we were all thought to park the car and leave it in second so it's second nature to me. Mrs. Clareman didn't learn such a trick and 1 of the first times I parked her car she got into it and started it and rammed into the wall. Of course to this day this is my fault and I'm completely to blame.

The J Stands for Jay

fleet wrote: »

I'm guessing it has something to do with the next person to turn the key in the ignition forgetting, or not realising that that car was in gear, and ploughing into whatever kid happened to standing in front of it.

I learned to drive in 2008, and it was stunned into me to always start the car with your foot on the clutch in case you forget to take it out of gear.

Cantona's Collars

I always leave a vehicle in gear when parking. My first thing when starting one is to clutch it.
Drove the mother's car last week and when she got back in,she bunny hopped it along the driveway as she always parks in neutral.
Living in a town with hills it's probably a case of better safe than sorry plus I spent manys a time driving vans etc with dodgy handbrakes.

appledrop

I live in urban area so all flat. I'd have more of a risk if I parked in gear forgot + then crashed into car in front. Im not changing has worked well for last 15 years driving.

divillybit

I had a company van once with alot of miles on it, and parked on a surface will a slight fall at a rural site we were working on. The handbrake wasnt great on it as the cable had stretched a bit but I knew about it and had it pulled up as far as it would go. Van was left in gear for sure, but not sure what gear though. I got some hop when I went looking for it a while later and saw it rolled 50meters back and ended up on its side in a drain. It happened in a rural location thankfully no one was in the way. I drove it home that evening with no driver side mirror, rear quater panel was crushed in and no working tail light on the driver side. Lesson learned to keep the handbrake maintained and adjusted

Mooooo

My 10 year old passat wont start without pressing the clutch, whether in gear or not, you think it would be standard safety even just to help prevent a toddler turning on the car, some 20 year old tractors are the same. But on a slope always turn the wheel and put in gear.

punisher5112

punisher5112 wrote: »

A friend done that years ago, he started the car through an open window but car was in gear, next thing car obviously takes off and smashes another 2 cars in the process.

This nearly happened to me but lucky the car just lurched forward and didn't start.

Thankfully nobody was watching.....

ianobrien

I never park with the car in neutral. It's a backup in case the handbrake doesn't grab fully (there was a few cases of early Focuses rolling away after parking, the handbrake was adequate on hot brake discs, but once they cooled and contracted, the handbrake wasn't holding).

There are times when I park on level ground without pulling the handbrake, just sticking it in gear. It depends on the mood but if parked on a hill, I always have a wheel pointing to the kerb.

tl/Dr, two out of three (in gear, handbrake or against a kerb) ain't bad.....

Dakota Dan

appledrop wrote: »

I live in urban area so all flat. I'd have more of a risk if I parked in gear forgot + then crashed into car in front. Im not changing has worked well for last 15 years driving.

All urban areas flat? Good job you don't live on Patrick's hill.

appledrop

Dakota Dan wrote: »

All urban areas flat? Good job you don't live on Patrick's hill.

I didnt say all areas are but mine is so that's all I'm concerned about.

the beer revolu

I am flabbergasted that people turn the key without checking the car is in neutral and putting the clutch down. And they seem to think that this is OK.!

I've removed my drivers window in case I forget to open it before trying to put my head out. I haven't banged my head yet so I'm going to keep doing it.

Caranica

Mooooo wrote: »

My 10 year old passat wont start without pressing the clutch, whether in gear or not, you think it would be standard safety even just to help prevent a toddler turning on the car, some 20 year old tractors are the same. But on a slope always turn the wheel and put in gear.

My 3 year old Auris is the same. Won't start without the clutch. I've only had it two weeks so still getting used to that, was never taught to do it.

I generally park in neutral unless I'm on a slope, then it's definitely first gear.

CelticRambler

When you park on the Eurotunnel shuttle, they tell you twice (three times, if you include the French announcement) to put the handbrake on and the vehicle in first gear.

Like Mooooo above, my Renault won't let me start it without depressing the clutch (or brake ... but I was taught to start with the clutch for the reasons stated by grogi, so that's what I've always done ... )

spurious

Even before going near the clutch, I was taught to do the old side to side wibble of the stick to make sure it was in neutral.
On a hill, I will usually park in gear.

