Parking on hills

By the ChowChow Labs editorial team · Updated November 13, 2026 · How we check our content

Short answer: Wheel position is your backup if the brakes fail. The direction depends on whether you're facing uphill or downhill and whether there is a curb.

Key points

• Downhill: turn the wheels right, toward the curb or road edge.
• Uphill with a curb: turn the wheels left, then roll back until the tire rests on the curb.
• Uphill without a curb: turn the wheels right, toward the road edge.
• Always set the parking brake.
• Parking on the left side of a one-way street: turn the wheels the opposite way.

Law or advice?

Securing a parked vehicle is a legal duty. The wheel positions are the guide's method.

Example

You park facing uphill beside a curb. Turn the wheels left, let the car roll back gently onto the curb, then set the parking brake.

Checked against the Government of Alberta Driver’s Guide (Spring 2026), used under the Open Government Licence – Alberta. Laws change, so check alberta.ca for the current rules before you rely on a number. Sources: Alberta Driver’s Guide, page 55: Parking on hills.

Check yourself

Try these 6 questions from our free mock exams, then tap Show answer. For more, take the rules of the road practice test.

1. Question 1 · Parking

   You park facing uphill on a road with no curb. Which way should you turn your wheels?

   1. A. Right, toward the edge of the road
   2. B. Left, toward the centre of the road
   3. C. Straight ahead with the brake set
   4. D. It does not matter on a rural road

   Show answer

   Answer: A. Right, toward the edge of the road

   With no curb, turn the wheels right so a rolling car goes off the road.

   Source: Alberta Driver’s Guide (Spring 2026), page 55: No curb hill parkingReviewed October 2026Report an error

2. Question 2 · Parking

   You park facing downhill next to a curb. Which way should you turn your front wheels?

   1. A. Away from the curb
   2. B. Straight
   3. C. Toward the curb
   4. D. It does not matter

   Show answer

   Answer: C. Toward the curb

   Facing downhill, turn the wheels toward the curb so a rolling car goes into the curb.

   Source: Alberta Driver’s Guide (Spring 2026), page 55: Downhill right curbReviewed October 2026Report an error

3. Question 3 · Parking

   You park facing uphill next to a curb. Which way should you turn your front wheels?

   1. A. Straight ahead
   2. B. Toward the curb, then reverse
   3. C. Away from the curb
   4. D. Toward the curb

   Show answer

   Answer: C. Away from the curb

   Facing uphill with a curb, turn the wheels left so the tire catches the curb if the car rolls back.

   Source: Alberta Driver’s Guide (Spring 2026), page 55: Uphill right curbReviewed October 2026Report an error

4. Question 4 · Parking

   How close may you park to a driveway?

   1. A. No closer than 1.5 metres
   2. B. No closer than 5 metres
   3. C. No closer than 0.5 metres
   4. D. Right up to the edge

   Show answer

   Answer: A. No closer than 1.5 metres

   Do not park within 1.5 metres of access to a garage, private roadway or driveway.

   Source: Alberta Driver’s Guide (Spring 2026), page 55: Driveway access clearanceReviewed October 2026Report an error

5. Question 5 · Parking

   How close to a stop sign may you park?

   1. A. No closer than 5 metres
   2. B. No closer than 2 metres
   3. C. No closer than 15 metres
   4. D. No closer than 1.5 metres

   Show answer

   Answer: A. No closer than 5 metres

   Do not park within 5 metres of a stop sign or yield sign.

   Source: Alberta Driver’s Guide (Spring 2026), page 56: Stop sign parking clearanceReviewed October 2026Report an error

6. Question 6 · Parking

   How close to a marked crosswalk may you park?

   1. A. No closer than 1 metre from its nearest side
   2. B. Right up to the edge of the crosswalk lines
   3. C. No closer than 5 metres from its nearest side
   4. D. No closer than 50 metres from either side

   Show answer

   Answer: C. No closer than 5 metres from its nearest side

   Do not park within 5 metres of the nearest side of a marked crosswalk.

   Source: Alberta Driver’s Guide (Spring 2026), page 56: Marked crosswalk parking clearanceReviewed October 2026Report an error

Next: Where you can't park. Parking limits keep sight lines, crossings and emergency access clear.