Why are people so fixated on reversing into bay parking?
Discussion
A lot of the places I work (construction compounds) have a reverse-park policy, as they believe it's safer to drive out of a space than reverse out. I reverse in to spaces alot more often than I used to because I've just got used to doing it. It depends really on what I'm doing, what seems the best option at the time, or whether I need to get into the boot or not.
The use less fuel thing is because in theory, an engine uses more fuel when cold than hot (unless it's a rotary, then it's fact). So you're better to get under way asap when you start the car, to avoid the HUGE EXCESSIVE OMG KILL THE PENGUINS fuel consumption as you manoeuvre when cold.
I reverse park at work, because I'm a lazy bugger who can't be bothered with manoeuvring around in the dark after a long day.
I reverse park at work, because I'm a lazy bugger who can't be bothered with manoeuvring around in the dark after a long day.
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?
Yes. HTH. 
I prefer to reverse into a parking bay, because it is easier to see who is around when you're wanting to come out again. The principal downside seems to be that access to the boot or tailgate is less easy.
I always do it as a consequence of military driver training, always taught to reverse into hides/harbours and halts so can quickly extract when under attack.
Doesn't really affect in real life situations like the supermarket but just ingrained as a habit same as driving with the lights on all the time.
I was also lead to believe that it was illegal to reverse onto a road, but that maybe just a myth up there with all the children with swan-broken arms!
Doesn't really affect in real life situations like the supermarket but just ingrained as a habit same as driving with the lights on all the time.
I was also lead to believe that it was illegal to reverse onto a road, but that maybe just a myth up there with all the children with swan-broken arms!
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 t
t 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?
I once parked nose into a Tesco bay... got back with the shopping and was confronted by an angry t
t 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?
Cfnteabag said:
I always do it as a consequence of military driver training, always taught to reverse into hides/harbours and halts so can quickly extract when under attack.
Doesn't really affect in real life situations like the supermarket but just ingrained as a habit same as driving with the lights on all the time.
This for me too, including the lights always on part. Doesn't really affect in real life situations like the supermarket but just ingrained as a habit same as driving with the lights on all the time.
Juding by your user name I assume you're also Reme?
RWD cossie wil said:
In a 5 series BMW, if the car next to you parks too close, or the car behind you is long, it can be very difficult to get the car out as the poor steering lock & large overhangs, coupled with poor visability make it a real pain to get out of tight spaces. Much easier to reverse in, drive out forwards. I suspect this applies to a lot of the larger cars, certainly my folks mondeo estate is also a real tight squeeze in most multi story spaces.
We have these two cars and we always reverse in unless we will be using the boot on either car when it will be nose in. Easier in the 5 series (touring) as it has parking sensors, rubbish in the mondeo as it hasn't and I am a girl and the car is mahoosive when fitting into supermarket spaces.
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!
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!
Cfnteabag said:
I always do it as a consequence of military driver training, always taught to reverse into hides/harbours and halts so can quickly extract when under attack.
Doesn't really affect in real life situations like the supermarket but just ingrained as a habit same as driving with the lights on all the time.
I was also lead to believe that it was illegal to reverse onto a road, but that maybe just a myth up there with all the children with swan-broken arms!
"Do not reverse from a side road into a main road. When using a driveway, reverse in and drive out if you can."Doesn't really affect in real life situations like the supermarket but just ingrained as a habit same as driving with the lights on all the time.
I was also lead to believe that it was illegal to reverse onto a road, but that maybe just a myth up there with all the children with swan-broken arms!
https://www.gov.uk/using-the-road-159-to-203/rever...
It states in the Highway Code that you should reverse onto your driveway and drive off forwards. The same reasons of visibility and minimising maneuvering in the road itself apply when parking.
Another reason for reversing in is that you may not spot a space until you've driven past it. What looks like a space can have a small car or abandoned trolley or suchlike in it and you have to drive past to confirm it is a space. Then you have no choice but to reverse in.
veevee said:
I am quite happy to park forwards into a space and reverse out... am I doing the wrong thing?
Technically parking forwards requires more space and you're more likely to damage cars parked next to you than if you were to reverse into the bay. OP's insurance should go up because of his preference.
AdeTuono said:
Errr...personal choice, maybe?
I didn't say people weren't allowed, or criticise their 'personal choice', I was just asking why.The Vambo said:
I would be surprised if a driver with any awareness would have to ask.
I have lots of awareness, and my choice is to drive in forwards. I find it easier to see what I'm doing into a small space; when I'm reversing out, it's into a large space so I don't need to be able to see quite as well. The reason I was asking was because I've seen on several occasions this week, women of various ages taking 2-3 minutes to reverse park a Yaris-sized car into bays where there were two or more free adjacent bays, and they could have just driven in.
ohtari said:
The use less fuel thing is because in theory, an engine uses more fuel when cold than hot (unless it's a rotary, then it's fact). So you're better to get under way asap when you start the car, to avoid the HUGE EXCESSIVE OMG KILL THE PENGUINS fuel consumption as you manoeuvre when cold.
I reverse park at work, because I'm a lazy bugger who can't be bothered with manoeuvring around in the dark after a long day.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/wales/7511266.stmI reverse park at work, because I'm a lazy bugger who can't be bothered with manoeuvring around in the dark after a long day.
Apparently it's quite a big difference. Certainly if you drive a car that still has a choke you'll save a lot of fuel by reversing in.
The Highway Code has a stack of simple rules which can be expanded to cover a multitude of situations.
The one we need here is something like
"Where you have a choice, always reverse from the more major to the more minor road"
That's the rule underlines the most ignored thing in driving - which are the morons to drive into their driveway and then reverse out, splattering pedestrians/cyclists and scattering other vehicles into hedges!
I'd sort-of take it to apply to carparks too - however there's a snag. In supermarkets with double-rows of spaces, reversing-in means you'll find it near-impossible to load your car boot from the trolley... You'll find it harder to reverse over the tit who's not noticed your reversing lights and just walks behind your car tho so 50/50!
The one we need here is something like
"Where you have a choice, always reverse from the more major to the more minor road"
That's the rule underlines the most ignored thing in driving - which are the morons to drive into their driveway and then reverse out, splattering pedestrians/cyclists and scattering other vehicles into hedges!
I'd sort-of take it to apply to carparks too - however there's a snag. In supermarkets with double-rows of spaces, reversing-in means you'll find it near-impossible to load your car boot from the trolley... You'll find it harder to reverse over the tit who's not noticed your reversing lights and just walks behind your car tho so 50/50!
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