<VV> parking brake and in gear? (Humor, but true)

[Dave Thompson]

My very wealthy brother used to live in a large home on a hill in a very
exclusive gated community. They never removed the keys from their cars when
parked in the driveway. This was because many times a car had to be moved to
get another one out.  He purchased a new 2001 Mustang GT convertible for his
daughter's 16th birthday. They had a rather long, steep, skinny driveway.
Three days after she got her car, she pulled up to the top of the driveway
and jumped out of the car, still on her cell phone. My brother was standing
right there. As the back door of the house slammed, the car started to roll
backward. My brother chased the car as it started to accelerate backwards
down the driveway. It bounced against both retaining walls several times,
continued down and across the street, up the other curb, sideswiped the
neighbor's Cadillac and Mercedes and took out the living room wall, coming
to rest in what was left of the neighbor's china cabinet and dining room
set. Upon investigation, my brother found that the Mustang was left in
neutral, keys in the ignition and the parking brake was not applied. My
niece continued to ride the bus to school and work for almost 6 months until
she purchased herself a rusted-up Junker Honda Civic. She has never driven a
manual shift car since.

 

I have taught my kids to ALLWAYS remove the key. This requires them in their
newer cars to put the car into park. I have not taken them out to teach them
to drive my manual shift Corvair yet. However, I will remind them of their
cousin's mishap so they will remember to always leave the car in gear and
apply the e-brake before leaving the car.

 

Dave Thompson