2009 Subaru Impreza Owner's Manual - Page 264

7-44 Starting and operating undesired operation. Changes or modifications not expressly approved by the party responsible for compliance could void the user's authority to operate the equipment. Parking your vehicle & Parking brake To set the parking brake, depress the brake pedal firmly and hold it down until the parking brake lever is fully pulled up. CAUTION Never drive while the parking brake is set because this will cause unnecessary wear on the brake linings. Before starting to drive, always make sure that the parking brake has been fully released. & Parking tips When parking your vehicle, always set the parking brake firmly and put the shift lever in the "1" (1st) for an upgrade or "R" (Reverse) for a downgrade for MT vehicles, or in the "P" (Park) position for AT vehicles. Always set the parking brake firmly when parking your vehicle. Never rely on the transmission alone to hold the vehicle. To release the parking brake, pull the lever up slightly, press the release button, then lower the lever while keeping the button pressed. When the parking brake is set while the engine is running, the parking brake warning light illuminates. After starting the vehicle, be sure that the warning light has turned off before the vehicle is driven. Refer to "Parking brake warning" F3-24.