Backing into parking spaces?

[NoDopes]

I don't get it. Why?

I see people spend crazy amount of time trying to line up, almost hitting cars on the side, often ending up crooked and just fucking leaving it there.
WTF? Enlighten me.

 

[Steel head]

I back in to my parking spot at home.
That way at 3:30am I just drive out.
Anywhere else I rarely do it unless it facilities loading and unloading a dead hooker or bricks of cocaine.

 

[BoilerUP]

Far and away the best and easiest way to park a pickup in a parking lot.


...you gotta use your mirrors, though

 

[Major Wader]

If done properly, it's the safest way to park

Edited to add - Companies who do driver training using the Smith System typically require it.

 

[jhunter]

My big ass truck makes it hard to see the lines pulling forward. I find them easy to locate in my side mirrors while backing in. Also the back up camera is nice and I should add one on the front. I find backing in to be more efficient, or he could be hiding from his ex old lady’s investigator.

 

[JMGlasgow]

Some employers require employees to do it in their work trucks, even when they aren't on the clock. So those people do it with everything they drive.

 

[Steel+Killer]

Backing in or backing out what’s the difference?
I find it easier to go ahead and back in then when I leave all I gotta do is pull out and go….

 

[Billdoe708]

I always back in if I can based on how many cars and people are around. If it ends up being busy when I go to leave then it's easier/quicker to just pull out. Typically I'm one of the first people to get to work.

 

[rjacobs]

I end up backing into spots a lot because I drive down the lane and dont see a spot thats open in time to pull straight in, so I just go past a little and back in... as long as some ass hole isnt riding my ass down the lane.

 

[ggmanning]

I do it when I'm in my 4D LB 3500. Hedges bets on how assholes or the clueless will park around or in the space behind me later and make it difficult for me to get out. I have never backed my little Tacoma in a parking space.

 

[diverdon]

OP for your next vehicle get a 8' box crew cab pickup. Go to your local mall, park.

You sound like you drive a Mini Cooper and just zip into your parking spot. Good for you.

 

[johnnyvw]

My wife's car has the "auto park" feature. The one and only time she used it was when she picked the car up and the salesman demonstrated it for her. Freaked her out...

 

[Steel+Killer]

Women have a hard time backing up period…. When my wife and I go somewhere and I very quickly just back into a spot using just my mirrors she says I don’t know how you do that. I tried to explain to her how to back the boat trailer down the boat landing one day….. I might as well been explaining Chinese arithmetic to her.

 

[Longshot231]

I like to back into the parking spaces Driving straight into the parking space isn't the problem.

The risk incurred backing out of the parking space is the problem. I have less visibility if I back out of the space. It's more difficult to see a driver speeding through the lot and not watching for other vehicles.

If I can drive (forward) out of the space, I can see other vehicles better than backing out.

Also realize that in most states if an accident occurs on private property, the cops will not show up and it's left up to the drivers to argue about who was at fault.

Don't ask me how I know that.

When I had a big pickup truck, I'd back into the parking spaces at the mall. You could just see the look of rapid impatience on the face of the soccer moms or debutant-wannabees that were in a hurry to get to Nordstrom's. My thought was always, "Lady if you think I'm slow parking this truck now, then just keep looking at me that way and I'll take all day."

 

[NoDopes]

I don't drive a big truck... nor one of these...

But, I guess I just see a lot of women struggling to back into a spaces then...

 

[MtnCreek]

If aisle direction allows it I pull through one space into the opposing space. 0 backing up required.

 

[Longshot231]

 

[MadDuner]

It's all about the easy getaway.

I'm one of those back into the space guys. It's way easier to back in when you "own" the lane, than trying to back out while trying to watch every other yahoo trying to do the same. I just drive out. I back into my driveway at home also. As was said, at 0330 it's easier to drive away.

 

[thejeep]

Trucks with camper shells on the back. I can see with the camera, in reverse, better than right over the hood forwards.

 

[91Eunozs]

Started doing it before I even owned a truck… Driving the ‘alert’ crew vehicles around base. We never knew when the alarm would go off and always had to be able to move fast. No time to be dicking around trying to back a crew cab with an 8’ bed out of a parking spot.

Remember, this was in the days before rear view, let alone surround view cameras. Most of those beaters had no power steering too…LOL.

A lot easier now, especially with the overhead view and rock crawling cameras on my current F150. Gonna be downright child’s play with my wife’s new ride that has auto park and a 3D surround camera system.

 

[Srgt. Hulka]

If I can’t drive though a space, I’m backing in. I frikking hate to pull in a space forward. It’s much easier to back in straight, than it is to pull in straight. And in a parking lot full of retards, it’s much easier to get out without some dickhead on their cell phone, speeding through the parking lot, crashing in to you. I’ve tried to teach my wife and kids that backing in is a much safer form of parking, but they just don’t get it.

