When parking on a downgrade, what should you do before leaving your car?

When parking on a downgrade, the safest practice is to turn the wheels toward the curb. This method helps ensure that if the vehicle were to roll, it would roll into the curb rather than into oncoming traffic or other hazards, thereby minimizing the risk of an accident. The steering approach acts as a safeguard, helping to prevent the vehicle from rolling away unintentionally.

When parking on a slope, it is also crucial to engage the emergency brake to provide additional security against movement. However, simply relying on the emergency brake without turning the wheels toward the curb does not provide adequate protection against the potential rolling of the vehicle. Thus, the combination of turning the wheels toward the curb and using the emergency brake is essential for safely parking on a downgrade.