Why are people so fixated on reversing into bay parking?
Discussion
i usually go in forwards, because most car parks are so busy there is usually some bell end trying to push you along with his bumper, you can do what every you want with the indicators they still will drive across the space blocking you from being able to get in if you go past it. Where as when it come to getting out, some drivers will spot your from a mile away, you can be loading up the car and there is already someone stopped sat backing up all the traffic behind leaving you enough room to reverse out, because they want your space
torres del paine said:
I always associate reversing in with pedantic old farts, you know the ones who hold up traffic in supermarket car parks for several minutes trying to straighten up. Much easier to go in front first and reverse out. Always quicker too.
Well done. It takes a lot to admit when you're wrong.
Reversing in is better because:
a) You get a view of the car vs the parking space lines in both mirrors. Going forwards you can't see either line!! Cars are so wide these days relative to parking spaces that one needs to be lined up in a space; most of the time when I have to climb through the passenger door cause some idiot has parked six inches from my drivers door they have driven in forwards and therefore ended up at an angle...
b) The steering wheels, or the end of the car doing the lateral movement, is out of the parking space so it has room to move.
c) If you want to change the angle of the car relative to the space when driving forwards, then you pull the car to one side or the other of the space - do it going backwards and you don't, you mainly just change the angle.
d) It makes driving out safer and easier because you can see people and cars more easily.
e) Driving out forwards at night is safer for pedestrians and other cars because they see your headlights, which are brighter and more easily seen than tail lights and a reversing light.
Regarding a and b, this is why forklifts and dumper trucks have their steering wheels at the back - it's better for manoeuvring in tight spaces.
a) You get a view of the car vs the parking space lines in both mirrors. Going forwards you can't see either line!! Cars are so wide these days relative to parking spaces that one needs to be lined up in a space; most of the time when I have to climb through the passenger door cause some idiot has parked six inches from my drivers door they have driven in forwards and therefore ended up at an angle...
b) The steering wheels, or the end of the car doing the lateral movement, is out of the parking space so it has room to move.
c) If you want to change the angle of the car relative to the space when driving forwards, then you pull the car to one side or the other of the space - do it going backwards and you don't, you mainly just change the angle.
d) It makes driving out safer and easier because you can see people and cars more easily.
e) Driving out forwards at night is safer for pedestrians and other cars because they see your headlights, which are brighter and more easily seen than tail lights and a reversing light.
Regarding a and b, this is why forklifts and dumper trucks have their steering wheels at the back - it's better for manoeuvring in tight spaces.
Edited by RobM77 on Wednesday 6th November 10:49
In general I think that people who reverse (excepting the need to access the boot in supermarkets etc) tend to be better drivers, think about how they need to get out again and give more of a s
t about driving/life/consideration to others.
Time and time again you get people who drive in forwards, park at jaunty angles(but it's OK because they are special/entitled) and sometimes find that there's no way in hell they're going to get out without a massive 10 point turn.
t about driving/life/consideration to others.Time and time again you get people who drive in forwards, park at jaunty angles(but it's OK because they are special/entitled) and sometimes find that there's no way in hell they're going to get out without a massive 10 point turn.
I usually reverse park as most of the time it makes sense, however every now and again some prat sits right on my tail and not seeing that I want to reverse park, stops about 2 feet behind me stopping me from reversing...time to get the newspaper out and wait for the penny to drop.
Once when I stopped ready to reverse park and one of the dreaded 'forward parkers' in a little fiat nipped in behind me to the space. When he didn't see my logic and laughed at my suggestion that he move on, I removed his hubcaps(it was a few years ago) and frisbee'd them into the local park. He moved then but I didn't feel safe leaving my car after that so moved on myself too.
Once when I stopped ready to reverse park and one of the dreaded 'forward parkers' in a little fiat nipped in behind me to the space. When he didn't see my logic and laughed at my suggestion that he move on, I removed his hubcaps(it was a few years ago) and frisbee'd them into the local park. He moved then but I didn't feel safe leaving my car after that so moved on myself too.
JonnyVTEC said:
More manuvouring on a cold engine with fuel enrichment.
The extra few seconds spent reversing out of a parking space are absolutely negligible compared to the time spent actually getting out of most car parks. Any theoretical difference in wear is going to be unmeasurable in practice.Pints said:
Well done. It takes a lot to admit when you're wrong.
