California Car / Permit practice question · Parking & Stopping

When you park facing downhill next to a curb, you should turn your front wheels:

Answer choices

• Toward the curb— Correct answer
• Away from the curb
• Straight ahead
• It does not matter which way

Why this is the answer

When you park facing downhill next to a curb, turn your front wheels into the curb, toward the right side of the road, and set the parking brake. If the vehicle rolls, the curb stops it. Wheels turned away from the curb is the uphill rule, so the direction matters and does not change with preference.

Source: California Driver Handbook — Parking on Hills

Content reviewed against official driver handbooks · August 12, 2026