When staying in your vehicle, what must you do regarding the transmission?

When staying in your vehicle, ensuring safety and preventing unintended movement is paramount. By setting the parking brake and shifting the transmission into park or reverse, you are taking proper precautions to secure the vehicle.

Putting the transmission into park secures automatic vehicles and prevents them from rolling. If your vehicle has a manual transmission, shifting to reverse effectively achieves the same goal by locking the drive wheels in place. Engaging the parking brake adds an extra layer of security, particularly on inclines or during adverse weather conditions. This method of securing the vehicle minimizes risks and complies with safety protocols designed for airfield driving, where the environment can present unique challenges and hazards.

In contrast, leaving the vehicle in drive is not safe, as it could lead to unintentional movement if the driver or passengers are not attentive or if the brake is accidentally released. Similarly, placing the transmission in neutral does not provide any form of security and could allow the vehicle to roll away. Turning off the engine is unnecessary in this context, as the focus should be on maintaining vehicle security while it is stationary.