Car rolling down a hill after putting it in park

[teller80]

I am hearing this story from a friend who said it happen to another friend, so I don't know if I am hearing the whole story.

She claims the friend has a steep driveway, was unloading groceries when the car started rolling backwards downhill. Car injured him but thankfully nobody else (it eventually hit a curb and stopped). She said friend forgot to set the emergency brake. I said it shouldn't matter, a car in park (or gear, if it was a standard) should not roll backwards, no matter how steep the hill. Am I wrong?

 

[Squirlz]

It can happen. Especially with a manual.

 

[Disneylover99]

I don't know anything about cars, but we've always referred to it as a parking brake, not an emergency brake, so I would assume, if you don't put it on when parking on a steep hill, it's very possible, your car will roll down the hill.

 

[CPanther95]

It shouldn't happen, but it definitely can. An automatic in "Park" is not in gear, it relies on a small notched knob instead of engaged gears to keep the car in place. It can fail under strain.

 

[Gumbo4x4]

Unless there's a mechanical failure, at least one tire would need to slide rather than roll.

 

[superme80]

I had a 1979 Mazda once. If I didn't put the parking break on, it would roll. It was a manual. I can see how it happens.

 

[DebbieB]

I've heard of recalls for this reason.

 

[indygirl99]

I am hearing this story from a friend who said it happen to another friend, so I don't know if I am hearing the whole story.

She claims the friend has a steep driveway, was unloading groceries when the car started rolling backwards downhill. Car injured him but thankfully nobody else (it eventually hit a curb and stopped). She said friend forgot to set the emergency brake. I said it shouldn't matter, a car in park (or gear, if it was a standard) should not roll backwards, no matter how steep the hill. Am I wrong?

Absolutely can happen and I have seen it personally on many occasion and not on that steep of a hill/incline.

 

[Jennasis]

Did he accidentally leave it in neutral?

 

[BigAlsGal]

I always use my parking break on steep hills.

 

[teller80]

Did he accidentally leave it in neutral?

I asked the same question, the friend thought he had made one trip to the house & on the way back he saw the car starting to roll. I think if it was in neutral it would of started rolling right away.

 

[teller80]

I always use my parking break on steep hills.

Friends friend said he usually always used the parking brake but forgot this time. I

 

[PollyannaMom]

I've had mine slide a few feet down my driveway when it was icy.

 

[tvguy]

My initial reaction is an automatic is park won't roll, but yes, it can if there is a mechanical failure.
But, as others have pointed out, that's why you have a parking brake. As a backup.
And in some (most?) states, if you don't set the parking brake, you are braking the law. California and Texas as examples. You can be cited for not setting your parking brake.

 

[georgina]

Aren't there some places where you are required to turn your wheels to the curb if parking on a hill? I would think the reason is potential for rolling. San Francisco comes to mind as a place where this is required.

 

[EMom]

When I was a teen, I drove this little economy car with a standard transmission. I always set the parking/emergency brake. At home, I often parked on a slight incline with my car facing the world's biggest shrub, which was about the size of most living rooms. One day, I walked outside and the car was nestled in that big shrub. My parents gave me fits for not using the parking brake and I insisted I had. We checked and it was in place. It had failed. Took it to shop and they said it was going out and they fixed it. This was a new car, BTW. Over the next few years, that happened a few more times and I had the parking brake fixed every time. Eventually, I realized when I started having to pull it up a bit further than usual, it was time to have it checked. The car was never damaged because the world's biggest shrub caught it like a soft baseball mitt and I always aimed the car for that shrub. How I wish lemon laws had been in effect back then. That car was a mess.