Why are people so fixated on reversing into bay parking?

[Oilchange]

If it hasn't already been said ... and therefor also a lot safer, statistically. Lot less likely to have an accident when exiting.
I think.

HarryW said:

Generally reversing in is the easiest to do, something to do with the steered wheels being furthest away so more manoeuvrable and easier to park. Also coming out of a space forwards means you are not coming out blindly....

[HTP99]

I almost always reverse in to a space, it is far easier to do as manoeuvrability is far better, it can easily be done in one go whereas driving in front ways, especially where the space is tight, can end up with multiple attempts, it takes a lot longer to do and invariably the car ends up at an angle and driving out of the space front ways is far easier and safer.

[hairyben]

I think you lose 10 man points and 20 petrolhead points for even asking this question.

For me it's habit, having driven vans more than cars with the obseration difficulties and especially todays where people walk/drive with the "it's my right of way I don't care if i can't actually be seen it's still my right of way innit" plebian dispst attitude

[Mr2Mike]

Suggesting that parking in one particular way is better is ridiculous, it depends entirely on the situation. e.g. If you are buying a load of stuff from a DIY store or a Supermarket that need to go in the boot, you'd have to be brain damaged to believe that reversing in is the most appropriate choice. If you reversed into my driveway you would end up crawling out of the boot/sun roof/window as you wouldn't be able to open the doors. OTOH in a space with very restricted access reversing in might be your only option.

[98elise]

Was it a trick question?

Better maneuverabilty when parking, and better visibilty when pulling out.

[traffman]

I read the first page...then skipped to the back , when i went for a drive with an Ex Lothian and Borders Police driver , he told me allways reverse into a bay , it's far easier and safer to pull out from.

Ooooer.

[Tje]

The work car park is rather tight. If I'm in the golf it's just as easy to get in and out no matter which end goes in first. Impreza being a bit longer if I don't reverse in can be a right pig to get out

[Vipers]

traffman said:

I read the first page...then skipped to the back , when i went for a drive with an Ex Lothian and Borders Police driver , he told me allways reverse into a bay , it's far easier and safer to pull out from.

Ooooer.

Definately safer.

[JagXJR]

HarryW said:

Generally reversing in is the easiest to do, something to do with the steered wheels being furthest away so more manoeuvrable and easier to park. Also coming out of a space forwards means you are not coming out blindly....

Exactly this!

Plus you are reversing a car when warm which is kinder to the mechanicals and the windows/mirrors will be (should be) clear.

Number of people I see reversing on to a busy road from driveways with limited visibility and misted/frosted windows astounds me. But then most people rarely use common sense I find these days. Or can actually reverse a car properly

Also if you park cars in opposite direction to the car next to it, meaning you can park close to the mostly unused passenger side without inconveniencing anyone too much, this gives more space for doors to open on the drivers side without denting other cars.

Only makes sense in supermarket car parks to give easier access to the boot imho

ETA

Synchromesh said:

I think I have a reason that hasn't been mentioned yet...

If the person next to you has parked nose in (as 95% of people do), and you reverse it, you have passenger side against passenger side. That means you don't have to leave enough space to open a door on that side, so you can leave more space on your driver door side.

I've even made a handy diagram to illustrate my point to the hard of thinking. Obviously I've exaggerated it a bit, I still always remain within the lines. This technique is especially useful if your car isn't the easiest to get in and out of - Elise and Ford GT owners take note!

Exactly the point I was trying to make but you did it so much better!

Of course the next cock to park there when that car has gone that centres their car will ruin the cunning plan but nothing in life is perfect {shrug}

Edited by JagXJR on Sunday 2nd November 12:40

[JagXJR]

340600 said:

Force of habit after 4 years in the police. Annoys the missus no end when she's been shopping and has to walk around to the back of the car.

I'd say that was an added bonus

[JagXJR]

leafspring said:

I reverse park cause it's easier to reverse in than out... unless I want to get to the boot in which case, nose first is the only way.

I once parked nose into a Tesco bay... got back with the shopping and was confronted by an angry tt who couldn't get to the boot of his Octavia estate (which was there before I arrived).

He'd reversed all the way into his bay because his car takes up the whole space (fair enough)
I was all the way into my space because a LWB Land Rover takes up a whole bay.

My bumper was 6" off his towball and he couldn't open his boot... apparently that was my fault

So it's my fault for parking in the bay behind your car is it? nothing to do with your lack of forward planning?... Oh and standing there giving me the verbal is going to get my motor out of the way quicker isn't it?

