Backing into parking spots

brianhos

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We have to do it at work, so I just get used to it. Makes getting out easier. Back into spots at Hilton so it's much easier to leave.
 
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CYKXBUT2

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My wife blames Catholics. She says you see it all the time in Catholic church parking lots. (It's true where i live). Then it carries over to work places.
 

Erik4Cy

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Jan 22, 2007
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What is up with people that feel they HAVE to always back into parking spots? Any of you out there that can explain this? I have nothing against it, just find it odd and interesting.

I will say... I will try to find spots in parking lots where I can just "pull through" the spot and into the the spot opposite of it because it does make it easier to leave... but that doesn't require backing up into it.

We have neighbors on our street that ALWAYS back their vehicles up into their garage even. Have never seen them just pull in normally.
Statistical people do this. That is me.

I worked as a Schwan's truck driver for 8 years and this was basically a requirement to know how to back properly/safely. A large percentage of minor accidents involve backing up from a parked position.

Why? Because objects/obstacles often change from when you first pulled in to park. So you are much better off backing in first, so that when you need to leave a parked spot, you should have the best possible vision to simply drive forward.

I actually got my wife to do this too and we have NEVER had an accident in over a decade together. (I've actually never hit anything and never been at fault in my entire 25 years of driving..and I drive A LOT). The 3 minor incidents I had were all the other drivers fault (one was borderline unavoidable in snow/ice to be fair to that guy).

Meanwhile many of my friends and family who I know mostly do not do this and have had several minor accidents hitting poles/garage items/bikes/fender benders/etc. that could've definitely been avoided.
 

KidSilverhair

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I actually got my wife to do this too and we have NEVER had an accident in over a decade together. (I've actually never hit anything and never been at fault in my entire 25 years of driving..and I drive A LOT). The 3 minor incidents I had were all the other drivers fault (one was borderline unavoidable in snow/ice to be fair to that guy).

Meanwhile many of my friends and family who I know mostly do not do this and have had several minor accidents hitting poles/garage items/bikes/fender benders/etc. that could've definitely been avoided.

Anecdotes are not data. I’ve been driving since about 1980, I practically never back into parking spaces (I’ve done it here and there, but it’s not something I generally do) and I have also never hit anything or had an accident.

That said, if people want to back into a parking space, I don’t really care, I get how it’s easier to pull forward out of the space - if I can pull through a space to be facing out, I’ll try to do that. But, try to let people behind you know what you’re doing, and if there’s several cars behind you in the lot, maybe not tie up traffic for five-plus minutes as you slowly back your way in (find a less busy part of the lot, maybe). You either back your way in or back your way out, it’s one way or the other, whatever.

But for the love of God, don’t be a Neanderthal idiot and back into an angled parking space.
 

Clonefan94

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Oct 18, 2006
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If a lot is fairly open, I never bother with it. If I’m in my truck and the lot is packed and kind of tight, I will back in for ease of exit. (I never back in to angled spots. Those are designed for ease of exit.)

I also back in to our driveway at home. That is because I park on the side of the house. If I just pull in forward, it’s a tight squeeze to open the door on the side of the house. This is of course, is when all the kids are home from school with their cars. If it’s just my wife and I I don’t worry about pulling all the way to the end of the drive on the side of the house because we don’t need every inch of space in the driveway.
 

tyler24

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Jun 19, 2006
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That's interesting.. thanks for the response. This is what I really was trying to get at... is it a mental thing? Sounds like with you it kinda is?
You could say that. I would call it being prepared. I find it logical to prepare for the potential to make your future simpler when your present moment isn't stressful and you're not in a hurry. Most people are focused on what's convenient to them in the moment, I attempt to what's going to make things convenient in the future.
 

VTXCyRyD

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Sep 2, 2010
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Backing in is ridiculous.

It's not safer. People can be anywhere in a parking lot. And you make me wait for you while you bumble **** around trying to back in between two vehicles.

Pull in. Back out. Leave.
So you rather make people wait while you're bumbling around backing out of your parking spot?
 
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Dopey

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So you rather make people wait while you're bumbling around backing out of your parking spot?

I've never yet seen someone need to readjust while backing out to a wide open aisle.

I'm constantly waiting for Billy bad asses to readjust as they attempt to back in between two vehicles.
 

Big Daddy Kang

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What is up with people that feel they HAVE to always back into parking spots? Any of you out there that can explain this? I have nothing against it, just find it odd and interesting.
My assumption is that they are probably sociopaths or possibly criminals who want to make a fast escape.
 

ackatch

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I back into the garage cause it's the only way my truck fits and my wife can get into her Traverse. I have a lot of **** in my garage though.
 

AllInForISU

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I've never yet seen someone need to readjust while backing out to a wide open aisle.