 

[Hobo Hilton]

It is much easier to "survey the surroundings" when pulling up to a vacant parking place and then back in. Looking for illuminated back up lights, people opening car doors adjacent to the vacant place, wind direction, visual impairments, blowing snow build up, snow plow berms, etc. If a person has backed in there line of sight is clear when they begin to motivate out of the parking space and do not have to be concerned that a pedestrian will walk up behind their car and stop to talk on a cell phone or another driver will stop behind them while waiting on another space to open up farther down the parking lot. Of course backing in and exhibiting that giant "Deer Slayer" grill guard to the Mini copper blocking the exit always has some psychological advantages.... No, I did not fact check.... Law's of Nature

 

[roostercogburn98]

It’s called combat parking brah. We’re all just staying on our toes for the boogerlew. Won’t catch me with my pants down

 

[rtB]

When I go to the mall, I always park out a ways and take up 4 parking spots. That way when I'm booking out to the vehicle with an armload of Gucci handbags for resale I can take off whichever direction allows the quickest exfil.

 

[GreenGO Juan]

With a camper/ topper full of valuables, if possible, back your truck up a wall so its harder if not impossible to get in.

 

[TurboTrout]

It’s the more civilized way to park, it’s also very easy and fast.

For those who can’t manage to park, they should stay at home and just make sandwiches for their man.

 

[rijndael]

In a parking lot, I don't want to back into the travel lane with people walking little kids and pushing shopping carts (while on their phones). I'd much rather back into a spot at my leisure, when I can see everyone much better.

Backing out of spaces with an obstructed view, because of larger cars next to me, is a pretty big hazard.

 

[Thorny]

Like A Glove - Ace Ventura When Nature Calls

 

[vinniedelpino]

Country folks can't park worth shit. It's hilarious.

I could parallel park a a box truck Jamaica Ave before I could legally drive.

 

[shoobe01]

Often for unloading. Say at the community center, back into a spot that goes to a sidewalk, then unload from the tailgate there instead of standing in the street. Similar for small children; doors open "rearward" so they can get out, go to safety, instead of even towards the street briefly to close door and go around.

At home, long curved drive to small garage. Nose in is just impossible to back out of. Might have to buy a new car.

Home, most parking lots, most streets, etc it is known to be MASSIVELY safer. Rarely is there a person standing in an empty parking spot, much less high speed crossing traffic. You back in — using mirrors or cameras to align more precisely BTW, and the trailing-wheel tight turn radius to align in one go — but pull out forward, the way people expect cars to go, with headlights, full visibility, and no need to stop and change directions once out so are at less risk of being a zero-speed object when pulling onto roads.

(Also why people "pull through" in many parking lots and why being told that is bad is dumb. It's just always-forward movement. A handful of parking lots I have been to have angled in parking in ONE row, so you pull forward to park, then pull forward to leave. Brilliant!)

Just yesterday:

People nose in can't park between lines either. Or they deliberately park across two spaces to keep others away because we no longer live in a civil society. Backing in people are no worse, and do the park in not a spot or across two spaces on purpose at the same rate, as far as I can tell (anecdotally).

We treat driving as a right so don't train at all, don't test well, and don't ticket for pretty much anything. Want a dangerous thing I hate: the de-facto okay to park on the wrong side of the street thing that has taken over. Now cars start and pull out, drive half a block on the wrong side of the road! But that's fine now in our lawless land.

 

[Waorani]

Many workplaces where multiple folks might have to get their asses out in a hurry require back in parking - refineries, nat gas compressor stations, etc.

 

[eflyguy]

It's how I was taught.

 

[SBRSarge]

Two reasons;

1- easier to make a quick get-away
2- hides your license plate from the cops (hey, that’s me, lol)

Seriously, like others said, it’s easier to get a bigger vehicle all in the space.

And, most importantly, it is way cooler.

 

[rijndael]

2- hides your license plate from the cops (hey, that’s me, lol)

Unfortonately, we have to have them on the front and back.

 

[powell]

A lot of it is company driven and becomes habit. Theory behind it is that it makes your first move forward. Because people are generally dumb asses and not paying attention. Schlumberger pushes that hard. Their saying was “Don’t back don’t back do not back! Back up to park!” Real head scratcher.
I have worked for companies that have designed their entire parking lot for drive through parking. Only about 1/2 the parking spots but they are happy.

 

[deersniper]

I like to back into the parking spaces Driving straight into the parking space isn't the problem.

The risk incurred backing out of the parking space is the problem. I have less visibility if I back out of the space. It's more difficult to see a driver speeding through the lot and not watching for other vehicles.

