Pulling into a parking space backwards....

[aprilgail2]

I'm with you. Backwards parkers are one of my pet peeves. They always hold everyone up and it takes forever. I curse them!

I agree! It drives me nuts! I am glad that many places around here have signs for front in parking only- no backing in allowed!

 

[jlewisinsyr]

I don't mind EXCEPT when the lines are angled, the intent is to have traffic drive with the angles and for you to pull into the space (but not through).

Our local mall is all one-way drives for parking but people really have a hard time understanding the BIG YELLOW arrows on the ground and the reason the parking spots follow with the arrow direction. So what they do is try to pull in from the wrong direction or pull through the space and then try to pull out going the correct direction.

 

[Mrs.Toad]

I guess I'm lucky. I've never seen these people who go back and forth 4 or 5 times to back into a spot. Most people do it on the first shot, it takes about 5 seconds and they park as straight as anyone else.

Let's face it, some people are just bad drivers. They park crooked or too close to the line whether they pulled in forwards or backwards, and those trucks whose mirrors stick out 2 feet on each side are just annoying no matter which way they're parked. But I guess I'd rather they have those large mirrors and be able to see while they're driving, than be bothered by having to dodge them while walking by.

My dd's old school had just one row of parking spots, all of them facing a brick wall. Most people backed in there, because it was obviously much safer to back in towards a wall, than to back into the lot towards the school where people are walking. It's the same in any lot, though maybe to a lesser extent. Most people seem to walk right in the center of the aisle, where the cars are driving. (Those people are annoying, too. Do they want to get run over?) I've never seen anyone walking around a parking lot in the empty spaces. You're much more likely to encounter a pedestrian as you leave a spot than as you enter it, isn't that the better time to be facing forward?

Most stores, schools, etc around here have diagonal spots, so I don't back in regularly. I'm with the others on concerts, sporting events, etc, though. When I arrive, cars are trickling in, since they all have to stop and pay on the way in. They are going in different directions looking for spots in different areas. There is never anyone near enough to be bothered by the five extra seconds it takes to back into a spot.

When it's over, there are thousands of cars leaving at once, all in the same direction. If you're backed in, it's easy to inch your way forward into the long line of cars, and most other drivers will pause those couple of seconds and give you the five feet or so that you need. If you have to back out of the spot, you need a driver to stop 20 feet back or so, to give you enough room to back out into the line of traffic. Very few people are willing to do this.

 

[surfergirl602]

1. It seems to take quite a while to pull in backwards - backward, forward, backward, forward, pull completely out and try again because you didn't get it right.

Good drivers get it right the first time.

 

[Mrs.Toad]

I agree! It drives me nuts! I am glad that many places around here have signs for front in parking only- no backing in allowed!

Seriously? I will have to add this to the "things I never heard of until the DIS" thread!

I got into an accident a few years ago because of someone backing into a spot. I was waiting for a truck to pass me so that I could back out of my spot. He pulled into a spot two spaces away, so I started backing out, not realizing he wasn't going to stay there. Just after I started backing out, he started backing out of the spot he just pulled into because he wanted to back into a spot on the other end of the row and hit my bumper.

If people are going to back into spots, I wish there was some way for them to indicate this when they first pull into a spot and then back into another spot behind them.

That's an odd way to back into a spot. I've never seen that, either.

I'm curious, though, what if it had been a person parked in that spot, backing out at the same time you were? You may not have noticed that person getting into his car at the same time you were getting into yours. It's unfortunate that you had this accident, but it sounds like it happened when both of you were backing out of your spots, and could have happened whether or not the other drivers intent was to back from one spot to another, or to back out to drive away.

 

[surfergirl602]

Thats most likely because when driving a truck, or minivan you cannot see everything that may be behind you. If there is a child running away from their parent and they are shorter than where the window is in the back, it is possible to not see them as they pass by.

With our truck we pretty much ALWAYS back into a space. And if you do it enough, you get it the first time, every time. it comes with driving a truck. You just can't see behind you, and the general rule of thumb is, especially if you live in a state with bad weather, you can always pull forward, but not always back out.

 

[focusondisney]

I almost always pull in backwards. It only takes me one maneuver because I know how to drive. Anyone who needs 4 moves to pull in backwards probably should not be doing it.

I find it easier to pull out forward because my car is small and if I end up next to an SUV I can't see anything. When you approach the spot you have a clear view of everything and know if there is a car coming. When pulling out you can't be so sure. That's why backing in is vastly different then backing out, you have a much wider field of sight on the way into a space then on the way out.

Leaving then also requires no maneuvers, just go. Backing out requires at least one maneuver.

This is exactly what I was going to say!!! I also drive a small car & no matter what kind of car I park next to, by the time I return to my car, there is ALWAYS a huge truck or suv parked next to me. And there is NO way I can see around the back end of such a vehicle to pull out safely. I can back park into any parking space quicker & straighter than most people can do going in forward. And if the person parked next to me needs to wiggle a little to open their back door, oh well. I need to be able to SAFELY pull out into traffic. And I won't apoligize or be bullied into doing otherwise because you don't want to give me 5 seconds to park.