I'm constantly waiting for Billy bad asses to readjust as they attempt to back in between two vehicles.

What kind of vehicle do you drive
 

Erik4Cy

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Jan 22, 2007
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Anecdotes are not data. I’ve been driving since about 1980, I practically never back into parking spaces (I’ve done it here and there, but it’s not something I generally do) and I have also never hit anything or had an accident.

That said, if people want to back into a parking space, I don’t really care, I get how it’s easier to pull forward out of the space - if I can pull through a space to be facing out, I’ll try to do that. But, try to let people behind you know what you’re doing, and if there’s several cars behind you in the lot, maybe not tie up traffic for five-plus minutes as you slowly back your way in (find a less busy part of the lot, maybe). You either back your way in or back your way out, it’s one way or the other, whatever.

But for the love of God, don’t be a Neanderthal idiot and back into an angled parking space.
I NEVER said my anecdotes were data. I worked for a company who spent an insane amount of time on safety, especially driving safety. Backing up just to back up was not what I was talking about. Nor was angled parking.

Simply put, if you are going to have to back up at some point (majority of parking lots & most driveways) you are definitely better off backing up to park 1st (and then pull out forward later) as opposed to park forward and back up later. That should be common sense.

There is plenty of data on accidents involving backing out of a parked spot out there. I'll let people Google it.

And I have no clue where you are that someone takes 5 mins to backup into a spot. That's obviously unacceptable. Assuming a spot is open and it's my turn to go into it, I always put on my blinkers to let someone know my intentions, and it typically would take me approx 10-15 seconds. And I can back in on my first try. Every. Single. Time.

Obviously if someone is holding up traffic for 30-60 seconds or more just to back in then they should just get parked forward and practice another time in an empty parking lot somewhere to get better at it.

According to safety experts like AAA, yes, you should generally back into parking spots whenever possible, as it significantly improves your visibility when exiting the space and reduces the risk of accidents with pedestrians or other vehicles due to reduced blind spots.

Key points about backing into parking spots:
  • Better visibility:
    When backing out of a parking space, you have a clearer view of approaching traffic and pedestrians because you are facing forward.

  • Reduced blind spots:
    By backing in, you minimize the need to rely heavily on your mirrors to check for obstacles when exiting.

  • Safer maneuver:
    Most driving instructors and safety organizations recommend backing into parking spaces for increased safety.
 

VeloClone

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Jan 19, 2010
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I usually pull through when I can, otherwise I pull in and back out of spots.

There are two exceptions, though:
  • I back into my garage. This is for a reason though. I park tight up against the garage wall so there is ample space between our cars. If I drive in and parked this way I wouldn't be able to get out my driver's door. I park so far over because my son is about as aware as a three toed sloth and often will swing the door wide open on my wife's car and do a number on both of our cars at the same time. Also when my daughter is pulling my wife's car in she often will park a little close. This just provides more room between the cars.
  • I back into a space at church. When we arrive the parking lot is pretty dead. However, when we are leaving it is usually pretty busy. I would rather have better vision on where I am going when we are leaving and there is more pedestrian traffic including little kids.
 
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besserheimerphat

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Apr 11, 2006
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I NEVER said my anecdotes were data. I worked for a company who spent an insane amount of time on safety, especially driving safety. Backing up just to back up was not what I was talking about. Nor was angled parking.

Simply put, if you are going to have to back up at some point (majority of parking lots & most driveways) you are definitely better off backing up to park 1st (and then pull out forward later) as opposed to park forward and back up later. That should be common sense.

There is plenty of data on accidents involving backing out of a parked spot out there. I'll let people Google it.

And I have no clue where you are that someone takes 5 mins to backup into a spot. That's obviously unacceptable. Assuming a spot is open and it's my turn to go into it, I always put on my blinkers to let someone know my intentions, and it typically would take me approx 10-15 seconds. And I can back in on my first try. Every. Single. Time.

Obviously if someone is holding up traffic for 30-60 seconds or more just to back in then they should just get parked forward and practice another time in an empty parking lot somewhere to get better at it.

According to safety experts like AAA, yes, you should generally back into parking spots whenever possible, as it significantly improves your visibility when exiting the space and reduces the risk of accidents with pedestrians or other vehicles due to reduced blind spots.

Key points about backing into parking spots:
  • Better visibility:
    When backing out of a parking space, you have a clearer view of approaching traffic and pedestrians because you are facing forward.

  • Reduced blind spots:
    By backing in, you minimize the need to rely heavily on your mirrors to check for obstacles when exiting.

  • Safer maneuver:
    Most driving instructors and safety organizations recommend backing into parking spaces for increased safety.
I'm interested in seeing the data. There are lots of things done because "logic obviously tells us its safer" that don't align with reality.