PSA - Why you should BACK IN to your driveway

[Moliphino]

2) Manueverability. Since the front wheels are what steers the car, its MUCH easier to pull out.

This is why is also much easier to pull into a parking spot than back in.

 

[tvguy]

Not my driveway, but some public parking lots here have signs saying not to back into parking sports, and you WILL get a ticket if you do. Judging from the damage to the parking structures, people don't know how to back into a parking slot.

 

[sam_gordon]

This is why is also much easier to pull into a parking spot than back in.

Yes, its easier to pull in to a parking spot vs backing in. No denying that. BUT, when combined with the visibility benefit when pulling out, backing in is SO much better.

 

[sam_gordon]

people don't know how to back into a parking slot.

That I think is a big part of things. Just like many people will avoid parallel parking simply because they're not confident in their skills.

 

[_19disnA]

Part of the problem with backing into a parking spot in some shopping center is that you have drive PAST the space then go into REVERSE to back-in. If there is someone else behind you also looking for a parking spot, they probably don't expect you to back-up and you may both end up trying to park in the same spot or could crash into each other.

To me any supposed visibility benefit some claim when leaving is more then offset by the chance of issues when parking.

 

[Marrila]

Part of the problem with backing into a parking spot in some shopping center is that you have drive PAST the space then go into REVERSE to back-in. If there is someone else behind you also looking for a parking spot, they probably don't expect you to back-up and you may both end up trying to park in the same spot or could crash into each other.

Exactly this. Once you've bypassed a space you've left that spot open for the vehicle behind you. If someone wants to back in maybe it's best if they park far away from where the busy traffic is.

 

[sam_gordon]

Part of the problem with backing into a parking spot in some shopping center is that you have drive PAST the space then go into REVERSE to back-in. If there is someone else behind you also looking for a parking spot, they probably don't expect you to back-up and you may both end up trying to park in the same spot or could crash into each other.

To me any supposed visibility benefit some claim when leaving is more then offset by the chance of issues when parking.

Sorry, it's not a SUPPOSED benefit. Its a DEFINITE benefit.

And for those who keep bringing up "someone behind you might try to grab the space and you might crash into them"... if anyone is backing up without looking, they have bigger problems, and would probably hit someone while backing out of a parking spot.

Also, in order to parallel park, you need to drive past the spot and back in. No one is saying you shouldn't parallel park.

 

[focusondisney]

Sorry, it's not a SUPPOSED benefit. Its a DEFINITE benefit.

Maybe for you. NOT for everyone. I drive a sedan & used to back into spaces in parking lots most of the time. However, now that I have a back up camera, I pull in. No matter where I park, I inevitably end up with an SUV or huge pickup parked next to me. If I try to pull out facing forward, my car is half out BEFORE I can see around those vehicles. If I back out, my camera can “see” oncoming pedestrians or vehicles when my car is just inches beyond them.

I get to decide what is a DEFINITE vs. a SUPPOSED benefit to me, not you.

 

[Christine]

Part of the problem with backing into a parking spot in some shopping center is that you have drive PAST the space then go into REVERSE to back-in. If there is someone else behind you also looking for a parking spot, they probably don't expect you to back-up and you may both end up trying to park in the same spot or could crash into each other.

To me any supposed visibility benefit some claim when leaving is more then offset by the chance of issues when parking.

I agree. I'll only back into a parking spot (in a public area) if the parking lot is not busy.

 

[nw6675]

I think it's understood in parallel parking situations with a blinker that you intend to park. Not the same in a parking lot especially since most don't back in.

I wish people who back in with their large trucks and SUVs could do it a little better and not take 40 tries and end up two inches from the car next to them.

Just like every DIS topic, some will, some won't. We all have our reasons, mostly valid.

 

[fla4fun]

Not my driveway, but some public parking lots here have signs saying not to back into parking sports, and you WILL get a ticket if you do. Judging from the damage to the parking structures, people don't know how to back into a parking slot.

There are also a lot of places here that have similar signs. I always assumed it was to make it easier for police to patrol the lots, since we only have plates on the back of our cars.

