How not to launch safely.

I'm reminded of the time I heard my car's numberplate announced over the PA when I was in the supermarket - you know, the "Will the owner of XX99 ABC please contact...."
Turned out that the handbrake hadn't engaged and the car had slowly slid out of its parking bay. Fortunately, no harm done, but ever afterwards I made sure the parking brake was on securely!
 
I'm reminded of the time I heard my car's numberplate announced over the PA when I was in the supermarket - you know, the "Will the owner of XX99 ABC please contact...."
Turned out that the handbrake hadn't engaged and the car had slowly slid out of its parking bay. Fortunately, no harm done, but ever afterwards I made sure the parking brake was on securely!


That reminded me of a story of my new boss when I arrived in South Africa.

He had just collected my new company car and parked it on his driveway which was on a hill. He failed to put the hand brake on correctly and it ran backwards over the road, through the fence into the house opposite and when into his neighbours swimming pool.
 
That reminded me of a story of my new boss when I arrived in South Africa.

He had just collected my new company car and parked it on his driveway which was on a hill. He failed to put the hand brake on correctly and it ran backwards over the road, through the fence into the house opposite and when into his neighbours swimming pool.
I was lucky that I live in the fens where steep slopes are rare; the slope was only just enough for the car to move.
 
I'm reminded of the time I heard my car's numberplate announced over the PA when I was in the supermarket - you know, the "Will the owner of XX99 ABC please contact...."
Turned out that the handbrake hadn't engaged and the car had slowly slid out of its parking bay. Fortunately, no harm done, but ever afterwards I made sure the parking brake was on securely!
Were you not taught to park in gear and with the steering pointing into the kerb facing down hill?
 
I'm reminded of the time I heard my car's numberplate announced over the PA when I was in the supermarket - you know, the "Will the owner of XX99 ABC please contact...."
Turned out that the handbrake hadn't engaged and the car had slowly slid out of its parking bay. Fortunately, no harm done, but ever afterwards I made sure the parking brake was on securely!
It’s very difficult to get in a moving car as it slowly rolls down hill,I know!
 
Were you not taught to park in gear and with the steering pointing into the kerb facing down hill?
Just what I was thinking ! When I started driving we lived on a steep hill and there was zero chance of an old handbrake holding the car. Always in first or reverse gear. All Saab’s used to enforce this to be able to get the key out.
 
Just what I was thinking ! When I started driving we lived on a steep hill and there was zero chance of an old handbrake holding the car. Always in first or reverse gear. All Saab’s used to enforce this to be able to get the key out.

I think the Saab gear lock method was instead of having a steering lock on the car.
 
Were you not taught to park in gear and with the steering pointing into the kerb facing down hill?
As a student in Bristol when the battery on my Morris Minor expired we just took care to park where a decent run downhill could be used to bump start the car. Very occasionally extra manpower was needed , but there always seemed to be passers-by who would lend a hand.
 
As a student in Bristol when the battery on my Morris Minor expired we just took care to park where a decent run downhill could be used to bump start the car. Very occasionally extra manpower was needed , but there always seemed to be passers-by who would lend a hand.
The golden rule of student minibuses was always to park at the top of the hill...
 
When young i had a Citroen 2CV, the first model, 400 cc., wonder car.
It had a centrifugal clutch, mopedwise, to allow starting and stopping in town always in 1st gear. With motor not running no connection to wheels.
The handbrake never worked. I had a wooden wedge (supplied with the car tool kit) I kept under the driver seat, that one could fit under the front wheel from the driving position (only uphill). After forgetting a few wedges on the road I lashed it with a 1 m string.
Sandro
 
As a student in Bristol when the battery on my Morris Minor expired we just took care to park where a decent run downhill could be used to bump start the car. Very occasionally extra manpower was needed , but there always seemed to be passers-by who would lend a hand.
A colleague used to carry a set of ramps and back his car onto them. This usually gave him enough to get a jump start. We eventually talked him into getting a new battery.
 
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