What was wrong with him pulling forwards a few inches? Common sense! People like that really give me the hump. Stop acting like tts and get on with life instead of trying to piss other people off! Grrrr

Sorry, rant over

[JagXJR]

jamieduff1981 said:

In addition, there's a good chance that the car you've wedged your passenger side up against came with passengers who may or may not try to squeeze themselves in without reversing the car out to load up. If there were children to go in this is pretty much non-optional. The PHers have taken all the P&C spaces as brats should have to walk and their Audi S-Line is more important, and neither a parent is going to want to ask toddlers to stand still in a carpark whilst the grownup moves the car out far enough to get the door open, whilst Mr or Mrs Average would have a fit if their escape from shoplifting was impeded by a car stopped in the lane between spaces to load passengers in.

All in all, a fairly wk idea. Everyone should just try to centre themselves in the spaces and we'll all get along fine.

Can you not slide across back seats these days? Parking this way give even more access room if everyone plays the game. Of course some people are too bloody-minded to do something sensible and insist on being awkward, you just can't help folks like that.

When I park this way you are not going to open the door or squeeze down the side as I am not stupid enough to give the option.


This is pretty much essential if I ever have to park the Alfa due to the long door and difficulty I have getting out (old knees don't help) unless the door is open wide. In most spaces I would not be able to even get out without a struggle. I usually park in end bays if able to to avoid the problem. And no I am not hugely overweight before the smart-arses chime in!

[articulatedj]

Call me shallow, but I can't believe that in 10 pages, no one has mentioned the other factor: it looks tidy.

Most cars look better from the front. I'd rather return to the front of my car than its ass end. Reversed in cars look ready to go. Forward-in looks like you just stuffed it lazily in the bay.

Is it just me?

[Cpl nobby nobbs]

Although I agree with most about it being easier to reverse into a spot. I still forward Park99% of the time , but that is because I'm a field based engineer so need to get tools and such out of the boot all the time.

But why do people reverse Park when going to the supermarket? You see these fktards unloading the trolley then carrying bags full of heavy tins swinging between cars to get to the boot or they try to get the trolley down. One person I watched took bags from the trolley and as she walked to her boot the trolley rolled off. Luckily just into a kerb and not some poor buggers car.

I have never had a problem getting my Passat Estate forward into a space and I have to park in some bloody small car parks.

[7mike]

Cpl nobby nobbs said:

But why do people reverse Park when going to the supermarket? You see these fktards unloading the trolley then carrying bags full of heavy tins swinging between cars to get to the boot or they try to get the trolley down.

What? Like these fktards.





Well, if this thread is going to be regurgitated, then I don't why this picture shouldn't make another appearance

[Vipers]

veevee said:

Just wondering if there's a specific reason? I park in a large car park nearly every day, and I see endless amounts of people going miles out of their way (and often struggling), doing multi multi point turns to reverse into spaces. I am quite happy to park forwards into a space and reverse out... am I doing the wrong thing?

I have made a couple of posts on here, but just recapping on your first post it seems the drivers you have seen just havnt mastered the principle of reversing.

I, and many others just drive past the gap, and reverse in, sorted. I do see a few having difficult reversing out having driven in. Maybe reversing and parking should get more emphasis on the test.

[Nickyboy]

Try working for UPS, you'll fail your driving assesment if you don't reverse first when parking.

It's pretty logical, you reverse into a space you know whats in it as you've just driven past it. Drive in forwards and when you come to reverse you have no idea what is behind you, kids, cars etc etc

[S0 What]

Both my sons are taking driving lession at the mo and a few weeks ago asked me why they were taught to reverse into parking bays, safer and easyer both in and out) says i and so does thier instructor, the wife pipes up "but it's easyer to get the shopping in if you drive in forwards" eldest boy roles his eyes and says "typical woman, more woryed about easy shopping than safety", of course i told him off good and propper for being so sexist, then took him out for a beer for "getting it" obv the wife don't know about the beer!

[HSV_V8]

articulatedj said:

Call me shallow, but I can't believe that in 10 pages, no one has mentioned the other factor: it looks tidy.

Most cars look better from the front. I'd rather return to the front of my car than its ass end. Reversed in cars look ready to go. Forward-in looks like you just stuffed it lazily in the bay.

Is it just me?

This was the case at my old work, we were told we had to reverse in so that it all looked tidy. I still tend to do it now but more the fact that if you need to access the engine bay to get to battery etc.....although I have a Honda so I don't ever need to

[S4mb0x]

On some driving test routes you don't need to know how to bay park, so some people have never tried reverse parking. I was never specifically taught myself by an instructor. A bit bizarre considering I've never had to reverse round a corner in real life, but I've had to bay park on most journeys I've made.

I personally find it easier to reverse park as most people have mentioned though, but individual preference I guess.

I haven't read through the whole thread, but haven't seen anyone mention the fact that if you've front parked against a wall etc. and something in the engine bay decides to fail, it's not very easy to access. Same with parking into a garage.