VIDEO: How to Park on a Hill

On the rare occasion when parking brakes fail, the force of gravity is not your friend. That’s why parking on a hill requires a little different approach, just to be safe.

Here are some tips from the California Department of Motor Vehicles you can pass along to fleet drivers as a friendly reminder:

• On a sloping driveway, turn the wheels so the vehicle will not roll into the street if the brakes fail.

• Headed downhill, turn your front wheels into the curb or toward the side of the road. Set the parking brake.

• Headed uphill, turn your front wheels away from the curb and let your vehicle roll back a few inches. The wheel should gently touch the curb. Set the parking brake.

• Headed either uphill or downhill when there is no curb, turn the wheels so the vehicle will roll away from the center of the road if the brakes fail.

It can be easy to forget to take these measures, especially if you're running late to a meeting or appointment. But the process only takes a few seconds and just might avoid costly damage some day. It's a habit worth making.

To watch an Esurance video on the subject, click on the illustration or link below the headline.