Why do people not back into their driveways?

[RunDanceSkate]

Another post on this board about a child being run over in her driveway, prompted me to search for the related news article. I didn't find it but I did find 100's of other similar stories. Now if you back into your driveway it could still happen as a small child runs out to greet a parent but if you are backing in you tend to go much slower and be more observant.

I always back into my driveway, it is what I was taught.

My reasons for backing in are:

My vehicle is ready to leave in a hurry should I need to, much faster to drive out then back out.
If another car and I crash when I'm backing out I am at fault no matter how fast they are going. If I am driving out I may not be.
Home daycare across the street, it is not unusual for one of the children to run out into the street after a ball.
Small dog across the street (same house) gets away from owers and runs into street about once a week.
I can see traffic, bikes, kids, etc so much better.
It's easier to back in then back out, I hate backing out of parking spots when jumping in a vehicle that someone else has parked.

Cindy
Side pet peeve, why do some people not pull all the way through when the parking spot in front of them is open? Why wouldn't you want to drive out instead of backing out.

 

[Fairy Dust]

The only time anyone backs into their driveway here, is when they want to load/unload alot of stuff from their boot (trunk).

 

[dizneenut]

I sometimes back into the garage. Usually only when I do groceries, though.

 

[kidzmom3]

both my dad and my driving school were very strict when I was learning to drive and I have never heard a rule that you should back into your driveway.

 

[suzimar57]

i always back into my FILs driveway - makes it easier to pull out into the street after i'm done (picking up our 5 gallon bottle of water we have delivered onto his porch)

 

[Honu]

I actually don't think I would see a child sitting at the front or back of my SUV once I'm in the car. If I pull in forward though, I do walk around the back to get to the driver's side.

 

[damo]

Either way, you are backing up at some point.

 

[dreamcometrue]

I hate backing in!! I always pull in, unless I have groceries that I have to unload!

 

[monarchsfan16]

We don't back in because our driveway is big enough to turn around in before driving out. Also, it would be a complete nightmare to back in, and an even bigger nightmare (been there, done that) to turn around enough to be backed into our spots. So we drive in and park, and when we go to leave, we back into the turn around then pull out of the driveway.

 

[lindalinda]

My driveway is way to long to back in. I have a turn around at the top so I'm not backing out either. But seriously, you could just as easily back over something while backing INTO the driveway as backing out.

 

[RadioNate]

I would probablly hit DHs car in the spot next to mine if I backed into my driveway.

I also HATE when people pull all the way through. I can't tell you how many times I've been about to turn INTO a spot when some idiot comes barreling through from the other side and then stops in the spot I was about to park in.

 

[tevagirl]

I would probablly hit DHs car in the spot next to mine if I backed into my driveway.

I also HATE when people pull all the way through. I can't tell you how many times I've been about to turn INTO a spot when some idiot comes barreling through from the other side and then stops in the spot I was about to park in.

I may be wrong (as shocking as that would be) but I always thought it was illegal to pull through like that.

 

[dcgrumpy]

Couldn't you just as easily run over your kids backing in as backing out of the driveway?

 

[kristen821]

Couldn't you just as easily run over your kids backing in as backing out of the driveway?

I think it would be easier to run over a kid backing into a driveway since when you back out of your driveway you usually come from behind the car (at least I do) and are sure nobody is there playing.

 

[jaimee1024]

I'm not sure I even understand your last reason. Why would you be jumping into a car that someone else has parked? I live on a relatively busy residential street. Backing into my narrow driveway would require driving past it, stopping, putting the car in reverse and carefully backing in. Meanwhile two or three cars might be waiting for me to do so. I think in my case it would be much more dangerous to back in to my driveway than to back out of it.

 

[Duckfan-in-Chicago]

I park on the street. My wife always gets the garage.

 

[Anewman]

If another car and I crash when I'm backing out I am at fault no matter how fast they are going. If I am driving out I may not be.

Without changing the subject...

I dont see how it would make any difference if you were backing out or not.

 

[KelNottAt]

Side pet peeve, why do some people not pull all the way through when the parking spot in front of them is open? Why wouldn't you want to drive out instead of backing out.

If I have an opportunity to pull through, I usually do. It's far more convenient to drive out instead of backing out.

However, sometimes, pulling through makes no sense at all if I'll need to load my trunk when I return to the car.

In answer to the poll, I drive into the drive way so I can perfect my aim for fitting in the garage.

 

[cardaway]

How about simply looking behind you and going slowly whenever you are backing up.

Problem solved, how hard is that?

 

[Allison]

Why would people back into their driveway?