What's up with backing in to parking spaces?
- Thread starter Suki22
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suki22 said:
glad i could clear it up for you....give it a shot sometime
Accumulator
Well-known member
Our local UPS guys are *required* to position their trucks that way at every residential delivery. Supposedly cuts down on their accidents by some huge %.
Yeah, ever notice that all the Harleys are backed in at biker bars?
Seriously, that is one reason to do it (at least in certain situations). Not only for a *quick* get away but for better visibility/situational awareness and better control of both the vehicle and the environment (it's easier to do stuff going forwards than it is in reverse). Tactical driving courses *always* have you position the car that way.
Think about tightly packed, underground parking garages...yeah, right...pull straight in so the only thing you can see is the concrete wall in front of you and the sides of the vehicles on either side :grinno:
BigJimZ28 said:
Yeah, ever notice that all the Harleys are backed in at biker bars?
Seriously, that is one reason to do it (at least in certain situations). Not only for a *quick* get away but for better visibility/situational awareness and better control of both the vehicle and the environment (it's easier to do stuff going forwards than it is in reverse). Tactical driving courses *always* have you position the car that way.
Think about tightly packed, underground parking garages...yeah, right...pull straight in so the only thing you can see is the concrete wall in front of you and the sides of the vehicles on either side :grinno:
WhiteStripes
New member
Reason for my backing in is my front splitter.
It'll scrape on any curb, and my car is stock height.
I also back in in parking garages, because as Accumulator said, you really have no visibility in them.
If a person is decent at it, they can nail it on the first try and not have to pul forward a little once they are in the spot.
It'll scrape on any curb, and my car is stock height.
I also back in in parking garages, because as Accumulator said, you really have no visibility in them.
If a person is decent at it, they can nail it on the first try and not have to pul forward a little once they are in the spot.
To me backing into parking spaces only makes sense. The area that you're backing into is less likely to have moving cars and pedestrians. Then when you're leaving you have a clear sightline for pedestrians and passing cars by driving forward out of the spot. You're going to have to have limited vision in one or the other phase of parking, seems to make sense to make it the phase with less variables.
e30 all day
New member
pgp said:
that is a very bad idea, one day there is gonna be someone pulling into the same spot ur pulling through and bang and ur gonna be :furious:
I my self worked for a valet company for a while and it was mandatory to back into spots because it was so much easier to find cars when the parties were leaven. So ever since i always back my car into spots. As people said above and on previous pages, it really is easier to pull out of spots and alot less dangerous. I do think people that back into spots have respect for there cars and have alot of common sence, not all book smart.:up
when people give up parallel to find a different spot and you see them come back around the block to have another crack at it. e30 all day
New member
^haha i know exactly what your saying lol
I back into spots most of the time because A.) I almost always park in "end" spots with a curb, and thus backing up allows me to get as close as possible to the curb without curbing my wheels, which in turn reduces chance of dings on the other side of the vehicle B.) I too have a lowered vehicle with a very low front spoiler, so backing in is safer in terms of not scratching my bumper C.) It also aids in leaving in a safer, and more timely manner.
That said, I rarely back in if it means holding up traffic because I am extremely conscious of holding up others EVER when driving. But, if the spot is incredibly tight I will likely do it anyway, which will hold people up no more than 5 seconds....I know how to drive well in reverse.
That said, I rarely back in if it means holding up traffic because I am extremely conscious of holding up others EVER when driving. But, if the spot is incredibly tight I will likely do it anyway, which will hold people up no more than 5 seconds....I know how to drive well in reverse.
I never thought that people paid so much attention to this! There are two reasons I like to back in...
One, I work at a dealership, so I am just used to it. ALL our cars are nose out, so it has become a habit.
Two, I backed out of a spot a few years ago at a local shopping center, and two thirds of the way across the lane, a girl in a trashed Maxima backed out of the spot right behind me, and tapped the back of my car.
A woman, who claimed to be a lawyer, said she witnessed it and started threatening me. The girl's insurance contacted mine, and while this went away as quickly as it started, I decided I was better off pulling out forward.
I only pull nose in if I know I need to pull a shopping cart up to the back of my car.
One, I work at a dealership, so I am just used to it. ALL our cars are nose out, so it has become a habit.
Two, I backed out of a spot a few years ago at a local shopping center, and two thirds of the way across the lane, a girl in a trashed Maxima backed out of the spot right behind me, and tapped the back of my car.
A woman, who claimed to be a lawyer, said she witnessed it and started threatening me. The girl's insurance contacted mine, and while this went away as quickly as it started, I decided I was better off pulling out forward.
I only pull nose in if I know I need to pull a shopping cart up to the back of my car.
suki22 said:
First, I was taught to back into the garage when I learned to drive. My father's theory was you look at the spot as you pull past and as you back in. It's hard to run over something or somebody that way. And as you drive out, little chance of driving over something or someone (little kids running around). We were all volunteers with the local fire and rescue squads, which had an influence (leaving in a hurry). But, with todays SUVs and trucks, seeing what's behind you as you back up can be difficult.
Now cut to today, with the SUVs in parking lots today you can't see backing out of a space. It is far easier to back in and have better visability pulling out (see above).
Now, I can back anything into any space as quickly as most people can pull into a space (35+ years of practice). Then again, I don't "shop" for parking spaces and always look to protect my car from dings and scratches. I'll have the car parked, and halfway into the place before the "space shoppers" find a close space to squeeze into!
blk45
It's all in the prep!
WhiteStripes said:
If you can't do it the first time, you shouldn't be doing it. :nixweiss
The argument that it takes longer, doesn't hold water if you know how to drive and can do it in one shot.
sixty7mustang22
New member
I back into a space because there is less to watch out for when backing into a space as oposed to backing out of one. And if you are a good backer like myself, it only takes you one try. I can back in as quickly as I can pull into one.
That's my reason.
Sometimes you "seasoned" people have done things for so long that you can't understand anything else because, well, you've done it that way for 40 years, so it should work for everyone else also. I don't see it that way. I analyse what works the best for me and do it that way. Just because it doesn't make sense to you doesn't mean that it doesn't make sense to me.
Life is to short to keep doing the same crap for years upon years. Try something different once in a while. You might just like it.
That's my reason.
Sometimes you "seasoned" people have done things for so long that you can't understand anything else because, well, you've done it that way for 40 years, so it should work for everyone else also. I don't see it that way. I analyse what works the best for me and do it that way. Just because it doesn't make sense to you doesn't mean that it doesn't make sense to me.
Life is to short to keep doing the same crap for years upon years. Try something different once in a while. You might just like it.
Like other have stated the most common light accidents occur during backing up( out of parking spots). I back up in a parking spot always so that when I leave I have a clear sightline of oncoming traffic. This practice was preached to me during my CDL training and several company sponsored drivers training. I continue to use this practice daily.
imported_MBenz
New member
In addition to all the advantages listed about backing-in i can add one.
A lot of newer cars have an automatic "curb view assist" feature that automatically tilts one or both side mirrors down when the car is put into reverse. When backing into a space you can use this feature to better judge the distance from the back wheels to the curb thus allowing you to park as close to the curb as possible without curb checking. Better parking job, and a happy car.
A lot of newer cars have an automatic "curb view assist" feature that automatically tilts one or both side mirrors down when the car is put into reverse. When backing into a space you can use this feature to better judge the distance from the back wheels to the curb thus allowing you to park as close to the curb as possible without curb checking. Better parking job, and a happy car.
GlossyTundra
Tractor Detailer
I actually back into a parking space b/c I like to look back several times at my clean truck on the way into the store lol.