 

[hrh_disney_queen]

I will back in or pull through in parking lots when I can. I'm good at it so it never takes more than one time backing up. I can't believe the number of times someone that is walking in a hurry suddenly walks behind my SUV while I have my back up lights on. I know it is ultimately my responsibility and pedestrians have the right of way, but since not all of them practice self preservation, it is safer for me to back in to the spot and pull out with full view when I leave. I don't (and can't ) do it when someone is right behind me, so that point is moot. I also back into my driveway so I can see everything that is coming/going in our cul-de-sac.


I had no idea I was so inconsiderate. I guess it would be more considerate of me to back over someone who darts in back of me out of nowhere.

 

[Robinrs]

I remember asking this question when I first got to Georgia. I noticed that most people hear back in and take FOREVER. I once asked a native why and she said it was because it's easier to tow a car or reach the battery that way.

Okay, you may need that service maybe 3 times during the lifetime of the car. Any better answers?

 

[FireDancer]

Good drivers get it right the first time.

Same goes for parallel parking.

 

[luvmy3]

I remember asking this question when I first got to Georgia. I noticed that most people hear back in and take FOREVER. I once asked a native why and she said it was because it's easier to tow a car or reach the battery that way.

Okay, you may need that service maybe 3 times during the lifetime of the car. Any better answers?

Not risking running over a small child wasn't the better answer for you?
In all seriousness the answer you got is an excellent one, I never thought of it so thats just one more reason its better for me to back in

 

[focusondisney]

I remember asking this question when I first got to Georgia. I noticed that most people hear back in and take FOREVER. I once asked a native why and she said it was because it's easier to tow a car or reach the battery that way.

Okay, you may need that service maybe 3 times during the lifetime of the car. Any better answers?

Ok here's another answer: if I back into a space, only about 1/3rd of my car is pulled out into the traffic lane before I can safely see around that big suv parked next to my little car. If I pull in froward, 2/3 rds of my car will be pulled out into traffic before I, in my FRONT seat can see if there is oncoming traffic. And people driving around in parking lots are not known for driving slow & being considerate while you back out. I've almost had several accidents trying to back OUT of a space & NONE trying to pull out forward.

 

[Robinrs]

Not risking running over a small child wasn't the better answer for you?
In all seriousness the answer you got is an excellent one, I never thought of it so thats just one more reason its better for me to back in

Well, I guess I haven't wiped any small children off my car in awhile and RARELY go where they go so no, not good enough.

 

[MushyMushy]

Well, I guess I haven't wiped any small children off my car in awhile and RARELY go where they go so no, not good enough.

I know! I've been driving for more years than I want to admit, but I have yet to mow down any small children. Darn those little critters darting around everywhere!

 

[locolala]

I'm used to backing into spots from my time in the military.. government vehicles are required to be backed into parking spots. I'm at the point where it's faster to back in than pull in because I'm just so used to it. We were taught that it's safer to pull out forwards, since it's easier to see what's around you.. plus, it's faster in case of an emergency.

 

[Soldier's*Sweeties]

I'm used to backing into spots from my time in the military.. government vehicles are required to be backed into parking spots. I'm at the point where it's faster to back in than pull in because I'm just so used to it. We were taught that it's safer to pull out forwards, since it's easier to see what's around you.. plus, it's faster in case of an emergency.

Yep...

 

[luvmy3]

Well, I guess I haven't wiped any small children off my car in awhile and RARELY go where they go so no, not good enough.

Fair enough and thankfully I haven't either but you asked for a better answer, and as far as I'm concerned thats the best reason to back into a spot. If you don't believe stuff like that happens, google it, there have been people who have killed their own kids in the driveway because they didn't see them behind their van/truck when backing out. It doesn't happen often, but it does happen, and why someone wouldn't think doing something to prevent that isn't a better answer, I'll never understand

 

[luvmy3]

I know! I've been driving for more years than I want to admit, but I have yet to mow down any small children. Darn those little critters darting around everywhere!

According to the NHTSA in 2007, a total of 221 people were killed and 14000 were injured in backing up incidents. Of those, 99 children were killed and 2000 were injured. I guess you should be looking out for adults darting out since their numbers seem to be higher, at least they were a few years ago.

 

[Sgt Mickey]

Becasue my hubby thinks he is a great backer upper

 

[Disney Ella]

Seriously? I will have to add this to the "things I never heard of until the DIS" thread!

That's an odd way to back into a spot. I've never seen that, either.

I'm curious, though, what if it had been a person parked in that spot, backing out at the same time you were? You may not have noticed that person getting into his car at the same time you were getting into yours. It's unfortunate that you had this accident, but it sounds like it happened when both of you were backing out of your spots, and could have happened whether or not the other drivers intent was to back from one spot to another, or to back out to drive away.

I usually look at the other cars around me before I back out to make sure that there is no one who might leaving at the same time I am. If it looks like there might be someone ready to go, I wait to avoid getting into the kind of situation you mentioned. Since this guy drove behind my car and then pulled into a spot, I assumed he was parking in that spot. I had no way of knowing he wasn't going to remain in the spot he had just pulled into, so I backed up thinking it was safe. Like I said, it would be nice if people who are going to do these kind of things had some way to indicate this is what they are doing. If someone pulls into a spot, I assume they are going to stay there.