Handbrake + 1st gear?

[Roughquest]

Is it correct that you should leave your car in 1st gear when parked with the handbrake on? When I took my test I was told to always leave in neutral with the handbrake on...help, confused....

[meglet]

Maybe if you've parked on a hill otherwise its not necessary. Also if someone else gets in the car and starts it without checking it'll jump forward and you could damage yours and potentially someone else's car.

[welshlibranr]

Yes, you're right, I was told that when you park your car should be in neutral gear with the handbrake on, I do this, unless on a sharp hill, in which case I will leave the car in first gear or reverse whichever is applicable, if you know what I mean, with the handbrake on just to be sure that the car is going nowhere!! Hope this helps!!! M

[Whickerman]

the UK highway code advises leaving in gear on slopes. Otherwise, whatever you're comfortable with.

[Roughquest]

I was also watching 'Watchdog' tonight, where they had complaints several Vauxhall Vectra's kept rolling away once the handbrake was applied, and that made me think 'why dont they put it in 1st gear?"

[Teddio]

Always park a car in first gear with the handbrake on . Also turn the front wheels towards the curb when parked on a hill.

[colin6789]

I have just seen the programme, I usually leave my car in gear, but a always start the engine with the cutch down to take the gearbox drag off the engine. The other confusion was weather to pull the handbrake on with the button down to stop wear on the ratchet, or just pull it on. I do use the button but tend to give it a further pull after I have released the button to make sure the ratchet is engaged.

[Loosehead]

I always leave it in gear when it's a manual car because when I first started driving I always had old bangers where the handbrake was always rubbish, it's just a habit from those days.

[david1702198]

i always leave the car in gear as handbrake cables have known to snap before and im too lazy to chase the car down the hill!!!

[sigma]

In response to teddio, wheels toward the kerb when parking down hill and away from the kerb when parking up hill.