Rollaway Cars

[Canary42]

Rollaway cars – i.e. cars with no-one in them which kill/injure people.  The link covers only one example in USA, but from it I’ve gleaned the following, which spooked me. 

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Between 2016 and 2020, 718 people were killed and more than 9,500 were injured by rollaway cars with no occupants inside, according to statistics from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

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I wonder how the UK fares.  

Handbrake on before you get out. I believe it's  called the emergency brake in USA which might explain it.

Is the equivalent with automatics "put it in Park"?

[Canary42]

What link ?  Sorry, I forgot it. Here it is (hopefully)

 

https://uk.style.yahoo.com/massachusetts-woman-80-dies-getting-220620416.html

[bednobs]

there is a poster on here who was recently hospitalised after being hit by their own car

[bookbinder]

In an automatic car, you can leave/park it in Park, but there is also a handbrake, so, it's not wise to only set it on Park.

[jno]

my automatic has a handbrake as well as putting it in Park. Belt and braces is fine by me. When I was young we lived on a steep hill and people used to put a brick behind a rear wheel, just in case, but I imagine cars are safer now.

[ToraToraTora]

most cars in the US are auto, people tend to get out leaving them in D/R so they take off on their own. This may be what they mean here. Star Trek actor Anton Yelchin was crushed to death by his own car like this.