Toots

My car won't let you start it without putting your foot on the clutch. I've always parked in either 1st or reverse. It was drilled into me when my parents taught me to drive - one time when we were kids one of the neighbours didn't put her handbrake on and the car rolled back out of the driveway and on to the green area in front of the houses. There were loads of kids playing out there so how nobody was killed was a miracle.

Always park in gear, wouldn't be happy parking in an incline without both handbrake and in gear. I also start the car from standing outside it now and again but I know to take it out of gear as it's just second nature to check if it's in gear (though I always press the clutch when starting in the car).

If I'm parking on the flat and the temp is below freezing I'll leave the handbrake off and just leave it in gear as the handbrake can stick on.

EPAndlee

I never leave my car in gear even though it won't start without pressing the clutch

FionnK86

I passed the test 2 years ago so it was still fresh in my mind that I parked in neutral and wasn't pulled up on it.

Have a habit of parking in gear now because I live at a house on the corner in an estate that kids walk by to school everyday. The handbrake takes 7 clicks before its tense enough to stop the wheels so it's more piece of mind knowing the car won't roll down.

As for the suggestion to turn the wheels to the kerb, wouldn't be too much for that. Cyclists have enough trouble dodging wing mirrors on parked cars nevermind the arse of the wheel sticking out.

colm_mcm

Had a new Skoda kodiaq roll out a driveway in front of me, mount the pavement, hit the wall at the other side of the road and roll back onto the road. Was obviously left in neutral and owner assumed handbrake was automatic.

Mooooo

FionnK86 wrote: »

I passed the test 2 years ago so it was still fresh in my mind that I parked in neutral and wasn't pulled up on it.

Have a habit of parking in gear now because I live at a house on the corner in an estate that kids walk by to school everyday. The handbrake takes 7 clicks before its tense enough to stop the wheels so it's more piece of mind knowing the car won't roll down.

As for the suggestion to turn the wheels to the kerb, wouldn't be too much for that. Cyclists have enough trouble dodging wing mirrors on parked cars nevermind the arse of the wheel sticking out.

If you're close enough to hit a wheel the handlebars must be scraping along the doors

mikeysmith

Wouldn't trust handbrake alone if kids are left in the car for a time

my3cents

I always park in gear and my wife never parks in gear. It can make for an interesting conversation if I've parked her car up and she goes out to use it. She never checks the car is in neutral and never depresses the clutch before turning the key. Good job there's 100m of garden in front of where she parks the car

Elemonator

My driving instructor tells me to park in gear. With the more modern cars today, you actually have to apply the brake before the ignition will start the car. No risk.

fin12

punisher5112 wrote: »

A friend done that years ago, he started the car through an open window but car was in gear, next thing car obviously takes off and smashes another 2 cars in the process.

Put if the handbrake is up it won’t go anywhere just jump a bit. I park mine handbrake up and in first gear, I think I’ve only ever started it once in that position and it jumped forward a tiny bit.

On flat ground I park on neutral but on a hill or where I live in first gear.

CiniO

I always park my car in gear.
Additionally if conditions require, I also use handbrake (f.e. parked on incline or in windy conditions).

bazz26

appledrop wrote: »

I live in urban area so all flat. I'd have more of a risk if I parked in gear forgot + then crashed into car in front. Im not changing has worked well for last 15 years driving.

No offence but that's just laziness and an unwillingness to learn a different routine. It's a bit like not wanting to learn to swim as you'll just drown.

FionnK86

FionnK86 wrote: »

As for the suggestion to turn the wheels to the kerb, wouldn't be too much for that. Cyclists have enough trouble dodging wing mirrors on parked cars nevermind the arse of the wheel sticking out.

You shouldn't be cycling so close to a car that the wheel sticking out a bit is going to be an obstacle.

jca

This has to be the most mind numbingly boring thread ever on boards... p.s. I park in P.

Isambard

jca wrote: »

This has to be the most mind numbingly boring thread ever on boards... p.s. I park in P.

I P in Park, (case comes up wednesday)

jca

Isambard wrote: »

I P in Park, (case comes up wednesday)

Ha ha, that's more like it!!

justfillmein

Nekarsulm wrote: »

These frosty nights, you'd be better advised to park it in gear with the handbrake off.

hi,
learner here.

would you mind explaining this to me please?