DBT
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Less likely to get dings in your car from people parking too close, opening their doors, shopping trollies, etc.
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Parking: Driving Up or Backing In?
- Thread starter Jolly_Penguin
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Jimmy Higgins
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OFFS.Backing into an unconfined space verses a confined space, but one shouldn't need to point out that obvious attribute when talking among a bunch of non-morons.100% of the time you are backing into an empty parking space, unless you are a complete moron.
There are no unconfined spaces. Just ones where you can't necessarily detect the rapidly changing confines until you reverse into their path.
ruby sparks
Contributor
Driving up.
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ETA: whoops. I got this thread mixed up with another one. This one isn't about sex.
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ETA: whoops. I got this thread mixed up with another one. This one isn't about sex.
bilby
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That's quite OK; There's no need to apologise for being wrong. Lots of people suffer the same misconception, and are equally at odds when put on the spot and asked to rationalise their incorrect, incoherent, and unreasonable position.
People drive in forwards because they've never seriously thought about whether there might be a better option. It's all part and parcel of the fact that most people never think through their actions, they just do things the way they always did them. And then scramble for a rationalisation to avoid having to say "I've never really thought about that".
No. I save those for special occasions. Here, rather by means of backing out slowly and watching as I do. Never had a problem.
Indeed. But maybe it is a matter of where you are. In a busy lot where people are aggressive drivers speeding down parking lanes and not looking for other cars, maybe it would be smarter to back in/drive out.
Some people cheat in fancy modern cars and have parking cameras and sensors. How useful are they? I have not tried them yet.
Tharmas
Veteran Member
I find them very useful. My insurance agent told me seven or eight years ago he would never buy another car without a backup camera, and I agree with that sentiment. The sensors are invaluable too when backing out, for those of us who pull straight in. They're not only sensitive enough to alert for oncoming traffic, but also for pedestrian traffic, loose grocery carts, etc.
Derec
Contributor
That's not cheating. This is.
But I agree with pulling through. Why reverse at all if you don't have to? Unfortunately some parking lots have these concrete blocks installed to prevent people from doing so.
I always back in. I have done so since my first two cars always needed jump starts.
But then over the years I have come to appreciate that when you back in, you know the conditions as you pull up. A blinker is sufficient for notifying other cars of your intent. You don’t know what it wll be like when you leave. Nosing out is always easier in a crowded lot, since you don’t need anyone to stop to make space for you to back up before going forward. Exceptionally handy leaving a concert or show when it is super crowded. And often allows you to make extra space on the driver door side.
But then over the years I have come to appreciate that when you back in, you know the conditions as you pull up. A blinker is sufficient for notifying other cars of your intent. You don’t know what it wll be like when you leave. Nosing out is always easier in a crowded lot, since you don’t need anyone to stop to make space for you to back up before going forward. Exceptionally handy leaving a concert or show when it is super crowded. And often allows you to make extra space on the driver door side.
After starting and reading the responses to this thread, I tried backing in a few times. Not a fan of it. It's just too much effort for too little gain. I don't have any issue with backing out slowly and seeing the path i am back out into is clear.
crazyfingers
Meow
I knew it! You've dished yourself now! You do not live on the South Pole.
It’s definitely a matter of practice. It will be too much effort for the first while. But after practice it is just as easy going in fwd v backward. As I teach my kids to drive I insist that they back in every time so that the day they have to back somewhere due to circumstances is not the first time they have to back up. They claim they are glad for this, now that they’ve been driving 6 months and 3 years, respectively.
I've had a backup camera for years now and absolutely love it. I don't back into spaces but it gives a much better view of what's behind you than looking over your shoulder.
It's made me want to lynch Congress--the law specifically prohibits moving video the driver can see, with the exception of backup cameras. The exception is too narrow, it should apply to all forms of assist cameras. For those of us who do not parallel park a lot cameras that show the corners of the car would be very nice.
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I normally drive a car small enough that if I needed a jump I would be able to push it out of it's space. (Obviously, assuming reasonably level terrain.)
bilby
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So does almost everyone. A smart car is too heavy for a single person to safely manage pushing it on a hill; And on level ground, a vehicle massing 3,000kg is movable with the transmission in neutral and the brakes disengaged, at least for a couple of car lengths. You just need to go very slowly - which you should be doing anyway.
All forces are irresistible, and no objects are immovable. The rolling resistance of even a large SUV is tiny (assuming tyres that are not dangerously underinflated), so it's just a matter of overcoming inertia, which is a function of how much time you have, not how much force you can exert.
My vehicle masses in excess of two tonnes, and I have pushed it out of a flat parking space singlehanded, when it had a flat battery.