Nope, there are no rules.I've been driving for over 20 years and in that time I've never had a problem or caused anyone else a problem by doing it this way. I always find it quicker, smoother and painless, so it works for me.
It's the sheep who insist on reversing regardless of circumstance who cause the problems. The ones who can't straighten their car in less than 5 takes, the ones who cannot negotiate tight spaces, the ones who stop in the road because they cannot assess the space required to pass a parking car, invariably a space wide enough to accept a tank etc.
Mr2Mike said:
JonnyVTEC said:
More manuvouring on a cold engine with fuel enrichment.
The extra few seconds spent reversing out of a parking space are absolutely negligible compared to the time spent actually getting out of most car parks. Any theoretical difference in wear is going to be unmeasurable in practice.It is much easier to reverse in. I don't in the supermarket (they make the spaces far too short meaning you can't get in to the boot if someone parks behind you) and sometimes at the park and ride when there is a bus waiting. In the park and ride case it is more a case of hope you are vaguely in the space and run like hell
Far easier to reverse in than reverse out.
If you go forwards, A tight space will be difficult to get in straight and then just as difficult to get out cos you don't have space to move the front wheels and swing out.
plus its safer and its the 'IAM way'
The ONLY time i go in forwards are when I need to get access to the boot.
If you go forwards, A tight space will be difficult to get in straight and then just as difficult to get out cos you don't have space to move the front wheels and swing out.
plus its safer and its the 'IAM way'
The ONLY time i go in forwards are when I need to get access to the boot.
sparkyhx said:
Far easier to reverse in than reverse out.
If you go forwards, A tight space will be difficult to get in straight and then just as difficult to get out cos you don't have space to move the front wheels and swing out.
plus its safer and its the 'IAM way'
The ONLY time i go in forwards are when I need to get access to the boot.
If you go forwards, A tight space will be difficult to get in straight and then just as difficult to get out cos you don't have space to move the front wheels and swing out.
plus its safer and its the 'IAM way'
The ONLY time i go in forwards are when I need to get access to the boot.
Exactly this. Not entirely sure why it's taken so much discussion in this thread to establish it.
JonRB said:
sparkyhx said:
Far easier to reverse in than reverse out.
If you go forwards, A tight space will be difficult to get in straight and then just as difficult to get out cos you don't have space to move the front wheels and swing out.
plus its safer and its the 'IAM way'
The ONLY time i go in forwards are when I need to get access to the boot.
If you go forwards, A tight space will be difficult to get in straight and then just as difficult to get out cos you don't have space to move the front wheels and swing out.
plus its safer and its the 'IAM way'
The ONLY time i go in forwards are when I need to get access to the boot.
Exactly this. Not entirely sure why it's taken so much discussion in this thread to establish it.
Nor am I! If you see my post above I give five reasons why it's best to reverse in and nobody has challenged any of them - case closed.torres del paine said:
I always associate reversing in with pedantic old farts, you know the ones who hold up traffic in supermarket car parks for several minutes trying to straighten up. Much easier to go in front first and reverse out. Always quicker too.
What? Are you serious? reversing in is:1. Easier and
2. quicker to pull out from
As for holding up traffic in supermarket car parks . . . have you not sat there waiting for some numpty to try reversing out of a parking space for what seems like hours! Even going in there is a lot of straightening to do. If you reverse in and can reverse well you probably don't even need to straighten up!
SilverWraith said:
What? Are you serious? reversing in is:
1. Easier and
2. quicker to pull out from
As for holding up traffic in supermarket car parks . . . have you not sat there waiting for some numpty to try reversing out of a parking space for what seems like hours! Even going in there is a lot of straightening to do. If you reverse in and can reverse well you probably don't even need to straighten up!
Quite. My experience of people who go in forwards is they take several goes, which usually involves reversing out again to straighten up, holding up the traffic for way longer than someone who reverse in with one smooth, practised movement. 1. Easier and
2. quicker to pull out from
As for holding up traffic in supermarket car parks . . . have you not sat there waiting for some numpty to try reversing out of a parking space for what seems like hours! Even going in there is a lot of straightening to do. If you reverse in and can reverse well you probably don't even need to straighten up!
Then they hold everyone up just as long when reversing out whereas the person who reversed in just drives out and off.
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