Many lots here also have the one way aisles with angled spaces that make it next to impossible to back in, and if you pull through it’s really difficult to get out of the space and headed the correct direction in the aisle. I believe this is to discourage people from backing in.

I used to back in all the time at my last job because it was really difficult to see other cars moving when backing out. I usually pull through when the lot is designed to do so. But I would say it’s about 50-50 due to either signage or lot design.

 

[SirDuff]

The only time it is efficient to back into a spot is when the spaces are at a diagonal and are all running in the same direction such that backing in simply means pulling forward slightly ahead of the space and backing in quickly.

I'm trying to envision this and failing. The only diagonal spaces that I can thing of are super hard (impossible) to back into as you'd be doing a turn that is greater 90 degrees. And getting out (and driving in the correct direction once you do so) is equally difficult/impossible.

 

[fla4fun]

I'm trying to envision this and failing. The only diagonal spaces that I can thing of are super hard (impossible) to back into as you'd be doing a turn that is greater 90 degrees. And getting out (and driving in the correct direction once you do so) is equally difficult/impossible.

I have seen a few parking lots with diagonal parking on either side of a two way aisle. It would be awkward, but you could back into the space on the opposite side without making a sharp turn. We don’t have that kind of striping here, as they want to pack in as many cars as possible and those lots waste a lot of space. My grocery store has the one way diagonal striping and there’s no way to maneuver a car to back in unless you drive the wrong direction down the aisle.

 

[SirDuff]

I have seen a few parking lots with diagonal parking on either side of a two way aisle. It would be awkward, but you could back into the space on the opposite side without making a sharp turn. We don’t have that kind of striping here, as they want to pack in as many cars as possible and those lots waste a lot of space. My grocery store has the one way diagonal striping and there’s no way to maneuver a car to back in unless you drive the wrong direction down the aisle.

Ah, yes, that I can see. Though now you're backing across the other lane of traffic (and going across the extra forward on your way out) which still seems like a bad idea.

 

[sam_gordon]

Maybe for you. NOT for everyone. I drive a sedan & used to back into spaces in parking lots most of the time. However, now that I have a back up camera, I pull in. No matter where I park, I inevitably end up with an SUV or huge pickup parked next to me. If I try to pull out facing forward, my car is half out BEFORE I can see around those vehicles. If I back out, my camera can “see” oncoming pedestrians or vehicles when my car is just inches beyond them.

I get to decide what is a DEFINITE vs. a SUPPOSED benefit to me, not you.

Oh relax. I still say eyes are better than a camera AND my eyes aren't glued to a screen.

Are you driving a Cadillac from the 70s that your car is halfway out before you can look to the sides?

I agree not everyone can back into spots well. Then again, not everyone can pull into a spot we'll either.

 

[nw6675]

Oh relax. I still say eyes are better than a camera AND my eyes aren't glued to a screen.

Are you driving a Cadillac from the 70s that your car is halfway out before you can look to the sides?

I agree not everyone can back into spots well. Then again, not everyone can pull into a spot we'll either.

Condescending much?

 

[mjkacmom]

I back in my driveway/at home and any other place where it's possible. Just so much easier to pull out going forward and depending on place/area/time of day - it can get busy with cars and people traffic.

When we take the grandchildren for walks many times they want to let go of your hand and walk/run ahead. I do no let them. I try to show them and explain over and over how the cars that are not backed in cannot see their short bodies when they back out of their parking spot. The driver might have looked but a child comes running down the sidewalk fast and he won't see them. They are young and I am sure it goes in one ear and out the other. I can't even think about the possible scenario.

My kids were never allowed to walk ahead of me for this reason, we have sidewalks but homes are close together so a lot of driveways to walk by.

 

[Marrila]

Oh relax. I still say eyes are better than a camera AND my eyes aren't glued to a screen.

Are you driving a Cadillac from the 70s that your car is halfway out before you can look to the sides?

I agree not everyone can back into spots well. Then again, not everyone can pull into a spot we'll either.

My goodness, how unpleasant.

 

[sheilafri]

Shopping I pull through and then can just drive straight out when leaving

The best solution.

 

[Robbie Cottam]

I have a circular drive.

Should I back in and out ?