Parking

[DaGaRo]

When I park my car I usually put the hand break on as well as keeping it un gear.
A friend of mine borrowed the car and as she never leaves the car in gear while parked she almost put the car through my front room wall.

Here is my question: She claimed that it is illegal, by law, to leave the car in gear while parked. One should only use the hand break. Is there any truth to this claim?

Thanks.

[Cemesis]

Are you serious? Of course its not illegal to leave the car in gear but you shouldn't do it for exactly the reasons you have illustrated.

[Jonboy_t]

Definitely not illegal to leave it in gear. She's wrong - go and tell her I said so.

[Harji]

Sorry but it's annoying me, it's "Brake" not "Break".

[georgejoshington]

jesus wept.

[Kiltox]

Reasons why women shouldn't drive #2132343467557534121

[LukeSi]

She has got it wrong. iirc it is illegal to leave it out of gear.

[Adam_W]

LOL errr, last time i checked it was a good idea to leave it in gear in case of hand brake failure, also starting with the clutch down is a good idea, so you dont get caught out and you take the gearbox load off the starter motor

[Oddboy86]

Suzuki Vitaras have a sticker near the gearstick, saying to leave the car in gear. Also after an incident with an old Escort I leave my car in gear now.

[cahami]

Anyone who starts a car without checking its not in gear first shouldnt be driving especially if its not their car and they were not the last person to drive it. WHY oh why is it allways someone elses fault???

[wizzbilly]

if it not leagal why do SAAB lock in reverse ?

[John D.]

georgejoshington said:

jesus wept.

Innit

[Chiswickboy]

When I was taught to drive I was always reminded to check the gearbox was in neutral before starting the engine.
I presume they still teach this and it would be a fail on the driving test if you started the car and rammed the examiner's car?

Also it's recommended that if parking on a hill you put the car in gear in case hand brake fails.

[Dog Star]

Shouldn't this be in the "Stupid things non-petrolheads say" thread?

[Petemate]

Buy her an Evo - needs clutch down to start it...lol...

[H_Kan]

I never leave my car in gear when parked unless I'm on an incline, in which case I will always do so.

Unfortunately my dad does leave cars in gear. A couple of times, he has driven my car without me knowing and forgotten to leave it in neutral. I jump in and start up as usual, I usually check the stick but you can forget which then leads to brown trouser moment!

Mind you, only need to do it a couple of times before you religiously check before turning the ignition!

[Liquid Knight]

If your friend is American and the car is an automatic then in some states it is illegal to not leave a car in "Park" as well as applying the mechanical hand brake. In San Fransisco for example the american equivlent to a traffic warden goes around checking cars and issuing $50 fines for cars that are not parked properly. About a dozen people get killed by run away cars in America every year so it isn't just revenue generation.

[Y282]

ALWAYS start with clutch down, regardless of car type, who owns it, etc. lose 100+ man points for doing otherwise.

in the case of it being someone female, you now know this particular person shouldn't be trusted near your car. be thankful you learnt it cheaply.

[Liquid Knight]

To answer the question; it is the drivers responsability to ensure he/she/it has full control of the vehicle. If she didn't know the car was in gear she didn't check and it is her fault for failing to check. That is by defenition "driving without due care and attention" because she failed to drive to a standard as expected by an experienced driver. The incident is 100% the drivers fault and if she tries it on; report it to the Police to get a crime number so you can get repairs done to your car from her insurance.

[p4cks]

break
leagal
lol

All in one thread. I'm not the spelling police but this is awful.