If I can drive (forward) out of the space, I can see other vehicles better than backing out.

Also realize that in most states if an accident occurs on private property, the cops will not show up and it's left up to the drivers to argue about who was at fault.

Don't ask me how I know that.

When I had a big pickup truck, I'd back into the parking spaces at the mall. You could just see the look of rapid impatience on the face of the soccer moms or debutant-wannabees that were in a hurry to get to Nordstrom's. My thought was always, "Lady if you think I'm slow parking this truck now, then just keep looking at me that way and I'll take all day."

This ^

 

[deersniper]

2- hides your license plate from the cops (hey, that’s me, lol)

Some single tag states make it illegal to back in

 

[Holliday]

I don't get it. Why?

I see people spend crazy amount of time trying to line up, almost hitting cars on the side, often ending up crooked and just fucking leaving it there.
WTF? Enlighten me.

For fast exit……Being “crooked” just means they can’t drive.

 

[DOA]

I zip in and back out utilizing the backup camera. Easy peasy and takes WAY less time than the morons who back in. Maybe having a truck might be different but no excuse for the cars that take 10 minutes backing in.

 

[The D]

I back in to my parking spot at home.
That way at 3:30am I just drive out.
Anywhere else I rarely do it unless it facilities loading and unloading a dead hooker or bricks of cocaine.

^ This. Especially about the dead hookers

 

[hankpac]

The things that get argued about here. tsk.
I'm going to start a thread about toilet paper: Folded or crumpled?
Or blowing one's nose: one tissue or two? Or paper towel?

 

[Ianl931]

First move should always be forward.

 

[The D]

The things that get argued about here. tsk.
I'm going to start a thread about toilet paper: Folded or crumpled?
Or blowing one's nose: one tissue or two? Or paper towel?

Toilet paper: carpet wheelie around the floor like a civilized human being for god’s sake

Nose blowing: snot rocket or use the bottom of your shirt

 

[502Chevelle]

UPS requires you to “back first”. That way you have a current view of all traffic and pedestrians etc. If you pull in front ways at the mall, and later a mini van and work truck park on either side of you, you can still see to pull out. You aren’t backing out blind hoping that 17 year old is watching where they are going and not texting.

 

[shoobe01]

Some single tag states make it illegal to back in

Proof? I hear this but have never seen it actually be true, quick google says the same. People who have worked at multiple DOTs saying no, not a thing.

Even the justification that you can't back up in a travel lane so can't back in doesn't make sense as parallel parking is all over, and the first move there is reverse from a travel lane.

 

[Fig]

 

[seanh]

It’s the more civilized way to park, it’s also very easy and fast.

For those who can’t manage to park, they should stay at home and just make sandwiches for their man.

Is easier, more civilized? Where the hell are you parking? It's definitely not faster, you have to basically do a 12 point fucking turn to back into a place... This is a parking place that you've already passed up.. Now you're blocking the through traffic cause you can't fucking park normal.

I guess that person behind you is expect to backup?

I do like the people pass an open space that back in when they're in front of me...always an opportunity to take "their" spot...lol

 

[Dirty D]

I like to back into the parking spaces Driving straight into the parking space isn't the problem.

The risk incurred backing out of the parking space is the problem. I have less visibility if I back out of the space. It's more difficult to see a driver speeding through the lot and not watching for other vehicles.

If I can drive (forward) out of the space, I can see other vehicles better than backing out.

Also realize that in most states if an accident occurs on private property, the cops will not show up and it's left up to the drivers to argue about who was at fault.

Don't ask me how I know that.

When I had a big pickup truck, I'd back into the parking spaces at the mall. You could just see the look of rapid impatience on the face of the soccer moms or debutant-wannabees that were in a hurry to get to Nordstrom's. My thought was always, "Lady if you think I'm slow parking this truck now, then just keep looking at me that way and I'll take all day."

I investigated accidents for 6 years for one of the largest insurance companies, I worked plenty (several thousand) of claims where someone got hit backing out of a space. I don’t recall a single claim (ever) where someone got hit backing into a space.

 

[Dirty D]

Is easier, more civilized? Where the hell are you parking? It's definitely not faster, you have to basically do a 12 point fucking turn to back into a place... This is a parking place that you've already passed up.. Now you're blocking the through traffic cause you can't fucking park normal.

I guess that person behind you is expect to backup?

I do like the people pass an open space that back in when they're in front of me...always an opportunity to take "their" spot...lol

Just because you can’t back into a space without doing a 12 point turn doesn’t mean that you should assume someone else can’t.

 

[Sparticus14]

Most Canadian Army Bases require you to back in. Reduces backing accidents when you are leaving the spot as others have pointed out.